3 Takeaways: John Burroughs vs. Principia
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A game between two of the best Class 4 this season. Principia has been on fire as of late and Jay Blossom has his young core meshing well. On the other hand John Burroughs had a one loss January and…
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Continue ReadingA game between two of the best Class 4 this season. Principia has been on fire as of late and Jay Blossom has his young core meshing well. On the other hand John Burroughs had a one loss January and figures to be a factor in the playoffs. This game came down to the wire where Principia pulled away with a 3 point win by a score of 51-48. An outstanding contest. Here are three takeaways.
Principia has strength in numbers.
This is a team who can have a different leading scorer on any night. The bench is deep and they have 9-10 players who can all make an equal impact. It’s also a young squad so they’re hungry and competing for minutes at all times. These factors have turned into major strengths for Principia. They have size, shooting, and energy players all over the floor making them a dangerous team come playoff time. In this game every player that scored for Principia was an underclassmen. There are few, if any, other teams in the state that could ever make that statement. The win signified an arrival to some and they’re now a key factor in the Class 4 run to Mizzou Arena in March.
Sophomores shining bright.
On this night it was all about the sophomores and that’s for both teams. Tristan Reed Tristan Reed 6'8" | PF John Burroughs | 2026 State MO is a headliner being that he’s the top player in the class, however, there were many others who raised their stock as well. Reed had 12 points and 11 rebounds, Ben Akoro Ben Akoro 6'7" | SF Principia | 2026 State MO added 11 points, scoring guard Jaylen Edwards Jaylen Edwards 6'0" | PG Principia | 2026 State MO poured in 10 and emerging guard Quentin Coleman Quentin Coleman 6'0" | PG Principia | 2026 State MO scored 9 points. One of the top forwards in the state, Sheek Pearson Sheek Pearson 6'9" | PF John Burroughs | 2026 State MO , affected the game defensively and scored 6 points. All of these players are or will be ranked at the end of the season. It’s a strong sophomore class around the state and this game showcased much of the talent all under one roof.
Ben Akoro Ben Akoro 6'7" | SF Principia | 2026 State MO and Ramzi Salem Ramzi Salem 6'3" | CG John Burroughs | 2024 State MO stand out.
Akoro was playing well for Principia. The 6’7 forward has great length, feel for the game, and can hit tough shots off the bounce. His positional size and passing are two of his greatest strengths. He’s a prospect with a high ceiling in this class and plays the way college recruiters want to see. More times than not he’ll make the simple play. As for Ramzi Salem Ramzi Salem 6'3" | CG John Burroughs | 2024 State MO , the unsigned senior remains a staple of this Burroughs program. He’s a true floor general with great size at 6’4. He sees overtop the defense, can make the three, and makes all the plays in transition. His 15 points led the team. Salem is a college talent who can play at the next level.