By Chris Parker
Nevada boys basketball has high expectations this season with four starters and eight lettermen returning from last season’s 21-win district champion team.
The team came together last season after losing leading returning scorer Jack Cheaney to injury in the summer.
“After the loss of our leading scorer during the summer, there were a lot of question marks for us,” Nevada head coach Shaun Gray said. “The group that we had last year really came together as one unit. They have all played together since third grade and they are an extremely unselfish group. We were able to hang our hat on the defensive end of the floor and hold almost every opponent below their season average scoring as well as hold opposing leading scorers well below their averages. That defensive prowess combined with our offensive unselfishness and balance allowed us to be successful.”
A pair of all-conference seniors in Alex Ast and Kellen Braden return.
Ast was a first-team all-conference selection who averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists per game. He stands at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds.
“Alex’s combination of size and speed makes him a matchup problem for most teams,” Gray said. “He has the size of a forward with the speed and quickness of a guard. His ability to guard all five positions defensively is also a big asset for us.”
Gray expects Ast to split time at point guard with Braden while also playing a stretch four spot.
“Alex will continue to be someone that we lean on to create mismatches for us on offense, and he will continue to guard opponent’s best players night in and night out,” Gray said. “He should once again be one of the better two-way players in southwest Missouri.”
Braden earned his all-conference honors on the all-defensive team.
“Kellen has great instincts, great inch-for-inch physical strength, and great lateral quickness,” Gray said. “He is a step ahead mentally which helps him quarterback our defense.”
His offensive role will expand this season.
“Kellen will need to score more from the perimeter for us this season in addition to his point guard and defensive duties; a role he did well this summer,” Gray said.
Senior shooting guard Mason Majors returns after leading the team in scoring at 13 points per game.
“(Majors) has a burner from long range and showed this summer that he will be a bucket getter for us at all three scoring levels,” Gray said.
Sean Simmons is 6-foot-4 and a key player in the paint entering his senior season.
“Sean Simmons has really worked hard on his body and game over the past two seasons,” Gray said. “He will be a tough inside threat for us that is great on the glass and can also make open perimeter shots.”
Senior Jett Snyder, a standout linebacker on the football field, brings great energy and athleticism.
“Jett Snyder will be our mad man at the point of our press defense and can also protect the rim in the half court,” Gray said. “He is an all-state linebacker type athlete that can score on both sides of the basket.”
Drew Miller rounds out the returning seniors on varsity.
“Drew Miller will be a great D and 3 guy for us and provide great depth,” Gray said.
Juniors John Collins and Zayne Valdez also return to the varsity equation.
“John Collins will be an elite athlete that can play and guard positions 1-4 for us,” Gray said. “Zayne Valdez has a smooth lefty shooting stroke and will be asked to provide scoring off the bench for us, which he can do in bunches.”
Will Jackson and Kyndrek Atkins are a pair of juniors who will push for varsity minutes, but those minutes will be hard to come by with a deep group of returning players.
“Our leadership, defensive versatility, athleticism throughout the lineup and togetherness should help propel us this year,” Gray said.
The one starter Nevada has to replace in Gabe Smith.
“Our only starter lost last year was Gabe Smith who was a very good catch-and-shoot spot up three-point guy for us last year,” Gray said. “We need to develop some consistent outside shooting from our role players this year.”
This group is poised to make runs at both conference and district titles.
“Every year we expect to challenge for conference and district titles,” Gray said. “This year’s team has the potential to achieve both of these goals if we are able to stay healthy and continually improve throughout the year.”
Nevada opens the regular season on Dec. 2 at Carthage.
“This group is fun to coach, they love to compete and they love each other,” Gray said. “They have played three sports together since second and third grades and our team chemistry is the best that I’ve ever seen from a group.”
