It’s that time again. Four long, exciting, draining, captivating and fantastic months of basketball are ahead of us. Seems like each year we say it, but the Ozarks has yet another loaded crop of players. Here are just some of the names you should keep an eye on this winter.
#JumpmanJumpman (Top Players)
Chase Allen, Nixa – Allen has a dozen D-1 football offers, but before he hits the college gridiron he’s going to have one heck of a farewell tour across the Ozarks. He averaged 16 points and eight rebounds last year, shooting 71% from the field and adding a pair of blocks. He's come a long way since being the "Crying UNC fan".
Christian Brown, Rogersville – Whenever you take the son of a coach, throw in some athleticism and supreme confidence you get Christian Brown. He can score at all three levels and plays the game with a chip on his shoulder, a product of his competitive nature. Brown’s been good, his senior year should be great.
Jared Ridder, Kickapoo – Missouri State, Saint Louis, Air Force and IUPUI are just some of the programs that have already offered Ridder. He’s the best shooter in and at 6-foot-6 with sneaky athleticism he is every coach’s dream. Increased touches should equate to more offense in his junior campaign.
Johnny Scott, Bolivar – Much like what he did on the football field, Johnny Scott is poised for yet another breakout season. The 6-foot-1 point guard was stellar last year, averaging 10.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 4.1 APG, but his game has hit another level. He was the best player on the floor last week against Kickapoo in the jamboree. I don’t think that was an accident or anomaly; the kid can play.
Julius Walker, Greenwood – I’m not sure there’s a better scorer in the Ozarks than Walker. Think Carmelo. He can beat you off the bounce, has range and can score in the post, but at 6-foot-3 and with good athleticism most defenders are at a disadvantage.
Ben Weinreis, Ash Grove – I call him “Benny Buckets” because that’s what he does. Last year he averaged 25.3 PPG and a cool 10 rebounds a night for the Pirates, going for 50 points twice. He’s never met a shot he doesn’t like, neither would you if you had it like this kid.
#ImThePlug (Best Point Guards)
Marcus Gorman, Rogersville – Well, he’s Rod’s kid, but he’s not quite as animated as pops is. Gorman is a true point guard, he’s going to run the offense and create for others before worrying about his own offense. An MCL injury will sideline him for a bit to start the season, but look for him to be back around the Blue & Gold.
Isaac Johnson, Kickapoo – Johnson is a little different breed than most of the guards on this list. He can run the offense efficiently as his 2.2:1 assists-to-turnover ratio indicate, but Johnson also has the innate ability to score. With Jack Simpson and Tyson Batiste gone Johnson will likely have more opportunities to show off his full repertoire and his lethal pull-up jumper.
Joe Johnson, Waynesville – He’s been running the show in Waynesville since his freshman year. The 5-foot-10 senior is an explosive scorer and one of the best shooters in the Ozark Conference. Playing without Juwan Morgan will see him take on more of the scoring burden for the Tigers.
Dallas Meinders & Logan Thomazin, Walnut Grove – Meinders and Thomazin are two small-school guards with major game. Each can play on or off the ball, which only makes them more dangerous, and both are constantly in attack mode. Meinders, a senior, averaged 18 points, five assists and five rebounds last year with Thomazin, a sophomore, adding 17 points and four assists.
Dune Piper, Hartville – I’m not sure Brett Reed could have created a better point guard for his system. Reed wants to pressure people and Piper is a monster on the ball for 84 feet. Piper is great at penetrating and finding shooters, or finishing himself. Six assists and four steals a night as a sophomore should only grow this season.
Cole Thomas, Bradleyville – He’s not well known, yet, but Thomas is another kid that puts a tremendous amount of pressure on a defense. The 5-foot-9 senior had 10 games of 25 or more points, but also averaged 4.5 assists per game. Thomas is also a headache defensively, totaling a team-high 115 steals last season.
