Southwest Missouri: Available 2017 Scorers
As the season draws to a close there are still several unsigned and uncommitted 2017 prospects. Here are some of the top available scorers in Southwest Missouri.
J.T. Brown, Parkview
Brown was one of the smoothest scorers in SWMO this year. His numbers don’t jump off the page (17.4 PPG), but his efficiency does. Brown was surgical this year, shooting a Kevin Durant-like 57% from the field, 47% from 3 and 85% from the line. The 6-foot-2 wing had four games where he went for 20-plus on 10 or fewer shots. His ability to get to his spots and create contact is rare. The gym rat also added 6.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals.
Deric Jones, Hartville
Jones made a name for himself as a versatile guard that can defend multiple positions and use his athleticism to overwhelm opponents. That changed this year with the 6-foot-1 senior dropping 21.5 PPG. Yes, Jones still added more than eight rebounds a night, but his ability to progress as a scorer is what makes him attractive. He has college-level athleticism and a competitiveness that programs will love. The fact that he was able to become a 41% 3-point shooter to go along with his intangibles make him a steal.
Garrett Kesterson, Fair Grove
He scored more than 2,000 points in his career, 671 of them came in his senior season. Kesterson can clearly fill it up (21.5 PPG) but he’s also strangely efficient in doing so. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 52% from the field and 42% from 3. Keep in mind, this is a kid that knocked down 103 triples this season and more than 350 in his career. I love the fact that his adjusted field goal percentage sits at 63% and he was clutch, putting up 25.4 points (53-for-78 FG) in win-or-go-home games.
Jakob Partee, Clever
A guard in a 6-foot-6 frame isn’t easily understood in high school basketball, but Partee made it work. Nearly 600 of his 1,792 career points came this year, most of which came facing the rim. Partee (21.4 PPG) shot 49% from the field and knocked down 64 3s at a 41% clip. He was just five buckets away from becoming one of the only 50-40-90 guys in Missouri.
Gage Thompson, Montrose
If there’s nothing else to take away from Thompson’s game, just understand that he scores… a lot. Thompson averaged 32.2 PPG for the Blue Jays and he made it look really easy. He shot 53% from the field and 81% from the line and is relentless in his pursuit of the rim. There’s still a certain rawness to his game, but at 6-foot-2 with adequate athleticism and a scorer’s mentality, he puts a ton of pressure on opposing defenses.
Zac Sutt, Wheatland
Sutt isn’t a household name because of Class 1 Wheatland’s size and proximity from Springfield. However, Sutt has put together quite the resume. Sutt finished his career with 2,054 points, many of which came this year where he averaged 25 PPG. He understands space and how to create it, he’s also a master of getting to the foul line. Sutt shot 38% from 3 and better than 80% from the line.