By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are the area’s Class 5 Girls Basketball Players to Watch this year.
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Taylor Foster, Branson Senior
Foster is everything you want in a post. She can finish with either hand around the rim, chases every rebound and is physically imposing on both ends of the floor. As a junior, the 6-footer was a double-double machine, averaging 13.9 points and 8.2 rebounds. She posted some monster numbers late, going for 25 and 16 vs. Parkview, as well as a 20-18 double-double against Carl Junction.
Willow Gideon, Rolla Senior
The second Washburn signee on this list, Gideon presents many of the same issues that her future teammate does. The 5-foot-10 guard has great size and can shoot the absolute fire out of the ball… and there’s no limit to her range or confidence. As a junior she was an all-state, all-district and all-conference selection, averaging 16.1 points. She played for Brad Beal Elite and has seen the highest levels of high school basketball possible; she’s competitive and unphased on the court.
Allyssa Joyner, West Plains Senior
The C of O signee has a resume that is hard to find with a pair of All-State selections and a state championship. The 6-foot forward averaged 16 points and 6.5 rebounds as a junior with her athleticism making her too quick for bigs and her size making her too big for guards. She continues to improve as a perimeter shooter which only makes her more impossible to defend.
Olivia Lawson, West Plains Senior
From an athleticism standpoint, there aren’t many Olivia Lawsons walking around; there’s not much on the court she can’t do. As a junior she averaged 11 points, six rebounds and 4.5 assists, showing her all-around game and that doesn’t really count just how dynamic she is defensively. Her ability to jump passing lanes and get in transition is elite, and she’s at her best in the open court.
Lauren Luebbert, Marshfield Senior
The two-timing reigning Big 8 East Player of the Year is back to defend her crown and taking it will require some luck. As a junior, the Washburn signee averaged 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while also being one of the top defenders in the league. As a 5-foot-11 guard, she’s a constant mismatch.
Tara Masten, Parkview Senior
Masten enters her senior year with more than 1,100 career points, which explains why she’s one of the best scorers in the Ozarks. As a junior she averaged 16.4 points, 4.2 assists and 4.1 steals for Parkview. She should finish her career with 1,500 points, 500 rebounds, 400 steals and 300 assists, which is an insanely rare feat in high school basketball.
Mia Robbins, Webb City Senior
Robbins returns to Webb City after a stellar junior campaign that saw her emerge as one of the top shooters in the COC. The 5-foot-8 guard averaged 5.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals and a pair of assists, leading Webb City in steals and 3-point percentage. She should see an uptick across the board in her production.
Kylie Scott, Carl Junction Senior
To score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in a career is crazy, but that’s exactly what Kylie Scott is on pace to do. As a junior, the 6-foot-2 forward averaged 13.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. She’s the most athletic of all three Scott girls, who have maybe been the most productive trio of sisters we’ve seen recently in the Ozark. Kylie will be the second to go D1 after signing with Oral Roberts.
Nevaeh Shockley, Hillcrest Junior
Last year at Lebanon, Shockley was a pure point guard, averaging 4.4 points, five assists and 1.2 steals. Her ability to see the floor and help put teammates in a position to be successful is big-time. She won’t have the same weapons around her as she did last year, which means she may need to score more, but look for Shockley to instantly improve the Hornets’ backcourt.
Dezi Williams, Carl Junction Junior
Williams plays at a gear that not many others have. Her athleticism can look so different depending on the situation. She has incredible burst in transition, her first step is quick and she’s explosive vertically. As a sophomore she averaged 7.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals. She’s one of the most versatile players in the Ozarks.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Carlee Cooper, McDonald County Senior
Alyssa Farris & Jacee Peterson, Camdenton Juniors
Austin Hall, Parkview Senior
Roslynn Huston, McDonald County Junior
Resa Martin & Kori Alcorn, Rolla Seniors
Abby McBride, Marshfield Senior
Jamyra Parlette, Hillcrest Senior
Maci Rogers, Branson Senior
