Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are the area’s Class 1 Boys Basketball Players to Watch this year.
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Austin Brown, Macks Creek Senior
Brown exploded last season, almost tripling his scoring output (4.4 to 12.7) and rebounding numbers (3.1 to 8.4). At 6-foot-4, he’s a true big that owns the paint on both ends. He posted five double-doubles and added 1.3 blocks a night.
Luke Bushey & Bailey McGill, Dadeville Juniors
Dadeville fans have been looking forward to this season for some time as Bushey and McGill have been two of the top players in their class locally for years. Bushey is a 6-foot-4 guard and entering his fourth year as a starter, averaging 13 points, four rebounds and three assists as a junior. McGill added 11 points and four rebounds. Both shot better than 40 percent from 3. The program has seen its win total increase each of the last three seasons.
Kane Cooper & Connor Lewandowski, Lockwood
The best duo in Class 1 is in Lockwood this season with 6-foot-5 Kane Cooper and Greenfield move-in Connor Lewandowski. Cooper is a four-year varsity starter that averaged 11.5 points and five rebounds as a junior. Lewandowski had multiple huge games last year, including a season-high 37 points vs. Hurley. The Tigers will reload, not rebuild after losing an incredible senior class.
Sloan Gallivan, Halfway Senior
It was hard to get headlines playing alongside All-Everything Trenton McCarthy, but Gallivan was extremely productive as a junior, averaging 14.7 points and 8.5 rebounds. Maybe his best attribute is his defensive IQ, helping him draw 24 charges last season.
Caden Myers, Thomas Jefferson Senior
Myers is a baseball standout, but has found success on the basketball court as well. As a junior averaged 15.8 points (seven 20-point games), four assists and 3.2 rebounds for a 20-win team. His size and explosiveness allow him to get downhill at will. He signed with Drury University to continue his baseball career.
Josh Reeves, Golden City Junior
Reeves would be a player no matter what size program he’s in. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 16.9 points and 5.1 rebounds, knocking down a school-record 85 3’s at a 43 percent clip. And that came playing alongside all-time greats Lane Dunlap and Chain Parrill. He’ll put up monster numbers as the program’s go-to guy this winter.
Others to Watch
Tucker Ahlers, Humansville Junior
Jay Ball, Thomas Jefferson Junior
Brady Gladden, Everton Sophomore
Clayton Henderson, Niangua Sophomore
Corey Hillburn, Exeter Junior
Dylan Hunsaker, Bradleyville Junior
Eli Kerr, Lockwood Junior
Terry Lowery, Hurley Senior
Max Parrill, Golden City Senior
Davin Sawyer, Wheatland Junior
Justus Yates, Hermitage Sophomorej
