By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
SPRINGFIELD — It’s the dawn of a new era for the Greenwood boys basketball program, as the Blue Jays prepare for their first season without all-everything standout Aminu Mohammed.
One of the most highly touted prospects to ever come through Missouri, the Georgetown commit wrapped up his three years with the Blue Jays by being named a McDonald’s All-American, the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Show Me Basketball.
They were the latest in a long list of individual awards for Mohammed, who led Greenwood to the 2019 state championship, a 75-13 record and three district titles in his tenure at the school.
“He was not only a great player but leader and teammate,” Blue Jays coach Darren Taylor said. “He meant a lot to the team.”
Noting Mohammed “cannot be replaced,” Taylor said returning players like 3-point wizard Tommy Pinegar, defensive stalwart Nick Burri and clutch shooter Ryan Gibbons are ready for expanded roles as Greenwood begins its quest for a fourth straight district championship.
“We lose 71-percent of our scoring and 83-percent of our rebounding, so there are some holes to fill,” Taylor said. “I believe with our experienced players — with the help of the players hungry for varsity action — we can compete.”
Mohammed alone represented about 35 percent of the team’s offense and 30 percent of the team’s rebounding, as he averaged 23.3 points and 10 boards per game in his final season.
All-district selections Grant Harper, a three-year starter at point guard, and 6-foot-9 Victory Naboya, the No. 2 scorer, also graduated from a team that went 20-6 and advanced to the state quarterfinals, where it lost to an undefeated Hartville team that later won the championship.
Greenwood games will undoubtedly look different without those three players in the lineup.
“It is a new beginning this year after losing a lot of great seniors,” said Gibbons, a senior captain. “Everyone is adapting to the new look really well. We will be taking on new roles and have worked hard to prepare for the season and (are) looking forward to what is to come this year.”
What exactly is that new look? Taylor is keeping his cards close to his vest.
“As with any loss to graduation, you will have to adjust to your personnel,” the coach said.
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Whatever system the Blue Jays choose to utilize will not involve all-district honoree Kaden Stuckey, who was widely seen as one of the top-ranked Class of 2023 prospects in the state.
The son of former Missouri State standout Kelby Stuckey did not appear in a list of prepared comments Taylor provided regarding returning players and the team’s outlook for the season. Asked specifically about Kaden Stuckey’s status, Taylor did not return a request for comment.
Pinegar, a three-year Greenwood starter who is one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in the Ozarks, will be a focal point for Greenwood this year. Taylor said Pinegar “has rounded out his game and looks to have a big senior year.”
Pinegar had 6.9 points per game for Greenwood last season, the most of any returning player. Taylor also commended Pinegar’s “tremendous attitude” and named him a captain for this year.
“After coming up short of where we wanted to be last year, I am very excited to start my senior year and see how we can all improve as a team after losing (a) great senior class,” Pinegar said.
Gibbons gives the Blue Jays another potent weapon from beyond the arc, as he knocked down several clutch 3-pointers in key games last season — including four in the district title game.
Like Pinegar, Taylor said Gibbons added other dimensions to his game in the offseason.
“Ryan is a tremendous outside shooter who has also worked on his ability to get to the basket,” Taylor said, noting Gibbons would also be a captain this year. “Look for him to play a big role.”
Burri also returns to anchor a defense that held opponents to just over 50 points per game a year ago. Taylor said the two-year starter has improved his outside shooting and will play a bigger role in the offense after averaging 5.3 points per game as a sophomore.
Sophomore guard Tanner Jones, the 6-foot-3 son of former NBA champion Dahntay Jones, “made some big plays in big games” during his freshman season, Taylor said. He will help replace Harper, who is playing at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis.
“He has grown and will be valuable in taking over at point guard,” Taylor said.
Seniors Will Schaller (6-foot-7) and Seydina Diouf (6-foot-3), junior Griffin Litherland (6-foot-2) and freshman Collin Clark (6-foot-5) all have the size needed to haul in rebounds. Sophomore forward Garrett Winslow (6-foot-5) transferred from Spokane and provides another option on the boards.
Seniors Gage Smart, Ziggy Gititu and Zach Bailey will all provide depth at guard. Smart and Gititu are both strong defenders, Taylor said, while Bailey ran the junior varsity offense last year.
“I think the returning players are ready to step into bigger roles,” Taylor added.
The Blue Jays will open the season at the Willard Basketball Classic, which begins on December 1. Their home opener is set for December 7 against New Covenant Academy.
“We will again have a very challenging schedule,” Taylor said. “Hopefully that will prepare us for (the) postseason.”
Greenwood’s last three playoff runs have all involved a showdown with emerging rival Hartville, with the winner of that game ultimately going on to win the state title. Each Greenwood-Hartville playoff game has been decided by three or fewer points, with the Eagles taking the last two.
Basketball class and district assignments aren’t scheduled to be released until November 19, so it’s hard to gauge the chances of the schools meeting for Round 4 until that date at the earliest.
With so many teams experiencing turnover this summer, even that day seems like a stretch.
“There is a lot of balance in 3A basketball and several teams will compete for postseason play,” Taylor said.
