Wichita Heights High School junior sensation Perry Ellis is planning on competing for Wichita’s Pray and Play Players at the 2011 Jayhawk Invitational youth basketball tournament set for April 29 to May 1 at various gyms in and around Lawrence.

Three-time state Gatorade Player of the Year Ellis, who is Rivals.com’s No. 19-rated player in the Class of 2012, averaged 22.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists a game in leading Heights to a 25-0 record and third straight Class 6A state title.

Led by the 6-foot-8, 220-pound Ellis, Heights has won a Class 6A-record 44 consecutive games over the past two seasons.

“In my opinion, he’s having the greatest career in the history of large-class basketball in Kansas. The data pretty much makes that almost an irrefutable point,” Heights coach Joe Auer told the Wichita Eagle, which recently tapped Ellis all-state for the third straight year.

“He plays the toughest competition in the state and he absorbs so much defensive focus and pressure from the other team,” Auer added.

Here are some of the accomplishments of blue-chip college prospect Ellis, who has a recruiting list of Kansas University, Kansas State, Kentucky, Memphis, Oklahoma and Wichita State.

• Hit a school-record 74.9 percent of his floor shots, 33.3 percent of his threes and 71.7 percent of his free throws in 2010-11.

• Scored a career-high 38 points against Wichita Northwest. Also scored 25 points in the 2011 state semifinals over Olathe East and averaged 18.0 points and 8.0 boards overall in the state tourney despite being double- and triple-teamed at times.

• Is Heights’ career rebounding leader (753 boards) after passing former Wichita State standout Antoine Carr this past season.

• Is Heights’ career No. 2 scorer (1,585 points) after passing Carr and former KU standout Darnell Valentine last season. Should pass Aubrey Sherrod (1,739 points) next season.

• Averaged 22.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals as a junior. Averaged 19.2 points and 11.7 rebounds as a freshman.

• Scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds and was named MVP in leading the West to an 107-104 victory over the East in the recent All-America championships in Houston. Was 5-6 from the field, 2-2 from three.

• Has perfect 4.0 grade point average and ranks No. 1 in his graduating class at Heights, where he also works as a tutor for fellow students.

• Volunteers as youth basketball instructor as well as multiple youth literacy-outreach initiatives … serves as motivational speaker for youngsters and gives time to the Wichita Children’s Home.

“As big a hyped kid as he is, he’s got the best demeanor I’ve ever seen out of a 16-, 17-, 18-year-old,” Shawnee Mission East coach Shawn Hair told Rivals.com. “He’s never crazy high. He doesn’t seem too low. He has a very even, steady keel.”

As far as being perhaps the best prep player in state history … McDonald’s All-Americans from the state of Kansas since 1977 include Valentine, Danny Manning, Greg Dreiling and Wayne Simien. Manning played at Lawrence High for just one season.

Of course, there are a great number of Kansans who excelled throughout history in decades prior to the start of the McDonald’s game.

“He’s just a tremendously gifted athlete,” Heights coach Auer told Rivals.com. “He has a rare combination of size, speed and strength. I think sometimes we’re so obsessed with the team concept and he’s such a team player. He’s so reserved and doesn’t seek out the spotlight.”

He has played all five positions, including point guard in a pinch.

“He will be a tremendous representative for any university that is fortunate to sign him. It has been a privilege and honor to coach such an outstanding young man,” Auer told National Recruiting Spotlight.

More information on the Jayhawk Invitational will be available in coming weeks leading to the start of the event. The main gym and team headquarters is Haskell Indian Nations University’s Coffin Complex.

Recruiting: KU coaches were to visit the home of Braeden Anderson, a 6-8, 215-pound senior from Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Massachusetts, on Saturday. The trip was not to the school, but Anderson’s home in Okotoks, Alberta in Canada. He’s considering KU, Kentucky, Arizona, Florida and Mississippi State. … Rivals.com says KU will receive a visit from J’Mychal Reese, a 6-1 junior from Bryan (Texas) High, who averaged 28.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists a game last season.