By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The 2018 All-O-Zone Boys Basketball team has been released. We narrowed this team down to the area’s 15 best players this season. Team success, stats, coach nominations and O-Zone staff observations throughout the season helped us narrow it down. Below you will find a first, second and third team along with players of the year.
Player of the Year: Senior G Monty Johal, Glendale
Offensive MVP: Junior G Tyem Freeman, Parkview
Defensive MVP: Senior F Clay Gayman, Nevada
Co-Freshman of the Year: Anton Brookshire, Kickapoo & Isaac Haney, Dora
Most Improved Player: Senior F Payton Nichols, Ozark
Coach of the Year: Pete McBride, Eminence
First Team
Junior G Tyem Freeman, Parkview
Freeman lived up to every bit of the hype that ensued following his move from Hillcrest to Parkview, leading the Vikings to their first district championship in decades. The 6-foot-6 wing scored at least 25 points 12 different times this season and became the first commitment for new Missouri State head coach Dana Ford.
Stats: 23.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.2 SPG
College: Missouri State (verbal)
Opposing Coach Comments: “He is by far the most athletic basketball player in SWMO. His length and athleticism make him a force on both ends of the floor. I don’t think people realize how much his presences effects the game defensively by the amount of shots missed around the basket trying to avoid him.”
Senior F Clay Gayman, Nevada
Gayman capped off a brilliant career by becoming the best interior player in the Ozarks. He again averaged a double-double and earned Class 4 All-State honors. The 6-foot-6 senior received several nominations from other coaches due to his ability to dominate the paint on both ends of the floor. He’s currently the only Division One signee in the area for the class of 2018.
Stats: 21.9 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 4.4 BPG, 58% FG
College: Abilene Christian
Opposing Coach Comments: “Clay is a very skilled fundamentally sound player who can score on all 3 levels. He is throwback type of player and plays with a great deal toughness that his teammates feed off of. Defensively he dominates the like game like no other player can in southwest Missouri.”
Senior G Monty Johal, Glendale
It’ll be tough for anyone in Springfield Public Schools to duplicate the success Johal has enjoyed over the last four years. He’s not only the all-time scoring leader in Glendale history, but Johal also rewrote the scoring records for SPS and the city overall. He was the Ozark Conference POY and earned All-Tournament honors at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.
Stats: 28.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.7 SPG
Opposing Coach Comments: “Monty Johal is really tough to defend because of his ability to shoot the ball. He does not need much space to get his shot off and can score from deep or in the mid-range. He is excellent at feeling what the defense is giving him, he is highly intelligent in his ability to attack…his arsenal doesn’t consist of a huge variety of scoring moves, but his IQ and ability to get space makes him very difficult to keep from getting 20 every night.”
Junior F Trent McBride, Eminence
The Co-Class 1 Player of the Year guided Eminence to its second state championship in the last five seasons, averaging 20 PPG and 13 RPG during the Redwings playoff run. The Big Spring Conference POY shot 66 percent from the field and finished with 23 double-doubles in 33 games, despite playing limited minutes. McBride was at his best when it mattered most, putting up 23 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the Class 1 championship game.
Stats: 18.5 PPG, 11.2, 3.1 APG, 1.2 BPG, 66% FG
Opposing Coach Comments: “Trent is a tremendous competitor, and this is what I feel really separates him from the rest. He has great touch around the basket and can also step out on the perimeter which makes him a match up nightmare. Trent has a great nose for the ball and when paired with his tenacity makes him really tough to keep off of the glass. With all of that being said, he plays the game the right way and that’s what it’s all about.”
Senior G Quinn Nelson, Ozark
Nelson saved his best for last, becoming Ozark’s most prolific 3-point shooter in a season that also saw him lead Ozark to an undefeated COC championship. The COC Player of the Year scored at least 20 points in 15 games this season, posting a blistering 52-40-87 shooting split. Nelson was also selected to the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions All-Tournament Team, scoring 81 points in three games.
Stats: 20 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.7 SPG, 77 3-point FG (41%)
College: Southwest Baptist
Opposing Coach Comments: “Quinn is just a pure shooter. He shoots the mid-range jump shot better than almost everyone we have played against over the past five years. You have to respect his ability to shoot the three as well, but his biggest strength to me is the mid-range shot and if you close too tight, he gets to his spot. The performance and stats that he put up in their three games at the Tournament of Champions put him on another level and showed everyone that he is an elite level guard for our area.”
