The wait is over the PrepsKC McCarthy Elite team is here. The best 28 players in the Metro on the most exclusive team in the history of the Metro.
The announcements began Thursday with the specialists and continues with a position group a day until the team is complete. Then the offensive and defensive players of the year will be announced followed by the MVP as the top player on the team.
The final position group is the offensive backfield with the running backs and quarterbacks. These are the people that touch the ball the most and all of them led their teams to dozens of victories in 2024. Below is more information on the team members and interviews with each of them.
Quarterback
Rocco Marriott – Jr., Platte County
Simply one of the best seasons by a quarterback in the Metro in recent history. Marriott led the Pirates to a perfect 14-0 record ending with the Missouri Class 5 state championship. He finished the year with 3,084 yards passing, completed 67 percent of his passes for 39 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He was also a force on the ground with 622 yards on 92 carries while scoring another 19 TDs for 58 total TDs on the year.
Running backs
Reggie Reece – Jr., Mill Valley
A first-year starter who carried the Jaguars offense for most of the season. Reece finished with 1,948 yards rushing, averaging 8.4 yards per carry and scoring 25 touchdowns in 11 games. He helped lead Mill Valley to the Kansas Class 5A quarterfinals where they lost 23-22 to eventual champions St. Thomas Aquinas.
Cal Arndt – Jr., St. Thomas Aquinas
After missing most of the Saints 2023 Class 4A championship season the junior returned in a big way in 2024. Arndt finished with 2,000 yards on 307 carries while scoring 27 touchdowns. He was consistent all season with nine 100-yard games and three 200-yard games.
Jaxon Hicks – Sr., Liberty
At the start of the season, it looked like Hicks would be splitting carries for the Jays but an injury put the workload on the senior and he delivered rushing for 2,717 yards on 342 carries with 29 rushing touchdowns. He also had two receiving scores as well helping Liberty to the Missouri Class 6 semifinals after earning its first district title since 2006.
12/12: Specialists
12/13: Defensive Backs
12/14: Offensive Line
12/15: Linebackers
12/16: Receivers
12/17: Defensive Line
12/18: Running backs/Quarterback
12/19: PrepsKC McCarthy Elite Team Off/Def players of the year
12/20: PrepsKC McCarthy Elite Team MVP
