By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
For the first time in his tenure at Webb City, Jason Horn has a program full of players that are fully integrated in his system.
Entering his fourth year, the Class of 2020 is Horn’s first full graduating class and those seniors will look to guide a group that returns four starters and eight lettermen. Horn and Company are eager to prove that Webb City is more than just a football school.
“Their willingness to lead every day in practice will play a huge role in determining if we are able to reach our team goals,” said Horn. “I think anytime you have talented seniors who provide positive leadership the buy in from the entire team increases. In our situation we generally get a late start with our guys coming out of football so that really multiplies the importance and the focus we need in every practice.
Leading the 2019-20 Cardinals will be senior guards Terrell Kabala and Tanner Rogers.
Kabala, an All-COC selection as a junior, has been a starter since his freshman year and has already committed to play his college basketball for legendary head coach Jim Boone at Arkansas-Fort Smith. The dual-sport start averaged 14 PPG as a junior and has earned the No. 19 ranking in the 2020 Class by Prep Hoops Missouri. Rogers, who is receiving NAIA and JUCO interest, led Webb City with 39 3FG makes last winter.
“I think Terrell is one of the most dynamic players in Southwest Missouri,” said Horn. “During the off season he really expanded his skill set and ability to score the basketball. We are going to lean on him to lead us during the course of the season.”
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The Cardinals return five of their top six scorers from last year with just Alex Gaskill departing due to graduation.
Junior Nickhai “Nene” Howard and sophomore Cohl Vaden, who each averaged 7 PPG last season, will be counted on to help Kabala and Rogers shoulder more of the scoring load. Both players are coming off of a productive offseason and also earned Prep Hoops rankings.
“Nickhai and Cohl are very quick dynamic guards that can score the ball from all three levels,” said Horn. “I think Nickhai may have improved as much as anyone on our team during the offseason. He is very focused on being a complete player and his drive and maturity are on a very high level right now. Cohl has a very mature game. He thinks the game at a high level and he the type of player who can make everyone around him better.”
Junior Mekhi Garrard will again be in the backcourt rotation. He gives Webb City yet another athletic guard that can score at three levels and defend multiple positions. Horn described him as a sleeper in the group.
The frontcourt will see a rotation of several big and diverse athletes that happen to excel on the basketball court.
Senior Colton McKee is one of the program’s top shooters. The junior quartet of Gary Clinton, Jaystin Smith, Luke Brummit and Grant Goltra are all big, athletic football players that will allow Horn to implement some different looks defensively. In fact, Horn feels like this is the deepest and most talented team he’s had in his 14-year career.
“All of those guys have the ability to finish plays offensively and they should be tough for our opponents to keep them off the boards. No question this is by far the most depth I’ve had on any team I’ve coached,” said Horn. “Defensively our depth will give us so many more options than we have had to this point and as you mentioned, we have a very athletic group with a number of guys who can guard all five spots on the floor. We want to play fast and our depth will allow us to keep fresh legs on the floor.”
Webb City has seen district championships in two of the last three seasons, something that hasn’t happened in more than a decade. Horn has orchestrated winning campaigns in all three seasons, with the lone group not to claim a district title being the team the lost Kabala for the entire season due to a torn ACL.
The Cardinals won seven of their last eight games to end last year, before having their season ended by Class 4 power Rogersville.
With so much experience returning, expectations around the program are high. WC wants to compete for conference and district championships, with the hopes of playing basketball well into March.
“Top to bottom the COC is really good and I know it sounds cliché but you really don’t have an off night,” said Horn. “I think there are probably five or six teams who could win the league and there is not a lot of separation between the top and the bottom of the league. We have to be consistent and focused in our preparation and we have to stay healthy for an entire season. With limited practices, I can’t stress enough how important it is for our guys to sharp, focused and engaged every minute we are in the gym.”
Webb City will open the 2019-20 season on Dec. 10 at Lamar.
