COC East Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops Missouri takes a look at the top players and teams in the Central Ozark Conference. The league features some of the top programs in the SWMO area. Springfield Central finished third in the Class 6 state tournament. Kickapoo will field another strong team that will contend while Nixa and Ozark will also be very competitive with several key players returning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>THE STARTING FIVE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1422818"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6738bd784fd9b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A 6'0" 2025 point guard who has been the centerpiece of the Central program that has become one of the best in the state. As a junior, he averaged 17.8 points, 7.8 assists and three steals a game in leading Central to the Final Four of the Class 6 state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1300810"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6738bd784fdf5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A 6'6" 2025 forward who is a three-year starter and anchor for the Chiefs talented team. He was a starter on Kickapoo's Class 6 state runner-up team in 2023 as a sophomore. Last season, he averaged 13.1 points and 6.7 rebounds a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":[1872262],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6738bd784fe38"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A 6'1" 2026 point guard who has emerged as one of the top prospects in the SWMO area. The young lefty can control pace and also hit big shots in clutch situations. As a sophomore, he averaged 11 points, four rebounds and four assists a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2194413"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6738bd784fe78"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A 6'5" 2027 forward who is one of the top quarterbacks in the state in football in addition to being a standout basketball player. He was a high-impact player as a freshman in earning All-Conference honors last season when he averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1425344"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6738bd784feb7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A 6'6" 2025 forward who was a key force inside for Central's Class 6 Final Four team. On a team full of perimeter standouts, he holds down the middle at both sides of the court. As a junior, he averaged 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MORE PLAYERS OF NOTE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2544971' first='Hudson' last='Roberts'] 6'4" Ozark</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1425373' first='Cohen' last='George'] 6'10" Ozark</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1562794' first='Devin' last='Sanford'] 6'1" Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manny Stover 6'3" Ozark</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2576000' first='Jordan' last='Pittman'] 5'11" Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2544937' first='Keivon' last='Flint'] 6'0" Nixa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bryce Foster 6'0" Nixa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaise Combs 6'3" Nixa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blake Coffman 6'1" Lebanon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ethan Esguerra, Waynesville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Noah Fort, Lebanon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>******</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brock Thompson 6'4" Kickapoo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2617582' first='Elijah' last='Nabors'] 6'1" Kickapoo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2617600' first='Vincent' last='Mhire'] 6'1" Kickapoo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1883051' first='Brayden' last='Rubidoux'] 6'1" Kickapoo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2967596' first='Randy' last='Flint'] 6'1" Nixa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Codye Black, Glendale</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2617568' first='Brandon' last='Jackson'] 6'3" Waynesville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>******</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2334904' first='Kylan' last='Pickren'] 6'4" Ozark</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mar'kel Houston 6'4 Glendale</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2528045' first='Hendrix' last='Haymes'] 6'6" Ozark</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2701109' first='Joelle' last='Rover'] 6'3" Glendale</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->