The 20 most underrated high school wide receivers in the West
The high school football recruiting world seems to get bigger and glitzier every year.
As the hype around top prospects grows, high school football players who don't get flooded with D1 offers keep grinding away.
SBLive Sports has been featuring high school football players from the Western United States who might not be big names in the recruiting world — but could be soon if they keep showing out on the football field.
We started with quarterbacks, defensive backs, pass rushers, tacklers and running backs, and now it's the wide receivers' turn.
Here are 20 wide receivers from the West who are poised to boost their recruiting stock this season.
Evan Baalbaky, sr., Meadows (Nevada)
Baalbaky scored on nearly 41 percent of his receptions last season, catching 44 passes for 710 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was also a standout defender with 68 total tackles and four interceptions.
Rowen Bucao, sr., Campbell (Hawaii)
One of the fastest receivers in Hawaii’s open division, Bucao had 58 catches for 941 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. He received second-team all-state honors.
Luey Campos, sr., Crescent Valley (Oregon)
Campos was a big-play threat a season ago for Crescent Valley, hauling in 52 passes for 1,089 yards and 15 touchdowns. He had 313 yards receiving and five touchdowns in a loss to Dallas and 215 yards receiving against Mid-Willamette Conference champion Silverton.
Joe Ciccio, sr., Lutheran (Colorado)
The reigning Class 4A state champion in the 100 meters with a time of 10.53 seconds, Ciccio rarely gets caught from behind. He had 71 receptions for 1,240 yards and 15 touchdowns last season for Lutheran.
Sean Conway, jr., Mountain Vista (Colorado)
Conway had a nose for the end zone as a sophomore, scoring 15 touchdowns on 47 receptions. He finished the season with 951 receiving yards.
Judah Douglas, jr., Temple City (California)
After a solid freshman season playing varsity (41 catches, 694 yards, five TDs), Douglas was twice as good as a sophomore. The 5-foot-10 speedster finished with 67 catches for 1,207 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Sam Evers, sr., Washougal (Washington)
Evers was nearly uncoverable for a Washougal team that ran the table in Class 2A Greater St. Helens League play last season. Evers had 57 receptions for 929 yards and a whopping 16 touchdowns.
Jesus Figeuroa, sr., Shafter (California)
Figeuroa plays receiver and linebacker for Shafter and excels at both. He had 52 receptions for 1,174 yards and 13 touchdowns a season ago while recording 85 total tackles, two sacks, four pass breakups and an interception.
Landon Figueroa, sr., Granger (Utah)
Figueroa is a two-way standout for Granger who can play outside receiver or in the slot. As a junior, Figueroa caught 52 passes for 1,013 yards and 12 touchdowns.
A San Joaquin Memorial defender tries to bring down Central Grizzlies receiver Braylen Hall. (Photo by Bobby Medellin)
Braylen Hall, sr., Central (California)
One of the most underrated players in California regardless of position, Hall is a playmaker with the ball in his hands. He had 66 catches for 1,094 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior while picking off four passes on defense. He holds an offer from Division II power Western Colorado.
Jackson Hix, sr., La Cueva (New Mexico)
A Class 6A first-team all-state selection last season, Hix had 66 receptions for 1,040 yards and 14 touchdowns. He holds Division II ofers from New Mexico Highlands and Eastern New Mexico and has the speed to play D1.
Bennett Juve, so., Williams Field (Arizona)
Starting as a freshman for Gilbert Christian, Juve notched 40 receptions for 952 yards and 13 touchdowns last year. He is now at Class 6A Williams Field and is looking to boost his recruiting stock with a big sophomore season.
Solomon Latimer, sr., Doherty (Colorado)
At 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Latimer uses his length and athleticism to attack jump balls with ferocity. He had 79 receptions for 1,110 yards and 12 touchdowns a season ago for Doherty.
Nash Matheson, sr., Brighton (Utah)
Matheson had an impactful junior season for Brighton, catching 71 passes for 1,036 yards and 13 touchdowns. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Matheson is the favorite target of three-star quarterback Jack Johnson.
Manu Melo, sr., Helena (Montana)
Also a star baseball player for Helena, Melo is one of the top receivers in Montana. He had 50 catches for 1,096 yards and 17 touchdowns last season and boasts offers from NAIA Carroll College and Montana Tech.
Christian Sanabria, sr., Camp Verde (Arizona)
Sanabria couldn’t be stopped at the Class 2A level a season ago, hauling in 71 passes for 1,301 yards and 24 touchdowns. In July, Sanabria picked up his first offer from NAIA Arizona Christian.
Luke Snarr, sr., Kuna (Idaho)
A first-team all-Southern Idaho Conference selection last season, Snarr has solid size (6-foot, 180 pounds) and plenty of speed. He entered this fall with 79 career receptions for 1,359 yards and seven touchdowns.
Dane Steel, sr., Sheridan (Wyoming)
Steel was a two-way standout as a junior for Sheridan, which captured the Class 4A state title. Steel ended the season with 906 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns and was the unanimous 4A defensive player of the year with 104 tackles and two interceptions.
Kyson Thomas, sr., Moses Lake (Washington)
A Columbia Basin Big-9 first-team all-conference performer in all three phases as a junior, Thomas is one of the most versatile skill position players in Class 4A. He had 54 receptions for 720 yards and six touchdowns last season while also scoring on a fumble return and interception return.
Barry Weatherspoon, sr., Eagle Rock (California)
Weatherspoon is an offensive weapon for Eagle Rock who is capable of playing receiver and running back. He did most of his damage last year as a pass catcher, tallying 63 receptions for 1,024 yards and 11 touchdowns.
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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports
