Ozark Mountain Shootout: Thursday’s Top Performers
Day 2 of the Ozark Mountain Shootout went down last night from Glendale High School in Springfield. The star-studded event had some of the regions top talent on display and there were memorable individual performances in all four games. Here’s…
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Continue ReadingDay 2 of the Ozark Mountain Shootout went down last night from Glendale High School in Springfield. The star-studded event had some of the regions top talent on display and there were memorable individual performances in all four games. Here’s a look at those that stood out above the rest last night:
6’2 Jr Isaac Haney – Dora
The Dora Falcons are the favorites to win the Class 1 state championship in Missouri and proved why last night with an incredible overtime win against Oklahoma’s Class 4 #1 ranked team Heritage Hall. This was in large part to sensational junior guard Isaac Haney who finished with 32 points and continues to prove time and time again that he can produce against the best of the best. Haney was phenomenal and provides a full arsenal of scoring punch for the Falcons. He is a lights out shooter that can launch a quality look in a split second whether it be right off the catch or pulling up off the bounce He buried three after three, many of which were admirably contested. He continues to impress with a tight handle that is complimented by a quick burst, surprising physicality, and excellent court awareness. He does a great job of getting north/south with his dribble drives and loves to go to the spin or jump stop and can finish off the glass or with soft touch on the floater. He draws a lot of attention defensively and was face guarded most of the half. He did a terrific job of driving by pressure, drawing help, and dropping seeds to open or cutting teammates. Isaac picked up yet another D1 offer last night from Missouri State. He is hands down one of the elite scorers in the 2021 class.
6’5 Jr Trey Alexander – Heritage Hall
Despite falling to the buzzsaw that is Dora, Heritage Hall has a lot to be excited for. Highly touted junior Trey Alexander took a while to heat up Thursday night, but once he did he proved why he is one of the most coveted prospects in the country in the junior class. After being held scoreless in the 1Q, Trey started knocking down some tough mid-range jumpers off the bounce from all angles. The party really started, though, when he became more active defensively. Heritage Hall turned up the heat on D, and Trey started feasting on the Falcons with steals, deflections, and run outs where he is an absolute nightmare in transition. The long, angular wing went coast to coast several times, weaving his way through traffic and finishing at the rim. He has takeover ability and buried a huge step-back jumper to tie the game and force overtime near the end of regulation. He finished with 31 of his own and will be back in action this evening.
6’2 Jr Anton Brookshire – Kickapoo
The Kickapoo Chiefs faced a stout test against a deep and talented Guyer group from Texas, but their standout junior Anton Brookshire was up for the challenge. Brookshire is the alpha dog for Kickapoo and knew if his team was going to stay in it, he was going to have to perform at a high level. He caught fire from three and showed his ability to cash in from deep in a variety of ways. His range extends out to the volleyball line. He gets into his shot very quickly off the bounce with a trigger-pull release. He also was aggressive in iso situations off the bounce where he is a tough assignment for any defender. Once he gets into the lane good things usually happen. He can slip and slide his way to the basket, drop a floater over the defense, or thread the needle to a teammate. He looked very strong as a distributer out of the pick and roll. Kickapoo may have lost, but they have a star in Anton Brookshire who finished the night with 23 points
6’5 Sr Tyler Mcghie – Guyer
Despite missing big man and Bulter commit, JaKobe Coles, the Guyer Wildcats cruised to a win over a very good Kickapoo team Thursday thanks in large part to an impressive and efficient performance from senior wing Tyler Mcghie. There is no other way to put it, Tyler can flat out fill it up. He unleashed a barrage of threes in the first quarter and actually outscored Kickapoo by himself. For the remainder of the game, any time Guyer needed a bucket it was Mcghie who delivered dagger after dagger. He is an elite shooter from beyond the arc and also his some tough runners and step back jumpers with hands in his face from the mid-range area. He finished with a game high 31 points.
6’4 Sr Caleb Love – CBC
North Carolina may very well have the best shooter in the 2020 class coming to Chapel Hill next fall. Caleb Love is an elite marksman with incredible range. Despite a loss to a tough Duncanville squad from Texas, Love poured in 33 points and wowed the crowd with his shooting ability. He is extremely comfortable burying jumpers from well beyond NBA range and is just as good or better pulling up off the bounce as he is catch and shoot. He knocked down some high level threes including a 25 foot, contested side-step and a buzzer-beating fall-away bomb from the deep corner. He was matched up with 6’7 Texas Tech commit Micah Peavy. Despite giving up some size, Love remained aggressive to score and stayed in attack mode. He is next in line as one of the special talents to come out of the St. Louis area.
6’7 Sr Micah Peavy – Duncanville
Micah Peavy was the most gifted athlete in the gym Thursday night and it wasn’t even close honestly. At 6’7 with great length, his head is at or above the rim every time he leaves his feet. He is a poster waiting to happen. Micah threw down some impressive dunks including a highlight reel worthy two hand alley-oop flush through contact late in the game. He handles the ball well and covers a ton of ground with his spin move. It takes him one dribble to get from the three point line to the rim. He can elevate over any defender and that allows him to be efficient as a mid-range shooter and a menace on the offensive glass. CBC did not have an answer for him. He finished with 22.
6’6 Sr Daniel Abreu – Willard
One of the best pure scorers in Missouri, Daniel is averaging upward of 30 points per game and was in stride Thursday. Willard was tested by a very physical and talented Blue Valley Northwest team, and Abreu had to sit most of the first quarter with foul trouble. However, as soon as he re-entered the game Daniel did what Daniel does. If he has the ball within 15 feet of the rim it is a guaranteed bucket. Whether he is pulling up a burying smooth mid-range jumpers, spinning his way to the rim for a finish, getting to the foul line, or dropping off to an open teammate, it seems that he always makes the right play. He continues to increase his efficiency from three as well as improved athleticism evidenced by a drop step two hand slam. Willard may not have won the game, but they have plenty of reason for optimism this season thanks to their senior scorer.
6’6 Sr Markell Hood – Blue Valley Northwest
Markell Hood is a grown man, and he proved to be too much for Willard Thursday night. He plays with passion and intensity on both ends of the floor and displayed refreshing effort throughout the game. He made a living by posting up and gaining position on the block and burying turnaround jumpers all night. He is a physical, athletic presence around the rim that wreaks havoc on the glass, and he buried a dagger three that put the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter.