The Bucket(s) List
After watching an exciting year of hoops in the Show-Me State, it’s time to unveil my inaugural Prep Hoops Missouri Bucket(s) List. The category best describes the player who gets the award:
L’il Buckets: Brandon Frederick (Confluence Academy) – The 5’9″ 2018 guard lit it up for nearly 30 points a game this season while knocking down 3-pointers from almost anywhere in the gym.
Speedy Buckets: Damien Daniels (Hogan Prep): The diminutive speedster raced up and down the court for bucket after bucket in leading the Rams to the Class 3 state championship.
Lefty Buckets: Monty Johal (Glendale) – The 2018 southpaw guard with the shake-and-bake game finished his career as the all-time leading scorer in the history of Springfield Public Schools.
Mega Buckets: Torrence Watson (Whitfield) – The University of Missouri recruit went on a season-long scoring rampage, which included three individual games in which he scored 50 or more points.
Grown Man Buckets: Carte’are Gordon (Webster Groves) – The 6’8″ Saint Louis U. signee simply manhandled opposing post players around the basket in helping lead the Statesmen to a repeat Class 5 state championship.
Baby Buckets: Isaac Haney (Dora) – The 2021 shooting sensation averaged 22 points a game to lead all freshmen around the state in scoring.
Fierce Buckets: Jericole Hellems (Chaminade) – The North Carolina State signee brought high intensity and emotion to every bucket in leading the Red Devils to the Class 5 state championship game.
Long Distance Buckets: Logan Thomazin (Walnut Grove) and Hayden Sprenkel (North County) – These two long-distance bombers have made more career 3-pointers than anyone else in the state of Missouri.
Smooth Buckets: Isiaih Mosley (Rock Bridge) – The 6’6″ 2019 guard can get buckets at all three levels while doing it in a seemingly effortless manner.
Dynamic Buckets: Mario McKinney (Vashon) & Diego Bernard – The these two high-energy guards play the game with great zeal and can really electrify the crowd with pull up jumpers, slashing drives and highlight reel dunks.
Fearless Buckets: Kyle Younge, Jr. (Jennings) – The 2018 guard plays the game like a first responder. He loves the heat of high-pressure situations and is usually at his best.
Hard Hat and Lunchpail Buckets: Dominique Hardimon (Poplar Bluff) – The 6’3″ 2019 forward simply outworks everyone he goes up against which led to a Poplar Bluff Christmas Tournament title and district championship.
Slashing Buckets: Dajuan Harris (Rock Bridge) & Xavier Rhodes (Rockhurst) – These two youngster are outstanding at getting to the basket and creating buckets off the dribble with their athleticism and creativity.
Offensive Rebounding Buckets: Jamarr Williams (Northwest Academy) – The 2018 forward had a great passion for grabbing the missed shots of his teammates and putting them back in the basket. It was his passion.
Dunking Buckets: Tyem Freeman (Parkview) – Not only is he one of the most prodigious highlight-reel dunkers in the state, but evolved into an overall excellent scorer in leading the Vikings to the Class 5 state quarterfinals.
Dramatic Buckets: Courtney Ramey (Webster Groves) and Ronnie Bell (Park Hill) – Over the course of their careers, these two young men displayed the ability to knock down game-winning shots and excel in the most clutch of situations.
High Motor Buckets: Cameron Williams (Hazelwood Central) – The athletic 2018 guard plays with a high motor at all times and with his improved offensive skills, he became one of the best players in the state down the stretch.
Low Post Buckets: Clay Gayman (Nevada) – When this 2018 forward got the ball in the post, he could score in a variety of ways with his moves and footwork. He would also finish with a rim-rattling slam dunk.
Creative Buckets: R.J. Lawrence (Blue Springs) & Jalen Lewis (Liberty) – These two KC area guards have displayed the ability to create buckets at all three levels and do it with a lot of flair and style.
Skinny Buckets: Mardareyon Clark (Charleston) & Marty Jackson (Hogan Prep) – These two lanky post players were tough to handle around the basket as they helped their respective teams to the Class 3 state-championship game.
Mid-Range Buckets: Jamar Madge (Raytown South) & Austin Thompson (MICDS) – These two 2018 guards can really get to the basket, but they compliment their downhill drives with a potent jumper from the 15 foot range.
Beefy Buckets: Dawson Dohogne (Cape Notre Dame) & Daniel Parker (Blue Springs): The 2018 forward used his big body to his advantage as he worked the low post and got plenty of buckets with his fundamentals and footwork around the basket. Parker is a Division I football lineman headed to Mizzou who scored 36 points in a game this season. Enough said.
Welcome Back Buckets: Isaac Weider (Vienna) – The 2018 scoring phenom miss the entire 2017 season with a knee injury. He came back as a senior to get plenty of buckets and surpass the 2,000-point mark. That’s strong for three years.
Unsung Buckets: R.J. Wright (Webster Groves) – The 2018 guard proved to be a most dangerous third option to go along with stars Courtney Ramey and Carte’are Gordon as the Statesmen won the Class 5 state championship.
Slo-Mo Buckets: Jalen Martin (New Bloomfield) – The 2019 guard plays at his own deliberate pace, but is so effective because he always gets where he wants to go and he can knock down 3-pointers.