photo by: Chance Parker

Lawrence offensive tackle Noah Smith is selected sixth overall in the 2021 Lawrence High Summer Showcase Draft at 23rd Street Brewery Monday, June 21, 2021.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell might not have been announcing picks, but the inaugural Summer Showcase Draft was everything Lawrence High football coach Clint Bowen could have imagined.

Twenty-two picks were made during an hourlong event at 23rd Street Brewery on Monday. Players did their part in making it resemble the NFL Draft as much as possible by wearing extravagant outfits and participating in interviews for social media after being selected.

The idea originated in 2010, when Bowen was an assistant at Western Kentucky. A draft was how that program decided teams for their spring game, and the Lions used it Monday to determine the teams for Thursday’s summer scrimmage.

When a player was drafted to either the “Lions” or “Chestys”, then his backup was immediately placed on the other team.

Whenever a player was picked, the rest of the team erupted in cheers as their teammate walked toward the podium for a hat and a picture. That level of support was Bowen’s favorite part during a memorable day in his first offseason with the team.

“I was really excited to see how the kids got into it,” Bowen said. “They dressed the part, they came up and looked the part and did it. In the green room, they were getting together and having fun. I was really excited that the players got into it.

“It turned out to be what we had hoped it would be,” Bowen added.

Senior quarterback Truman Juelsgaard was the first selection of the draft.

“It was amazing,” he said. “Coach Bowen just coming in here, bringing in a new flavor and maybe a new tradition. It is just awesome to see something new. It was so fun.”

photo by: Chance Parker

Lawrence quarterback Truman Juelsgaard is interviewed after being selected first overall in the 2021 Lawrence High Summer Showcase Draft at 23rd Street Brewery Monday, June 21, 2021.

More than the newness of it, the draft was a great opportunity for the team to bond during an event unlike any other in the state.

Players sat together at tables in the lobby, an area that was designated as the green room on this particular day. Coaches were set up in booths on the other side of the dining area for their war room while sending draft cards to make each pick.

Former Lawrence High standout Amani Bledsoe, who is now a member of Cincinnati Bengals, was one of the multiple guests to take turns announcing picks. Former LHS coach Dirk Wedd and new Lawrence principal Jessica Bassett also took their turns announcing picks.

When a player was selected, he marched to the front and was handed a team hat. The player then posed for photos before participating in an interview with Matt Llewellyn, who is the managing partner at 23rd Street Brewery, along with Wedd and Bledsoe at a nearby table.

The entire draft, including interviews, was streamed live at “lhschestylionfootball” on Instagram. Plenty of family members were in attendance to fill up the restaurant.

“It was a great experience, a good team builder,” said senior left tackle Noah Smith, who was the sixth overall pick in the draft. “It really just shows our team off to the rest of the city. It really shows what our team is building toward.”

Much like the NFL Draft every year, there was no suspense regarding the first pick in the Summer Showcase Draft. As the starting quarterback, Juelsgaard had a pretty good idea that he was going to hear his name called by Bledsoe to begin the draft.

So that’s why Juelsgaard made sure to look the part. He wore a full suit with yellow glitter shoes, while adding a nice touch to his outfit with his father’s basketball jersey underneath his top along with his mother’s necklace.

“It is also my senior year and you have to show out your senior year,” Juelsgaard said. “I just went out a little bit, had to get my name in there.”

Smith had the same idea, sporting an outfit he also put together Monday morning. He wore a velvet suit top and short orange shorts. Smith rounded out his outfit with a bracelet, two different chains and sunglasses.

“They bought into it,” Bowen said. “That is what we talk about. Anything we do, if we do it all together, it is probably going to work out. We can make any situation good and you can make any situation bad. They made this a good one.”

photo by: Chance Parker

The Lawrence High football team hosted a draft for the 2021 Summer Showdown. The draft took place at 23rd Street Brewery Monday, June 21, 2021.

While the quarterback going first overall was no surprise, there were plenty of notable picks made. After Juelsgaard went to the Lions, the Chestys made sure to grab his starting center by selecting Bryan Zeckser with the second pick in the draft.

“I was excited about that one,” Bowen said. “What he’s done in camp has obviously earned some respect from his teammates for what we’ve done so far in the summertime.”

Junior tight end Cole Watson was nabbed by the Lions with the third pick. The Chestys followed that up by drafting defensive end Lance Bassett, who transferred from Piper after his mother was hired by LHS.

Senior left guard Acen Villegas came off the board with the fifth pick, but he won’t have Smith to the left of him in the scrimmage, since the left tackle was taken one slot later. Senior receiver Baylor Bowen was nabbed by the Lions with the seventh pick.

Despite it being his first season on the gridiron, senior safety Avion Nelson was drafted with the eighth overall pick. Nelson was an impact player on the basketball team as a junior and followed that up with a strong track campaign as a jumper.

“It honestly meant a lot,” Nelson said of being picked. “Me being a starter and me being in my first year. I’m still learning a little bit.”

Linebackers Kenton Simmons and Evan Bannister rounded out the top 10 after getting picked ninth and 10th, respectively. Cornerback Tony Jacobsen then had the honors of being “Mr. Irrelevant” by getting drafted with the 22nd and final pick.

In this case, though, the selection was significant because of what it represented. Jacobsen was the lone sophomore picked, with the other 21 players going into their junior or senior seasons.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to get drafted as a sophomore,” Jacobsen said. “Coach probably just thought I have some speed and I’m willing to try. So that’s probably why.”

This year’s Summer Showcase is slated to begin with the freshmen at 6 p.m. Thursday. The varsity action is scheduled to follow. Players will wear shoulder pads and helmets, but both teams should have a nice mix of starters and backups.

“It is a really good opportunity to blend guys together,” Smith said. “It is not just starters on one side. Our offensive line will gel together a little bit better, and that will be really good for us.”

LHS Summer Showcase Draft

Monday at 23rd Street Brewery

Selections

1st pick: Truman Juelsgaard, QB, Lions

2nd pick: Bryan Zeckser, Center, Chestys

3rd pick: Cole Watson, TE, Lions

4th pick; Lance Bassett, DE, Chestys

5th pick: Acen Villegas, LG, Lions

6th pick: Noah Smith, LT, Chestys

7th pick: Baylor Bowen, WR, Lions

8th pick: Avion Nelson, S, Chestys

9th pick: Kenton Simmons, LB, Lions

10th pick: Evan Bannister, LB, Chestys

11th pick: Josh King, RB, Lions

12th pick: Sam Sedo, WR, Chestys

13th pick: Aiden Lewis, RT, Lions

14th pick: Zeric Avery, CB, Chestys

15th pick: Malique Morris-Ramirez, NT, Lions

16th pick: Keyan Crawford, S, Chestys

17th pick: Macade Lewis, S, Lions

18th pick: Tate Meyer, DE, Chestys

19th pick: Blake Morris, RG, Lions

20th pick: Nathan Blettner, MLB, Chestys

21st pick: Kivryen Heck, WR, Lions

22nd pick: Tony Jacobsen, CB, Chestys