By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are the area’s Class 3 Boys Basketball Players to Watch this year.
NOTE: NAMES ARE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. THERE WILL ALSO BE A SEPARATE BREAKOUT PLAYERS LIST.
Jax Baxter, Stockton
It didn’t take long for Baxter to become one of the most exciting players in the class. As a sophomore he averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks with some rim-rocking dunks and highlight-reel blocks. He’s must-see TV and only getting better with age.
Collin Clark, Greenwood
Clark has had the spotlight on him since his freshman year and all he’s done is exceed expectations at every step. The 6-foot-6 point forward would be a fantasy basketball dream, averaging 19.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He was an all-state selection as a junior and now the future Missouri State Bear has his sights on leading Greenwood to the Final Four.
Joe Gordon, El Dorado Springs
He’s maybe 6-foot-2, but Gordon is one of the best finishers in the Ozarks. We aren’t just talking about rim grazers; Gordon is dunking that thing like Shaq with two hands. He’s also a really good player aside from the dunks with the ability to score inside-out and rebound the ball at a high rate.
Devin Harrington & Easton Pitts, Thayer
This duo is responsible for back-to-back Final Four runs and one of the best runs in the history of a program that is full of tradition. Harrington might lead the area in dunks over the last three years, averaging 13.3 points and 9.4 rebounds, which earned him all-state honors last year. Pitts is a high IQ, two-way guard that averaged 10.1 points and 2.9 assists as a junior. He’s lived Thayer Basketball his entire life and now both seniors will try to get the first state championship in program history.
Derek Helms, Seymour
I’m not sure it’s possible to average 23 points quietly, but that’s what Helms did as a junior. He’s a terror in transition due to his quickness and he’s great at creating space and getting his shot off, similar to what made his coach Chris Hastings a standout back in his Nixa days. Helms also added 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists. It seems difficult to top that but we’d be shocked if it doesn’t.
Kasen Holder, Southwest (Washburn)
He’s not a name that many are familiar with, but he certainly passes the eye test. A 6-foot-3 wing, Holder has the ability to shoot it, create off the dribble and is an underrated athlete. He’s a two-time all-conference selection and is a candidate for conference and district POY.
Kolby James & Jace Rodgers, Willow Springs
Willow Springs is a sleeper pick to make a deep run in March and these two are the reason why; they are both tough-shot makers. King James averaged 19.1 points as a sophomore and Rodgers added 16 points of his own. They’re one of the highest-scoring backcourts in the Ozarks and seemingly have unofficial games of horse and 3-point shootouts in-game. They are truly elite scorers.
Spensar Seiger, Fair Grove
There isn’t a sport that Seiger doesn’t excel at, but his best sport may be basketball. The son of a former coach, he approaches the game with an elevated mindset but he’s also one of the most complete players on this list; he can score at every level, he has great size and he’s a winner. Seiger was a unanimous All-Mid-Lakes selection last year and once he’s done pushing for a state championship on the football field, he’ll terrorize opponents and flirt with triple-doubles on the hardwood.
Owen Weiss, Miller
As a sophomore, he averaged 17.2 points and 2.2 steals, earning All-Southwest Conference honors for the second straight season. He’s a gifted scorer and sliding over to point guard will put the ball in his hands more, which will likely see him destroy his numbers from last year.
Drew Young, Dixon
Young opened the season with a workman-like 21 points, five rebounds and four steals vs. Class 4 Salem, which was just a continuation of his sophomore year where he averaged 21 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 steals. Young is going to have a chance to walk away with a few school records in hand.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Jordan Arthur, Houston
Brixon Bilyeu, Conway
Logan Gemes, Warsaw
Bryer Guerin, Marionville
Bobby Harris, Galena
Luke Lorenzen, Diamond
Tommy McBride, Dixon
Lucas Peebles, Clever
Emmitt Price, Pierce City
Preston Rains, Stockton
Gavin Reese, Liberty
DJ Riley, Houston
Logan Sanders, Greenwood
Talon Timmons, Lamar
Kyle Winterberg, Fair Grove
Colter Woods, Stockton
