By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are the area’s Class 6 Girls Basketball Players to Watch this year.
MORE THAN 200 TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS – CLICK HERE
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NOTE: NAMES ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. THERE WILL ALSO BE A SEPARATE BREAKOUT PLAYERS LIST.
Lauren Choate, Carthage Junior
As a sophomore, Choate proved to be one of the best catch-and-shoot threats in the COC, averaging 11 points and 2.5 steals for Carthage. But now, without All-Everything Kianna Yates, Choate demonstrated her ability to create for herself and others off the bounce. She should be among the top scorers in the COC this season.
Bodie Cox, Lebanon Senior
Lebanon lost a great senior class, but Cox will make sure Lebanon has a reload and not a rebuild. The 6-foot-1 forward is coming off a junior season where she averaged 11.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 steals. Her length and athleticism are big-time with a game that is rapidly expanding. She has one of the highest ceilings in the Ozark Conference.
Avery Givens, Glendale Senior
Givens was a double-double machine as a junior, averaging 10.3 points and 10.4 rebounds to help Glendale to a monster season under Matt Powell. While she’s an elite defender due to her motor and instincts, her offensive game is rapidly catching up as well, which will allow her to score inside and out as a senior.
Laila Grant & Brooke Teter, Nixa Juniors
As elite as Nixa’s backcourt is, the frontcourt is just as good with Grant and Teter. Grant is just now scratching the surface of her potential, but the 6-foot-2 forward is elite size and length with rare athleticism for that frame. She’s the type of athlete D1 coaches dream to have in the front court. Teter is a 5-foot-10 wing that excels in transition. With Jenny Talbert taking over at Nixa and her ability to highlight bigs, both Grant and Teter will be a handful for opponents the next two years.
Breona Hurd, Waynesville Senior
Not many programs have a player with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, but Hurd could give Waynesville its second such player in the last decade, joining former D2 All-American Kallie Bildner. Hurd averaged 27 points and 13 rebounds as a junior. The Virginia signee is a 6-foot-2 phenom, with elite physical tools. Her game and resume are rare.
Kya Johnson, Kickapoo Senior
Johnson will play volleyball collegiately next year at Missouri State, but she’ll terrorize the Ozark Conference one last time. The 5-foot-6 guard does a little bit of everything, averaging 10 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists, but she’s an elite defender and changes games defensively as much as she does offensively.
Lilly Mahy & Sadie Conway, Nixa Seniors
In terms of tandems, it doesn’t get much better than Mahy and Conway. Their numbers from last year won’t blow you away but their impact will. Both can defend at a high level and score with the best of them. Mahy is heading to Northwest Oklahoma next year and Conway will join her sister at Rockhurst. Not many backcourts have a pair of D2 signees running the show.
Misora Nambara & Lauren Chastain, Republic Seniors
What Nambara lacks in size she makes up for in quickness and IQ. Nambara is a true point guard that excels at getting into gaps and finding teammates. She’s also a crafty finisher around the rim. Republic is in great hands with her running the show. The offense will look a little different, but will still be extremely potent. Chastain is back for Republic after averaging eight points as a junior. She shoots it extremely well and has range that starts when she gets off the bus. She’s getting better off of the bounce as well. Chastain will continue her career at Lincoln Land (JUCO).
Mikayla Pilley, Kickapoo Junior
Pilley was great as a sophomore but could have a breakout junior season. The 5-foot-10 guard can get a bucket in every possible way with size that allows her to bully smaller guards. She averaged 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and a pair of assists as a sophomore, but then followed that up with a great summer playing for an Oklahoma Swift program that has been churning out D1 players lately.
Madelyn Zingg, Glendale Sophomore
Zingg was really good as a freshman for Glendale, giving the Falcons a guard that can make perimeter jumpers and score off the bounce. But, with how she opened the season against Catholic, she’s quickly proving she’s one of the best in the Ozarks. Her 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks prove her versatility. There’s not many 6-foot-1 guards walking around that can do what she does.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Katlyn Black, Waynesville Senior
Maggie Boyd, Carthage Junior
Talia Dyson, Central Junior
Beclynn Garrett, Neosho Junior
Sydney Hampton, Ozark Senior
Elise Murray, Willard Sophomore
Alaina Norman, Republic Senior
Alissa Owens, Joplin Sophomore
Desteny Pierce, Central Senior
Macey Sult, Ozark Senior
