MaxPreps.com Staff Report
LAWRENCE, Kan. --- A week after working in the climate-controlled indoor facility at the University of Nebraska, the Recruits Unlimited adidas Elite Camp took to the great outdoors at Kansas University Saturday, showcasing 180 athletes from eight states.
Coaches from seven colleges - including Kansas, Kansas State, Louisiana State, and Missouri - were on hand to take in some of the Midwest's top gridiron talent.
"The facilities were nice and I was really impressed with the intensity, especially with the wide receivers and defensive backs," MaxPreps' Randy Walling said. "They really got after it."
Shawnee Mission Northwest (Kan.) wide receiver Chase Mejia, one of six Cougars in attendance, followed up on a strong performance at the U.S. Army National Combine in January with another impressive showing.
"We also saw him in San Antonio, and I have not seen a kid that can cover him," Recruits Unlimited President Greer Monterastelli said. "He runs as good of routes as I have ever seen in a high school kid and has great field speed."
Bryce Atagi, Alex Carder, Mark Fancher, Darion Hillman, and Cole Morrison joined Mejia in representing Shawnee Mission Northwest.
Mejia hauled in 37 passes for 600 yards and six touchdowns as a junior for the Cougars, also racking up over 800 yards in the return game. While he impressed catching passes, a rising junior-to-be may have put his name on the radar of Division I programs in attendance throwing them.
Perennial Kansas City power Rockhurst should be set at quarterback for the next two years with 6-2, 180-pound Nathan Scheelhaase.
"He is a good-looking quarterback. He has the build that colleges are looking for right now," Monterastelli said. "Just being a junior, when he fills out, physically he is going to be a real nice-looking kid. He looks the part and throws a great football. You wouldn't guess that he is just a sophomore now from a physical standpoint and with the way that he carries himself."
Scheelhaase wasn't the only class of 2009 prospect in Lawrence. Nearly a third of the 234 registered student-athletes will be entering their junior or sophomore seasons next fall.
"Without the testing, underclassmen are becoming a little less intimidated physically. They can come out and compete and not worry about the numbers," Monterastelli said.
In addition to Mejia and Scheelhaase, Walling pointed out a number of other participants that turned in solid efforts in Lawrence;
* Chase Bieberle, Great Bend (Kan.): Bieberle is a standout on the wrestling mat in addition to football, where he helped the Panthers to an 11-2 record a year ago. The fullback/linebacker has drawn interest from Washburn, in addition to Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri.
* Logan Pegram, Silver Lake (Kan.): Pegram helped Silver Lake go 14-0 in 2006 en route to a Class 3A title. The Eagles will be a favorite to contend once again next fall with players like Pegram back in the fold. The 6-3, 270-pounder already has an offer from Colorado State.
* Kyson Ginavan, Olathe South (Kan.): Ginavan is becoming a veteran on the camp/combine circuit, having participated in the U.S. Army National Combine in San Antonio and another in Missouri.
"They have really helped me concentrate on playing hard and understanding that there are no off plays," Ginavan said.
The 5-11, 160-pound wide receiver/defensive back was an All-Sunflower League honorable mention selection as a junior and is the son of Olathe South assistant coach Bob Ginavan.
* Brad Terron, Lansing (Kan.): Like Bieberle, Terron is also a standout wrestler and a good-sized fullback/linebacker prospect at 6-0, 220 pounds. Terron told Walling that he would love to catch the eye of Bill Callahan's Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Recruits Unlimited will head West for the next event, the adidas Elite Camp in Los Angeles on the campus of UCLA, where over 450 prospects are already registered.