Kobe Wands, Rolla – Rolla was a Brady Petry game-winner away from the Final Four and Wands was the straw that was the key. He does all of those things good point guards do (13.3 PPG, 3.3 APG, 2.5 SPG), but he also knocked down 48 treys.
#Kobe (Best Scorers)
Tanner Barnes, Cabool – Barnes is just out here trying to get buckets. He’s already over 1,000 career points entering his senior year, 595 of them came in his junior campaign as part of his 22.9 PPG. He can score from anywhere on the court and at 6-foot-2 he has little trouble getting his shot off against most guards.
Ayden Henry, Thayer – Henry had a coming out party as a junior, leading Thayer to an 18-win season and coming just two buckets away from upsetting eventual Class 2 state champ Scott County Central in the quarterfinals. He dropped 20.1 PPG and is one of the most efficient scorers you’ll see, shooting 51% from the field, 39% from deep and 81% from the line. He went for 20 or more 16 times last year, that is unlikely to change with the Bobcats returning everyone.
Andrew Huckaby, Conway – Also a baseball star, Huckaby had no problem finding the bottom of the net last year, scoring a team-high 16.4 PPG last year. Conway was 10-1 when he scored at least 18, including his season-high 35 points in a win over Mountain Grove. He can shoot the lights out, attacking the rim more this season will only add to his scoring totals.
Monty Johal, Glendale – If you haven’t heard of Johal I feel sorry for you. He averaged 11 PPG as a freshman and that was just an appetizer to this kid’s future. He has that natural scorer’s mentality and is extremely crafty; it helps that he can score from anywhere on the floor. A 6-foot-3 lefty that can seemingly score at will? No wonder D-1s are starting to offer. He will go down as one of the best to play in SPS.
Boone Kroenke, Lincoln – We don’t see a ton of him because Lincoln is almost in Canada, but Kroenke was a scoring machine as sophomore, averaging 20.8 PPG, including a career-high 45 points in a 92-89 loss to Skyline. He has 812 points in just two seasons. And he plays for a guy, Tyler Burke, who knows all about scoring. Burke broke Warsaw’s scoring and assists record and was a finalist for Missouri Mr. Basketball in 2007.
D.J. McNew, Mountain Grove – McNew has textbook form on his jumper, but it’s also money. As a junior he averaged 19 PPG and really picked it up late during the Panthers SCA championship run. Coupling his ability to get his shot off whenever with the ability to get to the rim, McNew will again score a ton of points as a senior.
#StephCurryWithTheShot (Best Shooters)
Garrison Howell, Catholic – The former Kickapoo Chief sat out last season after transferring to Springfield Catholic, but was known to light it up in JV games. The Rockhurst commit isn't an overly athletic kid, but he can shoot it and should get several opportunities to do so this season.
Lathan Kerans, Marionville – Kerans did a little bit of everything for Marionville last year (16.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG) but the Comets were at their best when he was shooting the basketball. He connected on a team-high 62 3s last year, helping to guide Marionville to 18 wins.
Garrett Kesterson, Fair Grove – This will be Kesterson’s official breakout season. As a 6-foot-3 sophomore shooting guard he averaged 18 PPG and knocked down 90 3s, shooting 45% from deep. Seems difficult to improve on that, but considering Kesterson has grown and he's a gym rat, don’t be shocked if he’s one of the Ozarks’ best this year.
Bryce Krueger & Conley Garrison, Bolivar – It’s tough enough when a team has one really good shooter, but Bolivar has two. Krueger (14.8 PPG) knocked down 52 3s last year and Garrison (10.4 PPG), might be a better shooter than his big sister, canning a team-high 75 3s. They force defenses to extend and make it tough to play man.
Jakob Partee, Clever – Prepare to hear this name a lot this season. He’s a 6-foot-5 wing that averaged nearly 17 PPG as a sophomore and knocked down 69 3s. Another offseason to develop and mature will make the SWCL his playground in 2015-16.
