SEMO Conference Tournament Top Underclassmen

Prep Hoops Missouri spent a couple of day's watching the action at the SEMO Conference Tournament in Sikeston via the Magical Stream Machine. There is some excellent young talent in the boot heel this year.   2024   [player_tooltip player_id='1160651' first='Jadis' last='Jones'] (New Madrid Central): The 6'5" forward did a little bit of everything in leading the Eagles to a third-place finish in the tournament. One thing that stood out was his defensive instincts. He put himself in the right position at all times and ended up with eight steals. He was one step ahead on defense. He scored 19 points in the semifinal game that I watch and dominated the fourth quarter with jump hooks and offensive rebounds for buckets. His motor never stops when he was on the court.   BJ Williamson (Nee Madrid Central): The 6'0" combo guard is back after missing his sophomore season and he looks as good as ever. He was always good at attacking the basket with his relentless downhill drives for buckets. What he also has is shooting range that extends well past the 3-point line. That makes him even more difficult to defend when he's knocking down long distance jumpers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1546748' first='Dontrez' last='Williams'] (Sikeston): The talented 6'4" wing impacts the game in so many different ways. He can get a bucket from all three levels and he has explosive leaping ability, which shows in his ability to drive and throw down a dunk in traffic. He can dart the passing lanes on defense on the perimeter or also block shots inside. He can also create offense for his teammates with his passing.   LaTroy McIntosh (Cape Girardeau Central): The 6'6" forward is one of the most explosive athletes in the SEMO area. He is very active around the basket and tough to handle with his ability to score and attack the offensive boards. He has a nice jump hook in the lane that is very effective. But, whenever he gets the chance he's going to throw down the dunk in traffic.   [player_tooltip player_id='1162293' first='Blayne' last='Harris'] (Jackson): The 6'4" guard had an excellent tournament, which included a 28-point performance in the semifinals against Charleston in the game that I watched. He's very athletic and he cuts well without the basketball to score in the lane. He also displayed his smooth shooting perimeter stroke with five 3-pointers in the game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1571715' first='Jay' last='Reynolds'] (Cape Girardeau Central): A talented 6'4" guard who is a big-time addition to the Tigers after transferring from Ohio. He has good size and playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. He is an excellent offensive threat who can pull up and hit the mid-range jumper and knock down the 3-pointer.   [player_tooltip player_id='1563943' first='Judd' last='Thoma'] (Jackson): A 6'4" wing guard who plays an excellent all-around game which helps his team in a variety of ways. He has good athleticism and a nice skill set with the ball in his hands. He has a nice spin move in the lane and can shoot over smaller defenders. His mid-range jumper is also on point. He also passes well, rebounds and plays solid defense. He is poised to have a big junior season.     2025   PJ Farmer (Charleston): The talented 6'1" guard was just getting back into the lineup after missing a number of early games with an injury. When his perimeter shots weren't falling, he resorted to attacking the basket where he was getting buckets, drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line. His quick first step enabled him to get into the lane on a consistent basis.   [player_tooltip player_id='1553204' first='Tristan' last='Wiggins'] (Sikeston): A 6'0" point guard who has a physical build and he competes hard at both ends of the floor. He gets downhill very well on his penetrating drives and he can also hit the Corner 3-pointer. He also sits down on defense and he's very active in the Bulldogs' full-court pressure defense.   Trace Sadler (Sikeston): A 6'10" forward who has good athleticism and a big upside for the future. He runs the court well and he is a capable shot blocker with his length and timing. He is also a good passer out of the low post. He also has a nice jump hook over the left shoulder and a baseline turnaround jumper over his right shoulder.   Brendan Durden (Poplar Bluff): A 6'0" guard who was impressive in the open court where he got out and scored in the transition game. He also picked a pocket with his quick hands on defense. He moves his feet well on the defensive end and he keeps himself in the right position.     2026   Marquel Murray (Cape Girardeau Central): The 6'3" guard looked the part of one of the top freshman in the state throughout the tournament. In the first game, he came off the bench and hit 3-pointers. In the semifinals against New Madrid, he was using his slick handles to slice into the lane to get buckets or drop off dimes to open teammates.   Kobe Thomas (Sikeston): A 5'9" point guard who was very impressive when he came off the bench. He has excellent quickness and he displayed some good decision making while also playing at a fast tempo. He distributed the ball well and he also knocked down the open 3-pointer.

Prep Hoops Missouri spent a couple of day's watching the action at the SEMO Conference Tournament in Sikeston via the Magical Stream Machine. There is some excellent young talent in the boot heel this year.