By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are the area’s Class 5 Boys Basketball Players to Watch this year.
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Ethan Brown, Rolla Sophomore
Brown comes from a family of basketball junkies and his freshman season was one of the best we’ve seen in recent years, with him averaging 18.9 points, 4.5 assists and 2.9 steals. He followed that up by dominating while playing on the Under Armour circuit with Gateway. The 6-foot-3 guard already holds offers from SLU, SEMO and Lindenwood.
Tegen Curley, Marshfield Junior
Austin Peay got a steal in Curley, who decided to make his college decision early. The 6-foot-7 wing is a unique talent, with positional versatility that matches his incredible talent. He scores at every level, has a high IQ and can defend 1-5. As a sophomore, he averaged 11.9 points and 6.7 rebounds.
Barron Duda, Webb City Senior
Duda had a cup of coffee at the varsity level as a sophomore before becoming one of the best players in the COC as a junior, averaging 13.8 points and 6.1 rebounds. He’s a 6-foot-3 guard that is one of the area’s best scorers; he can light it up quickly. His frame makes him nearly impossible to keep from getting to spots.
Eli Govan, Parkview Junior
The 6-foot-6 wing has grown rapidly under Parkview head coach Jack Simpson and there may not be a prospect with higher upside than Govan. The big guard has D1 size and athleticism with positional versatility. As a sophomore, he averaged 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds. Colleges are already taking notice of what will be a breakout season for Govan.
Taner Hicks, Hillcrest Junior
Basketball analytics tell us to avoid mid-range jumpers, but Hicks doesn’t subscribe to that logic. The 6-foot guard is a crafty finisher at the rim and also shoots it from 3, but his bread and butter comes off the bounce when he gets to the paint and elevates for tough twos. As a sophomore, he helped guide the Hornets to their first district title in nearly a decade, averaging 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.
TJ Hill, Parkview Senior
The growth Hill has seen in his game over the last two years is nothing short of impressive, going from high-level 3 and D wing into a playmaking combo guard. At 6-foot-2, he can go get a shot nearly anytime he wants. As a junior he averaged 11.6 points and four rebounds, shooting the 3 at a 37% clip. A great summer has the buzz around his senior year high.
Jamile Johnson, Parkview Senior
Johnson is one of the best defensive anchors in the Ozarks. The 6-foot-8 junior averaged three blocks per game, in addition to eight rebounds, becoming the most imposing rim protector in the Ozark Conference. The best part about Johnson is that he’s just scratching the surface of his potential.
Josh Pacheco, McDonald County Senior
While his athleticism has made him one of the top receivers and defensive backs in the Ozarks, it also makes him a headache on the hardwood. As a junior he averaged 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals. At 6-foot-3, he’s the size of a big guard but can truly play anywhere on the floor.
Antonio Starks-Fewell, Willard Senior
Starks-Fewell earned a reputation as one of the area’s most dynamic guards over the last three seasons at Springfield Central. With that backcourt becoming more crowded, he now finds himself at Willard and with one of the most guard-friendly coaches in the area in JJ Adamson. Adamson has a knack for putting his guards in space and in position to maximize their game, meaning Starks-Fewell will quickly reassert himself in the top guard conversation in the COC.
Cooper Vediz, Carl Junction Sophomore
Finding success as a freshman at the varsity level is difficult, doing so in the COC is even more rare. So the fact that Vediz was an All-COC selection as a freshman is incredible. He averaged 12.4 points and 4.6 rebounds, while also leading the Bulldogs in steals (49). He’s a multi-sport standout and will be one of the big names in the COC moving forward.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Jayce Culver, Branson Junior
Merrick Dennis, Marshfield Senior
Dustyn Dowd, McDonald County Senior
Jett Hocut, Carl Junction Senior
Briggs Hughston, West Plains Senior
John Papadakos, Rolla Junior
Drew Quinlan, Willard Senior
AK Staten-Ballance, Hillcrest Senior
Ethan Tuma, West Plains Junior