Jordan Walton, Glendale – It took Walton no time to prove that the hype is legit. All he did last year was rewrite the SPS freshman scoring record, averaging 14.1 PPG to break DGB’s single-season record. Walton also knocked down 50 3s. He has one of the prettiest jumpers in the Ozarks. He reminds me of the Laurie brothers at Kickapoo, but he might be a better shooter.
#Noneforyou (Best Defenders)
Garrett Bacon, Nixa – Jay Osborne has always been an old-school, man-to-man defense guy, but having guys like Bacon have changed that. Bacon’s length and athleticism on the back end of Osborne’s 2-3 zone is part of the reason Nixa made a run to the Elite Eight. The 6-foot-6 senior clogs passing lanes and alters a ton of shots at the rim.
Rane Bateman, Marionville – Guys that are 6-foot-5, run like a deer and can block shots don’t grow on trees, but Paden Grubbs is fortunate to have one at Marionville in Bateman. As a junior he led Marionville in blocks and rebounds. He’s still growing as a basketball player, a confident and consistent Bateman should be a double-double machine.
Evan Fullerton, Fair Grove – The Eagles are loaded with guards, but Fullerton might be the most important guy on the roster. The 6-foot-7 junior is Fair Grove’s lone rim protector and interior threat. He led the team in rebounding last year was the key to their hot finish to the season.
Risten Grady, Forsyth – Grady is the best shot blocker in the Ozarks. Last year he averaged 5.3 BPG, including a school-record 17 in one game against Ava. Grady hasn’t played a ton of basketball, which is scary considering he also averaged 10.2 RPG and nine points.
Ryan Ward, Hartville – Ward was a man amongst boys last year at Newburg, averaging 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists per game as a junior. A move to Hartville and playing with a loaded supporting cast will make him more efficient.
Tim Washington, Hillcrest – Part of the reason Hillcrest made a Final Four run is because Washington took on the role of defensive stopper and checked the opposing team’s best player, regardless of which position he played. Oh, and he did that as a freshman. Another year to mature and develop will be trouble for anyone on the Hornets schedule.
#DuctTape (Most Versatile)
Logan Bader, Aurora – Also a standout tight end, Bader was one of the best players in the Big 8 last year, leading Aurora with 15 PPG and eight boards. The All-Big 8 pick was also a factor on the defensive end with a pair of steals and nearly two blocks a night.
Austin Carmichael, Aurora – If he wanted to he could score a ton of points, but that’s not his game. Carmichael did shoot 44% from 3 and average eight a night, but he also snagged 5.1 RPG, handed out 4.6 APG and grab a pair of steals a night. He’s 6-foot-4 and can play any position 1-5.
Matt Hicks, Macks Creek – Hicks will leave Macks Creek as a four-year starter thanks to his ability to do a little bit of everything. As a junior he averaged 13.9 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 4.8 APG and a pair of steals. He’s always flirting with a triple-double, pulling one of last year in a win over Wheatland.
Dyllon Jackson, Hurley – There isn’t much Jackson didn’t do for Hurley last year. His 18 PPG were a team-high, but he also pulled down 7.5 RPG and dished out 2.8 APG to go along with a block and a steal per game.
Deric Jones, Hartville – This will be Jones’ coming out party. As a sophomore he averaged 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals, but Jones can also create offense for himself and others and has a developing jumper. He’s only 6-foot-1, but he can play 1-4.
Keaton Tillack, School of the Ozarks – He’s the reigning Mark Twain Conference Player of the Year and led School of the Ozarks to its first district championship in program history. As a junior he led S of O in scoring (16 PPG) and rebounding, but he also has the ability to step out on the perimeter.
#MouseInTheHouse (Best Posts)
Garrett Cunningham, Parkview – We saw flashes of what he can be last year in Parkview’s final nine games with Cunningham averaging 17 PPG and seven rebounds. He’s 6-foot-6 with a great frame and a guard skillset. When he’s motivated he can be the best player in SPS.