Second Team
Junior G Jake Branham, Springfield Catholic
Stats: 20 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.9 SPG
Opposing Coach Comments: “Jake developed into one of the best guards in the state this year. He is so tough to guard because he can break you down so well off the dribble and he can shoot it. He is just smooth with the basketball in his hands and can put up 25-30 on any given night.”
Senior G Cade Coffman, Mountain Grove
Stats: 21 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2 SPG
Opposing Coach Comments: “Cade is such a tough player to guard, he can beat you in a variety of different ways. His height and athleticism make him tough to stop around the rim, and if you leave him at the perimeter he can shoot it at a very high percentage. Don’t forget to block him out either, he can put up some points on the boards as well. One of the toughest players to guard in our area.”
Senior G Josh Pritchett, Rolla
Stats: 20.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4 APG, 2.1 SPG
Opposing Coach Comments: “Josh Pritchett is a great athlete and an all-around basketball player. He can score at any time and makes everyone around him better. He creates energy for his team with his genuine smile, positive body language, and encouraging comments. He has extreme focus and a good attitude every game even in adverse conditions. He sets the standard with an uncommon hustle and constant drive on the offensive and defensive end of the court for his team.”
Junior F Trent Smith, Carl Junction
Stats: 20.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG
Opposing Coach Comments: “This guy goes at the rim with bad intentions. He is one of the few high school players in the area who can put you on a poster. He is such a tough match-up offensively with his size, athleticism and ability to shoot the basketball.”
Senior G Logan Thomazin, Walnut Grove
Stats: 24.8 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 120 3-point FG (478 career 3-point FG; 6th most in national history)
Opposing Coach Comments: “Logan is a great competitor that can come at you in you so many different ways. His ability to shoot from deep is very well known and that’s the first thing you have try to defend but he can also drive you to the basket or take a defender to the block. He’s a match-up nightmare.”
Third Team
Senior G Colt Keeling, Purdy
Stats: 23.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG
Opposing Coach Comments: “Colt is great at getting to the basket. He can finish with both hands and he does a great job of drawing contact as well. He is an excellent free throw shooter and he got to the line a ton this year. He also has a really good mid-range jumper and is so tough to guard. He really made their team go offensively and could get to the basket at will.”
Senior G Ian Moore, Lamar
Stats: 19.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.6 SPG
College: Missouri S&T
Opposing Coach Comments: “What makes Ian so dangerous is that he has such a well- rounded game. He has the ball in his hands most of the time. He can shoot the 3 ball, so you can’t back off of him. He has a good handle and has great spatial awareness allowing him to get to the rim. He’s big and strong enough to finish through contact. And on top of it all, he is deadly shooting in the mid-range from the elbow. That versatility made him easily one of the hardest guards to game plan for in my time as a head coach.”
Junior G/F Broc Smith, Republic
Stats: 19.2 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.2 BPG
Opposing Coach Comments: “Tremendous offensive talent. His versatility makes him one of the toughest matchups in the COC. He can take his opponents off the dribble, post them up or beat them from behind the arc. His versatility doesn’t just lend itself to the offensive end his length and quickness allow him to guard multiple positions.”
Junior G Luke Vandersnick, Rogersville
Stats: 18 PPG, 8 RPG, 2 SPG
Opposing Coach Comments: “Aggressive to the offensive glass. He is the key for them on defense. He can cover a lot of ground on the weak side of the match-up and can rebound multiple spots on the floor. Keep him from getting inside position on the block, if he catches in the paint he finishes at a high rate.”
Senior G Jordan Walton, Glendale
Stats: 16.6 PPG, 6.1 APG, 1.4 SPG
Opposing Coach Comments: “Jordan Walton is so aggressive and strong with the ball on the dribble drive that guarding him is one of the most difficult assignments in the SWMO. He shoots it well from the outside but he does his real damage in the paint finishing, pulling up for his mid-range jumper, or drawing help and kicking to his lethal teammates on the perimeter. Glendale was definitely at its best when he played well. I wish him the best and am glad to see him finally graduate.”
