Nevada Preps pass catchers countdown — No. 2

To create the list, we spoke with coaches from the Mountain and Desert Regions. A couple of the base questions were: “Who is the top high school pass catcher today?” and “Who would you pick to start a team?”

Then we grabbed the statistics from last season, looked at the player’s collective rankings on recruiting websites and used our own judgment to fill holes.

Stay tuned for the rest of our pass catchers and defensive player lists that will be unveiled each week until the end of July.

Nevada Preps Pass Catchers Rank: Green Valley’s Kalyja Waialae No. 2

Class

2019

Vitals

5 feet, 9 inches; 155 pounds

Honors

All-Southeast League Second Team (2017)

Recruiting

N/A

Last Year’s Stats

Waialae, who quarterbacked the Gators in 2016, had a team-high 33 receptions for 591 yards and seven touchdowns.

What they are saying

— “That kid was good. He lit us up and made a lot of plays downfield,” a Mountain Region coach said. “I just liked his route running ability, his quickness. He was one of the better receivers that we saw last year.”

— “They’re probably going to feature him quite a bit, get the ball in his hands,” one Desert Region coach said.”We didn’t know if he was going to be their top guy or not last year, but good athlete good kid with the ball in his hands.”

— “He’s a special player. … He’s shifty, he’s got great hands and he knows how to get open. Green Valley has used him a lot over the years at different positions,” another Desert Region coach said. “He’s a weapon for sure. You have to know where he lines up and you have to gameplan to try to slow him down. I don’t think you’re going to stop him.”

To get involved in the discussion, use #NVPrepsFB on Twitter. You also can follow along @nevadapreps.

Nevada Preps Pass Catchers Rank: Desert Pines’ Darnell Washington No. 3

Class

2020

Vitals

6 feet, 7 inches; 245 pounds

Honors

Class 3A All-State First Team (2017), All-Class 3A Southern First Team (2017), All-Class 3A Sunset League First Team (2017)

Recruiting

Washington, who doubles as a defensive end, is one of the top junior recruits in the country, and has scholarship offers from some of the best college football programs in the country, including Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas and Southern California.

Last Year’s Stats

Washington had 19 receptions for 309 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 16.3 yards per reception.

What they are saying

— “He’s a matchup nightmare with his size and his coordination with his ball skills, it’s very difficult, especially when he has the high point with the ball,” a Mountain Region coach said. “Very strong hands, very coordinated.”

— “They didn’t really pass much on us so I didn’t see much of him as far as passing is concerned,” another Mountain Region coach said.

Nevada Preps Pass Catchers Rank: Faith Lutheran’s Peyton Thornton No. 4

Class

2020

Vitals

6 feet, 3 inches; 200 pounds

Honors

All-Northwest League Second Team (2017)

Recruiting

N/A

Last Year’s Stats

Thornton had 47 catches for 607 yards and seven touchdowns last season. The yards and touchdowns were the second most on the Crusaders, who had one of the most prolific passing offenses in Southern Nevada. He averaged 12.9 yards per reception.

What they are saying

— “He just had a real productive year. He’s really long,” one Mountain Region coach said. “He’s not a blazer, but the dude has gorilla hands. He catches everything.”

Nevada Preps Pass Catchers Rank: Foothill’s Braeden Wilson No. 5

Class

2019

Vitals

6 feet, 3 inches; 200 pounds

Honors

All-Southeast League First Team (2017)

Recruiting

N/A

Last Year’s Stats

Wilson led the Falcons with 43 catches for 587 yards and seven touchdowns. He averaged 13.7 yards per reception, and his seven touchdowns were the second most on the team among all position players.

What they are saying

— “Those guys are getting faster and stronger,” one Desert Region coach said of Wilson, and the rest of Foothill’s receivers.

— “Braeden Wilson was (Foothill’s) top receiver,” another Desert Region coach said.