Brandon Emmert, Bolivar – He has the best game-face in the area, but it’s not a bad thing when you’re basically a 20-10 guy every night. The 6-foot-6 junior led Bolivar to the Final Four last year and the Liberators should again be in contention with Emmert commanding double teams.
Houston Johnson, Willard – Johnson’s first season at Willard was slowed by an ankle injury that lingered through the summer before doctors realized that Johnson had been playing with a torn ligament. He’s still a skilled and athletic 6-foot-6 big with a feathery soft touch around the rim. He will be a monster once he gets healthy.
Kaleb Minica, Weaubleau – He’s a little undersized, but relentless on the glass. The 6-foot-2 forward pulled down 12.6 RPG last year as a junior, also scoring 15.2 PPG. He had one double-double in his first eight games, but finished the season with 19 consecutive double-double performances, including a 17-27 game against state-ranked Walnut Grove.
Ben Schnelle, Lockwood – You know his name from quarterbacking Lockwood to back-to-back SRVC championships, but he’s an even better basketball player. Last year he led Lockwood in points (18.3 PPG), rebounds (13 RPG), blocks (3.6 BPG) and steals (2.4 SPG). He shot 63% from the field and 45% from 3. The only thing more impressive than the 6-foot-6 senior’s 22 double-doubles last year is the fact that 10 of them were 20-10 games.
Braden Voss, Gainesville – If Gainesville had a football team Voss would be an all-state defensive tackle. But, he’s settled nicely into being one of the best bigs in the area. He averaged 10.5 PPG and a team-high 8.4 RPG and 1.6 BPG. The 6-foot-4 senior had eight double-doubles, two of which came against Crane, and shot a team-high 58% from the field.
#RememberTheName (Breakout Players)
Dylan Caruso, Mansfield – If this name sounds familiar it’s because his brother averaged nearly 30 PPG last year. “Little Brother” is just a freshman, but at 6-foot-7 has varsity size. He needs to get stronger, but he will be able to protect the rim, rebound and finish immediately.
Shahn Clark, Hillcrest – He’s been playing varsity since his freshman year and was a starter on last year’s state runner-up team. He’s super talented and has a great feel, it’s just a matter of him putting it all together.
Channing Mickey, Webb City – Not many tight ends double as combo guards, but Mickey has a rare skillset. As a freshman he was one of Webb City’s best players, but missed all of last season with a torn ACL. He will have to shake off some football rust and learn Jeff Guiot’s system, but there’s no denying his talent.
Kylan Hewett-Newbill, Ozark – Last year he deferred to a high-powered senior class offensively, but Hewett-Newbill is a talented combo that can score at all three levels and facilitate. I’m not sure he understands just how talented he is, but if/when that happens watch out.
Anthony Rosas, Ava – Every high school coach wants a 6-foot-6 big with touch around the rim and length. As a sophomore Rosas was still figuring out his game, but that didn’t keep him from grabbing All-SCA honors with 14 PPG and nine rebounds. If you don’t double him the SCA he’s going to go for 20 and 10.
Wyatt Summers, Bakersfield – Summers was good last year as well (15.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG), but a summer in the weight room and gym have him on the cusp of a huge senior year. The 6-foot-5 post can step out and shoot it, but he’s also good off the bounce. A very underrated player in the Ozarks.
Niekie Thomas & Cam Davis, Kickapoo – These two guys aren’t really secrets and both will more than likely play D-1 basketball at some point in the future. But, with Kickapoo being so loaded last year it made it tough for anyone to truly get in and keep a rhythm. More touches for these two guys should lead to breakout seasons. Thomas is a freakish athlete with scary bounce and Davis is one of the most complete guards in the Ozarks.
Nathan Wilson, Licking – We got used to hearing all about Lane Duncan over the last three years and Wilson is next in line to take over as the face of the program. The 6-foot-4 junior averaged 15 PPG and 5 RPG last year and scored 20 or more seven times.
