By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are the area’s Class 4 Boys Basketball Players to Watch this year.
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Jay Baxter, Stockton Senior
Baxter is one of the most intriguing prospects in the area because of his size and athleticism. He’s one of the best athletes in the Ozarks, but he’s also super skilled and has a soft touch. He averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds as a junior. He’s also an underrated facilitator, something that you wouldn’t expect from his 6-foot-5 frame.
Aidan Burns, Thayer Junior
Burns has the unique ability to get to whatever spot he wants to on the floor. He has cat-like quickness and shifty, but he’s also a plus athlete. He loves getting downhill and is a creative finisher at the rim. As a sophomore he averaged 14 points and five rebounds for a Final Four team. As a junior he’ll become “The Dude” at one of the Ozarks’ premiere programs.
Nick Burri, Greenwood Senior
He’s kind of like duct tape because he has so many uses. Burri stuffed the stat sheet with 15.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, two assists and 1.7 steals. The 6-foot-3 guard can defend several positions and create for himself or others. With Tanner Jones and Tommy Pinegar gone, he will take on an even bigger role this winter.
Tom Emerick, Mansfield Senior
This is another kid that isn’t just small-school good, but good good. He’s a 6-foot-5 wing that would be as good at any COC or OC school as he is at Mansfield. As a junior, he averaged 16.7 points and 9.5 rebounds, but also shot 57 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3. Maybe the most unique part is his ability to change games defensively with his versatility and physicality.
Terrell Gaines, Liberty Junior
The saying good things come in small packages was meant for Gaines’s impact on the hardwood. He’s an absolute bucket-getting clinician. As a sophomore he averaged 22 a night and truly gets it in at all three levels despite being just 5-foot-8. Last year he had multiple 30-point performances. He’s going to be a pain for the SCA over the next two years and is just 54 points away from 1,000 (already).
Jacob Lafferty, Sparta Junior
His first two seasons have been as productive as it gets with the 6-foot-7 forward averaging 17.7 points and 10.1 rebounds. He’s another big that not only finishes well above the rim but has good enough feet to defend nearly 1-5. Expect the double-doubles, monster dunks and wins to continue.
Landon Murry, El Dorado Springs Junior
As a sophomore, Murry was an All-Conference and All-District selection while helping El Dorado Springs win a district championship. The little lefty has a burner, leading the team in 3’s. Also a football standout, Murry is just scratching the surface of his basketball potential.
Chad Noble, Seymour Senior
Noble is no doubt a talented guard, averaging 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists as a junior. He also has the benefit of playing for one of the best guard-developing coaches in the Ozarks in Chris Hastings. We’ve seen what Hastings did at Crane with some great guards as well. Noble will have a shot at a monster senior season with Hastings at the helm.
AK Rael, Strafford Senior
If we had a draft of players in the Ozarks, Rael would be one of the first picks regardless of class. He’s a 6-foot-5 super athletic wing that is also a big-time shot maker. He’s been a regular for Strafford since his freshman year and has won a ton of games. The all-state guard is one of the toughest defensive assignments in the area.
JD Tate, Spokane Senior
Standing at 6-foot-8, Tate is the most imposing player in the SWCL and he’s the most dominant as well. He’s coming off of a junior season that saw him average 18.9 points and 10.3 rebounds, and that’s while laboring through several injuries. The physical big had a great summer and is coming into the season healthy and confident, which is bad news for everyone else.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Joel Beshore, Lamar Senior
Kaden Burley, El Dorado Springs Senior
Stone Jackson, Houston Junior
Jordan Lassiter, Houson Senior
Dexter Loveland, Sparta Senior
Brendon Paulsen, Southwest Junior
Drew Ripko, MV-BT/Liberty Senior
Jaxon Rowden, Fair Grove Senior
Garrett Smith, Sarcoxie Junior
Cody Voysey, Strafford Sophomore
Cole Wallace, Licking Senior
Drake Young, Dixon Senior
