COC Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops Missouri continues its preseason previews with a look at the Central Ozark Conference. Nixa advanced to the Class 6 state championship game last year. The Eagles are in a transition with a new coach and several new starters in the lineup. Joplin, Carthage, Webb City and Republic will also field strong units this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>THE STARTING FIVE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1070087' first='Kael' last='Combs'] (Nixa): The 6'4" 2023 guard is a two-sport standout who is also a Division I prospect in football. As a junior, he averaged 14.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and shot 46 percent from 3-point range in leading the Eagles to a runner-up finish in the Class 6 state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1160660' first='All' last='Wright'] (Joplin): A talented 6'4" shooting guard who is one of the top offensive threats in the SWMO area. He is currently the No. 1 player in the latest Prep Hoops Missouri Class of 2024 rankings. He averaged 18 points a game as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1192431' first='Max' last='Templeman'] (Carthage): A 5'9" 2023 point guard who returns after earning All-Conference honors as a junior. He is very effective when he's attacking the basket. He averaged 15.8 points and 3.5 assists a game last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1070114' first='Ahlante' last='Askew'] (Republic): The 6'2" 2023 point guard is one of the best two-way backcourt players in the state. He is a tremendous defensive player who also averaged 15.4 points and 4.2 assists a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1427987' first='Jace' last='Whatley'] (Ozark): A 6'5" 2024 forward who is a very effective inside player who competes hard on the boards. As a sophomore, he averaged 11.2 points and 6.5 rebounds a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BEST OF THE REST</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Noah Engelman (Nixa)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ayden Bard (Carl Junction)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Terrence Gibson (Joplin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ky Warren (Carl Junction)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clay Kinder (Carthage)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kamari Edwards (Republic)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trey Roets (Webb City)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1160841' first='Justin' last='Ray'] (Carthage)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2092251' first='Garrett' last='Hines'] (Nixa)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1259014' first='Whit' last='Hafer'] (Joplin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barron Duda (Webb City)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cooper Wilken (Willard)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1424919' first='Brenley' last='Hagewood'] (Republic)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1506867' first='Holton' last='Keith'] (Webb City)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1425373' first='Cohen' last='George'] (Ozark)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson Cantwell (Nixa)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->