By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are some of the area’s girls basketball players who could have breakout seasons this year.
220 TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS – CLICK HERE
CLASS 1-6 BOYS & GIRLS PLAYERS TO WATCH – CLICK HERE
Collin Clark, Greenwood Sophomore
The Jays lost a ton of production from last year, but don’t feel bad for Darren Taylor just yet. In addition to Nick Burri, he has one of the area’s most gifted players in Clark. He’s pushing 6-foot-7 but shoots it and handles it like a combo guard. He averaged 11 points and 4.1 rebounds as a freshman and should see dramatic increases to those numbers as a sophomore. He’s a basketball junkie that has lived in a gym his whole life; he has some high-level basketball in his future.
Keyton Cook, Licking Junior
Lane Duncan will forever be one of my favorite players in the O-Zone era and while Cook is a different kind of player, he’s going to have a chance to have that kind of impact. He averaged 15.7 points last year and was known as a catch-and-shoot guy. Expect to see more of him off the dribble this year.
Tegen Curley, Marshfield Sophomore
Curley has a slight frame that is extremely deceptive; he’s a hooper. As a freshman he averaged 5.8 points and five rebounds. All he did over the summer was pick up interest from D-1s at all levels. Another highly skilled player with length and athleticism that projects to the next level. He’s a future star.
Baron Duda & Holton Keith, Webb City Guards
Injuries have changed what Webb City will look like this year, taking away last year’s leading scorer Dante Washington. Webb City is still loaded with a talented group of young guards. Duda is a big-time scorer and shot-maker with great positional size. Keith is an elite defender and is great at getting downhill and putting pressure on opponents. Both are ready to make an immediate impact.
Keion Epps & Bryce Walker, Central Sophomores
Epps and Walker are the future of the OC and Central Basketball. Epps is a D-1 prospect that has turned into one of the state’s top 2025 prospects as a true, two-way point guard. Walker is a 6-foot-6 wing that is a plus athlete. The duo made waves as freshmen and give coach Jordan Epps a ton of flexibility.
Eli Govan, Parkview Sophomore
Physically, Govan has every tool you need to be successful on a basketball court. He’s a 6-foot-6 wing with positional versatility and guard skills. His summer with Sho-Me Assault was impressive with some big performances against national programs. How his frame develops will play a major role in his recruitment, but he has high-end potential.
Brenley Hagewood, Republic Sophomore
Republic keeps a guard rotation that generally comes in two-year gaps and as the Tigers prepare to send Askew off, they welcome one of the area’s most dynamic guards in Hagewood. He’s a big-time talent with a great feel. He was solid last year, expect him to have a breakout season this winter.
Brody McNew, Strafford Senior
You may remember McNew from his time in SCA country, where he let his family genetics help him put the ball in the basket at an impressive rate. After sitting out his junior season, the 6-foot-5 sniper is back to his scoring and playmaking ways. He gives Strafford the best 1-2 punch on the wing in Class 3.
Jackson Shorter, Kickapoo Sophomore
He may be the little brother of Brayden Shorter, but he has big-time game. Jackson is already pushing 6-foot-7 and has elite shot-making ability. He has a lot of Jared Ridder to his game as a long, athletic wing that shoots it well. He will make a major impact this season.
Honorable Mention
Ethan Brown, Rolla Freshman
Jessy Gamel, Verona Sophomore
Tanner Hicks, Hillcrest Sophomore
Peyton McDaris, Norwood Sophomore
Aiden Meade, Skyline Freshman
Fred Taylor, Joplin Freshman
Cody Voysey, Strafford Sophomore
