Gridiron Standouts Who Get Buckets

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week was signing day for many of the state's top football prospects. Those gridiron standouts are also putting in work on the basketball court. Here is a look at a group of those players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1795739,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/6A93E684-D47C-4510-9AFF-58A6B62A3F02.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/6A93E684-D47C-4510-9AFF-58A6B62A3F02.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1795739" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ahrmad Branch (Festus): The 6'2" 2023 guard is a four-year standout at point guard for the Tigers, but he decided to go out for football for the first time last season and had a record-setting season as a wide receiver. He will be headed to Purdue next season to play football. He is closing out his prep basketball career in high style as he averages 23.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.4 steals a game for the 17-5 Tigers. The explosive athletic guard scored a career high 48 points in a thrilling overtime game against Jefferson County rival Hillsboro last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*******</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1497359,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/B8865D83-B5A2-44E3-9276-1F056C84DCC6.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/B8865D83-B5A2-44E3-9276-1F056C84DCC6.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1497359" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1440453' first='Kendrick' last='Bell'] (Park Hill): The 6'3" 2023 guard is an explosive two-way performer for Park Hill who is headed to Michigan to play football for the Wolverines, where his older brother Ronnie is a star wide receiver. As a senior, Kendrick is averaging 13.6 points, six rebounds and six assists a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>******</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chandavian Bradley (Platte County): The 6'6" 2023 forward is also the No. 1 prep football prospect in the state of Missouri as a defensive end. He is an athletic freak who brings that explosiveness to the basketball court as well. I call him a "Mini Giannis" as he plays with a great motor at both ends of the court to go along with his athleticism. He is averaging 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.9 blocks a game. He will be playing football for the Tennessee Volunteers next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*******</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1167327' first='Jack' last='Gogue'] (Richmond): The 6'8" 270-pound 2023 Gogue is a tremendous lineman prospect in football who recently committed to New Mexico State. He is also a stud on the basketball court as a dominant force in the paint for the Spartans. He is averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds a game this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>******</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1487675,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/1DB56FCA-194D-4E30-949C-8EFFDAADAB74.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/06/1DB56FCA-194D-4E30-949C-8EFFDAADAB74.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1487675" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1170197' first='Darin' last='Conley'] (Pembroke Hill): A 6'5" 2023 power forward who is also an excellent football prospect who is headed to Ball State next season, where he will play linebacker. On the basketball court, he has been one of the state's top rebounders throughout his career. He is currently averaging 12 points and 13 rebounds a game for the Raiders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*********</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1171403,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/Langden-Kitchen-2.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/04/Langden-Kitchen-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1171403" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1161302' first='Langden' last='Kitchen'] (Westran): The 6'7" 250-pound Kitchen is an All-State lineman who has signed to play for Northwest Missouri State. He has also been one of the top Class 2 players in the state throughout his career with his inside dominance. The big post player is averaging 24 points and 15 rebounds a game in leading the Hornets to a 22-3 record heading into the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>********</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1709845,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/FD241E68-3740-4C44-8237-0C27A2034D08.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/FD241E68-3740-4C44-8237-0C27A2034D08.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1709845" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaliel Boyd (St Mary's): An excellent 2023 defensive back who had a team high 10 interceptions for the Dragons powerful unit that won a Class 4 state championship. He is headed to Southwest Baptist to play football. On the basketball court, he is averaging an excellent senior year as a scoring combo guard. He is averaging 15.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals while shooting 45 percent from the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>******<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1228330,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/06/56DDBD7C-B784-47F9-885D-AADFA28F77FA.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/06/56DDBD7C-B784-47F9-885D-AADFA28F77FA.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1228330" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1070098' first='Justin' last='Goolsby'] (Battle): The 6'4" 220-pound 2023 Goolsby has been a stellar quarterback for the Spartans for the past three seasons. He is headed to William Jewell next season to play football. He has been a stalwart combo forward on the basketball court with his consistent scoring and rebounding. He is also a matchup problem with his offensive skill set on the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>********</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1070100' first='Zach' last='Ortwerth'] (SLUH): A 6'5" 2023 football standout who is headed to Iowa next season to play in the Big Ten Conference. He has been a solid three-year starter for the Jr. Billikens basketball team as a power forward. As a senior, he is averaging seven points and seven rebounds a game for the 14-8 Jr. Bills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->