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The All O-Zone Boys Basketball team as voted on by the KY3 & OzarksSportsZone.com staff is below. There are more than 100 boys basketball teams in the area, which makes this list extremely difficult to narrow down. We used many factors including opposing coach observations to get this list narrowed down. 

Below are this year’s team with a first-team, second-team and honorable mention. Each team is in alphabetical order after the Player of the Year Zach Howell.

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FIRST 5

Zach Howell, Catholic – Player of the Year

Howell stepped up when the lights shined brightest this year. In a Blue & Gold semifinal win against Nixa, Howell poured in 33 points. When Catholic was added to the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions on short notice, he dropped 30 against Paul VI in a five-point loss to the eventual Virginia state champion. In the final four, he scored 25 of Catholic’s 50 points in the semifinal and 23 of 51 in the third place game. More than a pure shooter, he added in 6.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game to go with his 24 points per game.

STATS: 24 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.3 spg, 48.4% FG, 35.4% 3-pt FG (87 made)
HONORS: Class 5 All-State, Big 8 East Player of the Year, First-Team All-Big 8 East, Class 5 District 5 Player of the Year

Garrett Davault, Norwood

Davault was one of the most fun players to watch this year. He did whatever it took for his team to win and they did that, a lot. Norwood went 31-1 and won the program’s first state title. Want scoring? He did that averaging 24.2 points per game. Want a facilitator? He averaged almost 6 assists per game. Defense? Davault brought six rebounds and 2.6 steals per night. In the final four, he put Norwood on his back with a 39-point effort in the semifinals. In the state title game, he scored 24 points, but one of his biggest plays in that game doesn’t show up in the box score. With time winding down and Norwood trailing, Bernie elected to bracket Davault with two defenders. Instead of trying to force something, he proceeded to back off almost to half court taking both defenders with him allowing his teammates to work a four-on-three and get an easy layup to pull the game closer. Even when he wasn’t actively involved with plays, Davault affected the game. The Class 2 Player of the Year finished with 2,744 career points.

STATS: 24.2 ppg, 6 rpg, 5.9 apg, 2.6 spg, 56% FG, 36% 3-pt FG
HONORS: Class 2 Player of the Year, Class 2 All-State, First-Team All-Summit Conference, Class 2 District 10 Player of the Year

Kyle Pock, Bolivar

Bolivar made its debut in the Ozark Conference this year and Kyle Pock announced his arrival by winning Ozark Conference Player of the Year. Bolivar won a district title with Pock leading the way in almost every statistical category while also often drawing the assignment of guarding the opposing team’s best player. He will be a front runner for Player of the Year on this list when next season begins.

STATS: 21 ppg, 8 rpg, 3 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.2 bpg, 53% FG, 35% 3-pt FG
HONORS: Class 5 All-State, Ozark Conference Player of the Year, First-Team All-Ozark Conference

Zaide Lowery, Kickapoo

Lowery is one of the best pure athletes on this list, but his game goes far beyond just athleticism. He scored 15.5 points per game while pulling down 7.1 rebounds per game. That scoring came thanks to effective shooting at 55% from the field and 38% from three-point range. The sky is the limit for Lowery with Division I programs wanting his services on the basketball court or potentially the football field.

STATS: 15.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3 apg, 2 spg, 1 bpg, 55% FG, 38% 3-pt FG
HONORS: Class 6 All-State, First-Team All-Ozark Conference

Colin Ruffin, Nixa

Ruffin was a true floor general for the Eagles dishing out 4.8 assists per game. His steady hand at the point helped Nixa to a state championship game appearance in Coach Jay Osborne’s final year. He was a strong shooter from three at 36%, but once inside the arc, he was deadly shooting 66% on two-point attempts. Coaches recognized his importance to Nixa by naming him both COC Player of the Year and Class 6 District 5 Player of the Year.

STATS: 16 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.8 apg, 66% 2-pt FG, 36% 3-pt FG
HONORS: Class 6 All-State, COC Player of the Year, Unanimous First-Team All-COC, Class 6 District 5 Player of the Year

SECOND 5

Jordan Andrews, Thayer

STATS: 20.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.2 spg, 54% FG
HONORS: Class 3 Player of the Year, Class 3 All-State, First-Team All-SCA, Class 3 District 10 Player of the Year

Kael Combs, Nixa

STATS: 14.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.7 apg, 61% 2-pt FG, 46% 3-pt FG
HONORS: Class 6 All-State, Unanimous First-Team All-COC

Andrew Dalton, Ava

STATS: 25.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.2 spg, 61% FG, 42.9% 3-pt FG
HONORS: Class 4 All-State, SCA Player of the Year, First-Team All-SCA, Class 4 District 11 Player of the Year

K’Dyn Waters, Neosho

STATS: 23 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.5 spg, 64% 2-pt FG, 40% 3-pt FG (53 made)
HONORS: Class 5 All-State, Unanimous First-Team All-COC

Elijah Whitley, Parkview

STATS: 16 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2 apg, 1 spg, 38% FG
HONORS: Class 5 All-State, First-Team All-Ozark Conference

HONORABLE MENTiON

Ahlante Askew, Republic

STATS: 15.4 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg, 44.7% FG, 34.4% 3-pt FG
HONORS: First-Team All-COC

Lawson Beem, Skyline

STATS: 21.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.8 apg, 54.5% 2-pt FG, 36.8% 3-pt FG (70 made)
HONORS: Class 3 All-State, Unanimous First-Team Mid-Lakes, Class 3 District 11 Player of the Year

Jaiden Carrasquillo, Verona

STATS: 23.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.3 apg, 3.1 spg, 49.4% FG
HONORS: Class 2 All-State, Ozark 7 Conference Player of the Year

Devin Carroll, Fair Grove

STATS: 16.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 45.2% FG, 37.4% 3-pt FG (86 made)
HONORS: Class 4 All-State, Unanimous First-Team Mid-Lakes, Class 4 District 10 Player of the Year

Tyler Harmon, Ozark

STATS: 15.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.9 apg, 50.7% FG, 33.6% 3-pt FG
HONORS: First-Team All-COC

Tanner Jones, Greenwood

STATS: 16.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1 spg
HONORS: Class 3 All-State

Isaiah Mitchell, Blue Eye

STATS: 20 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.8 spg
HONORS: Class 2 All-State, SWCL Player of the Year, Class 2 District 11 Player of the Year

AK Rael, Strafford

STATS: 12.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.9 spg, 1.1 bpg
HONORS: Class 3 All-State, Unanimous First-Team Mid-Lakes

Brayden Shorter, Kickapoo

STATS: 15 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 44% 3-pt FG (82 made)
HONORS: Class 6 All-State, First-Team All-Ozark Conference

Always Wright, Joplin

STATS: 21.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4 apg, 1.6 spg, 52% FG, 48% 3-pt FG
HONORS: Unanimous First-Team All-COC