Small School Spotlight: A Look at the Stover Tournament Guards

Earl Austin January 9, 2026 @ 03:28 PM

Prep Hoops Missouri continues its look at those under the radar small schools with a look at the eight teams that are competing the Stover Tournament. Here is a look at a group of guards who caught our attention at the tournament.   [player_tooltip player_id='2353167' first='Cody' last='Tamm'] (Eldon): The 6'2" 2026 shooting guard is the most skilled and athletic backcourt player in the tournament. I've always been impressed with his rebounding from the guard position. He is a talented three-level scorer who attacks the lane well and can finish above the rim. He elevates well on his mid-range jumper and he has 3-point shooting range. He also showed his clutch gene as he sparked a big rally from a late seven-point deficit to lead the Mustangs to the victory over rival Versailles in the semifinals.   Ethan Gentry (Knob Noster): A 6'1" 2026 guard who shoots it well from the perimeter and also has a nice feel for the game. He shoots it off the catch and also in the transition game. He moves without the ball well and he can read defenses to find the open spots in the defense. He flashes into the high post to hit short jumpers. He has good anticipation on defense which led to some impressive steals and transition layups.   Langsten Ratcliff (Russellville): A 5'10" 2028 point guard who is an impressive floor leader. He's is physically strong and he's very good on dribble penetration because he stays low on the dribble. He does a nice job of getting two feet into the paint and muscle his way through traffic to get a layup. He can go the length of the court to score and he can also pull up and hit the jumper.   Keyshawn Callaway (Knob Noster): A 6'2" 2026 guard who has good athleticism and solid ball handling ability. He stays under control and he passes the ball well with his court vision. He zipped some impressive cross court passes to open shooters. He is a good slashing threat who can also score in transition very well. He is also a strong rebounder from the guard position.   [player_tooltip player_id='3336952' first='Ryan' last='Walters'] (Versailles): A 5'11" 2029 point guard who is a talented young player and very poised on the floor. He has a nice shooting stroke from 3-point range and he can also work in the paint very well. He comes off screens to shoot it and he can also score off the dribble. He drives it effectively and he will also post up with confidence. He delivered some big buckets in the fourth quarter in the semifinals against rival Eldon.   Darien Huntsman (Knob Noster): A 5'10" 2028 guard who is an impressive perimeter shooter with excellent range. He has a quick release on his shot as the ball is gone as soon as it touches his hands. He has a nice easy demeanor to his game as he moves and plays at his own pace.   Talon Hull (Eldon): A 2026 guard who is a skilled offensive player with a high basketball IQ. He handles the ball and facilitates offense well and picks his spots when to assert himself as a scorer. He came on strong in the fourth quarter in Eldon's come-from-behind victory over Versailles. He was getting downhill and scoring on smooth drives in the lane. He has a nice hesitation move and he can also lull defenders then hit them with a burst to get to the basket.   Blake Abey (Cole Camp): A 6'1" 2027 guard who is a very impressive offensive player who can put up points in stretches when he has it going. He is a good athlete who really elevates well on his jump shot. He can get off a good shot even when he is being defended. He scores around the basket through contact and he can also shoot it from 3-point range off the catch. He was also darting into the passing lanes for steals to get transition layups. I was very impressed with him when I watched him against host Stover in the consolation round.

Prep Hoops Missouri continues its look at those under the radar small schools with a look at the eight teams that are competing the Stover Tournament. Here is a look at a group of guards who caught our attention at the tournament.