Show-Me State Players in the NCAA Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state of Missouri will be well represented in the NCAA Division I Tournament, which got underway with the First Four in Dayton and continues with first round games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops Missouri takes a look at the players from the Show Me State who are in the Big Dance. We had the pleasure of covering the exploits of these talented players during their days as high school standouts. It is great to see them get an opportunity to participate in the NCAA Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bennett Stirtz (Drake/Liberty): The 6'4" guard was the Player of the Year in the Missouri Valley Conference. He is averaging 19.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.2 steals while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton/Trinity): The 7'0" center from Trinity is the four-time Defensive Player of the Year in the Big East Conference. This season, he averaged 19.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks while shooting 65 percent from the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caleb Love (Arizona/CBC): The 6'3" guard was an All Big XII Conference selection this season. He averaged 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brian Taylor (SIUE/DeSmet): The 6'4" guard helped lead SIUE to its first ever berth in the NCAA Tournament. He is averaging 12 points and three assists a game while shooting an impressive 47 percent from 3-point range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keshon Gilbert (Iowa State/Vashon): The 6'4" will miss the tournament due to an injury, but he had another strong season for the Cyclones. He averaged 13.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Phillip Russell (VCU/Vashon): The 6'0" guard was one of the leaders for the Rams, who were champions of the Atlantic 10 Conference. He averaged 10.6 points and 2.2 assists while shooting 36 percent from 3-point range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kyan Evans (Colorado State/Staley): The 6'2" point guard averaged 10.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists a game for the Mountain West Conference Tournament champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Daniel Abreu (Drake/Willard): The 6'6" forward has been a valuable player in Drakes run to the MVC title. He averaged 10.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and shot 36 percent from 3-point range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cameron Manyawu (Drake/Staley): The 6'9" forward provided the consistent inside player for the Bulldogs, averaging 7.2 points and 5.4 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trevon Brazile (Kickapoo/Arkansas): The 6'10 forward is an athletic player with length. He is averaging six points and five rebounds for the Razorbacks </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zaide Lowery (Marquette/Kickapoo): The 6'5" guard provides great athleticism and energy for the Golden Eagles. He is averaging 4.3 points and three rebounds a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tarris Reed Jr (UConn/Chaminade): The 6'10" forward averaged 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 67 percent from the field for the Huskis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Luke Northweather (Oklahoma/Blair Oaks): The 6'11" forward averages three points a game while playing 11 minutes per contest for the Sooners.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tavion Banks (Drake/Ruskin): The 6'7" forward is averaging 9.9 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Isaiah Howard (Drake/Plattsburg): The 6'5" guard from Plattsburg really came on strong late in his freshman season. He is averaging 4.4 points and 2.6 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Isaiah Jackson (Drake/William Chrisman): The 6'3" guard is currently averaging 4.6 points and 3.9 rebounds a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dajuan Harris (Kansas/Rock Bridge): The 6'2 points guard has been the Jayhawks floor leader for four years. He is averaging 9.2 points, three rebounds and five assists a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Braden Applehans (New Mexico/Blue Springs): The 6'7" lefty shooter averaged 3.5 points and shot 43 percent from 3-point range for the Mountain West Conference champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arlandus Keyes (Mount St. Mary's/Hazelwood East): The 6'2" guard averaged 6.4 points, three rebounds and two assists a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kayden Fish (Iowa State/Staley): The 6'5" forward from Kansas City played in eight games this season for the Cyclones.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miles White (Lipscomb/Rockhurst): The 6'3" guard averaged three points and two rebounds in 13 minutes of action per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kael Combs (Drake/Nixa): The 6'4" guard averaged 3.5 points in 12.3 minutes of action for the Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cameron Fletcher (Xavier/Vashon): The 6'7" forward saw action in 11 games this season for the Musketeers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Raynard Horry (SIUE/Christian-O'Fallon): The 5'9" point guard was a walk on this season for the Cougars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conrad Hawley (Iowa State/Raymore-Peculiar): The former Ray-Pec standout was a walk on this season for the Cyclones.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->