Show-Me Standouts in the NCAA Tournament

The NCAA Tournament begins today and Prep Hoops Missouri is back again with its annual look at the players from the state who will be participating in the Big Dance.

Christian Bishop (Texas): The former Lee’s Summit West standout averaged 6.3 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field as he helped the Longhorns to the championship of the Big XII Conference Tournament.

Dylan Branson (SEMO): The former Mehlville standout averaged 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and two assists a game in helping the Redhawks to the OVC Tournament championship. He is the glue-guy for the Redhawks and top defensive player.

Trevon Brazile (Arkansas): The former Kickapoo standout was a big impact player for the Razorbacks before being lost to a knee injury after nine games. In those nine game, he was averaged 11.8 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 37 percent from 3-point range. He also threw down some of the most prodigious dunks during the early part of the season.

Anton Brookshire (Iona): The former Kickapoo High standout averaged 10 minutes a game for the Gaels, who won the MAAC championship. He averaged 4.2 points a game while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range.

Kale Catchings (Duke): The former Wentzville Liberty standout is a grad transfer at Duke after an excellent career at Harvard. He appeared in nine games for the Blue Devils this season.

Kobe Clark (SEMO): The former Vashon standout played 19 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He was averaging 6.6 points and a team high 8.8 rebounds a game at the time of his injury.

Tevin Gowins (SEMO): The former Hazelwood Central standout appeared in 17 games as a walk-on freshman guard for the Redhawks this season.

Dajuan Harris (Kansas): The former Rock Bridge standout had another big season for the Jayhawks as they won the Big XII Conference regular season championship. He is averaging 8.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.1 steals while shooting 41 percent from 3-point range.

Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton): The 7’0″ former Trinity Catholic standout was the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. He is averaging 15.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks while shooting 71 percent from the field

Nicholas Kern Jr. (VCU): The former Vashon High standout is a top defensive player for the Rams, who won the Atlantic 10 Conference regular season and tournament titles. He is averaging 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 61 percent from the field.

Taj Manning (Kansas State): The 6’7′ Manning started his prep career at Grandview before finishing up at Bishop Miege (KS). He is a redshirt freshman forward for the Wildcats.

Chase Martin (Purdue): The former Father Tolton standout is a walk-on guard for the Boilermakers. He appeared in four games this season. He is the son of former Purdue standout Cuonzo Martin.

Isiaih Mosley (Missouri): The former Mr. Missouri Basketball from Rock Bridge appeared in 14 games the Tigers this season. He averaged 9.6 points and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 47 percent from the field.

Eric Northweather (Drake): The former Blair Oaks standout appeared in 23 games for the Bulldogs, who won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title. He averaged two points and three rebounds a game in 10 minutes of action.

Courtney Ramey (Arizona): The former Webster Groves star hit the game-winning 3-pointer in the Wildcats victory over UCLA in the championship game of the Pac-12 Tournament. The 6’3″ guard is averaging 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists a game while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range.

Xavier Rhodes (Northern Kentucky): The former Rockhurst standout is averaging 7.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and a team-high 3.7 assists in helping NKU to the Horizon League Tournament championship. He also hit 39 percent of his 3-point attempts.

Phillip Russell (SEMO): The former Vashon standout was named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team for the second consecutive year. He is averaging 18.2 points and five assists a game. He scored 21 points in the Redhawks victory over Tennessee-Martin in the championship game of the OVC Tournament.