Show Me State Standouts in the NCAA Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The NCAA Tournament got underway on Tuesday with the First Four games, which are played in Dayton, OH. Prep Hoops Missouri takes a look at a group of former Show State state prep standouts who will be playing in the NCAA Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kellen Thames (Saint Louis University): The former Pattonville High standout earned All-Atlantic 10 Conference Third Team honors in helping the Billikens to a 28-5 record and a share of the conference championship. The 6'6" junior guard averaged 9.9 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 64 percent from the field and providing electric play off the bench for the Billikens.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bennett Stirtz (Iowa): The former Liberty High standout was one of the top players in the Big Ten Conference this season. The 6'4" senior point guard currently averages 20 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game while shooting 49 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range and 84 percent from the free throw line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trevon Brazile (Arkansas): The former Kickapoo High standout helped the Razorbacks to the SEC Tournament championship. The high-flying 6'10" senior forward is averaging 13.2 points and 7.4 rebounds a game while shooting 54 percent from the field. He is also shooting 36 percent from 3-point range while also throwing down some very prodigious dunks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennard Davis Jr. (BYU): The former Vashon High standout has been a solid starting forward for the Cougars this season. A 6'6" junior forward, "Moo Moo" is currently averaging 8.5 points and 2.7 rebounds while playing 29 minutes a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rob Martin (High Point): A former CBC standout who lead the Panthers to the championship of the Big South Conference and a 30-win season. The 5'10" point guard is averaging 15.3 points and three assists a game. He scored 24 points in a victory over Winthrop in the Big South Tournament championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cam'ron Fletcher (High Point): A former Vashon High standout who helped lead the Panthers to the Big South championship. The 6'7" senior forward averaged 12.7 points and 6.9 rebounds a game. He had 17 points and an Big South Tournament record 19 rebounds in the championship game victory over Winthrop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kyan Evans (North Carolina): A 6'2" junior point guard who was a former standout at Staley. He is currently averaging 4.1 points and 2.6 assists a game while averaging 18 minutes of playing time for the Tar Heels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kael Combs (Iowa): A 6'4" junior guard from Nixa who has provided some instant offense for the Hawkeyes this season. He is averaging 5.9 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field. He had a great closing stretch in the Hawkeyes game against Nebraska when he scored the final seven points in regulation, including a 3-pointer to send the game into overtime.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tavion Banks (Ruskin): The former Ruskin High standout has been a solid starting forward from the Hawkeyes this season. The 6'7" senior currently averages 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 54 percent from the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Isaia Howard (Iowa): A former Plattsburg standout who scored more than 3,000 points in his prep career. The 6'5" sophomore guard is currently averaging 5.4 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 45 percent from the field and 74 percent from the free throw line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cam Manyawu (Iowa): A 6'9" junior forward from Staley who helped the Falcons win a state championship in 2023. Manyawu is currently averaging 7.1 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 64 percent from the field while providing a strong inside presence for the Hawkeyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garry Clark (Utah State): The former Cardinal Ritter standout has been a solid player off the bench for the Aggies, who won the Mountain West Conference championship. A 6'9" senior forward, Clark is averaging 6.8 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 70 percent from the field. He had 11 points and six rebounds against San Diego State in the championship game of the MWC Tournament championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peyton McCollum (Iowa): A former Maryville High standout who is the son of Iowa head coach Ben McCollum. He is a walk-on guard for the Hawkeyes this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kyle Pock (Northern Iowa): A former Bolivar High standout who helped the Panthers to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship. The 6'6" junior forward is averaging 3.8 points a game while shooting 34 percent from 3-point range in 13 minutes a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Corbin Allen (Kansas): The former Oak Park standout has taken a redshirt for his freshmen season. He led the Northmen to the Class 6 state championship last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jevon Porter (Missouri): A 6'11" senior from Father Tolton in Columbia who returned home to play for the Tigers. He is averaging 6.3 points and 4.8 rebounds while playing 12 minutes a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Luke Northweather (Missouri): The "Luke of Wardsville" is a 6'11" senior forward and a former standout at Blair Oaks who also returned home to play for the Tigers this season. He is averaging 3.1 points and 2.5 rebounds while playing in 19 games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aaron Rowe (Missouri): The 6'2" freshman guard stayed home in Columbia, where he was a former standout guard at Father Tolton High in Columbia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riley Massey (North Dakota State): A former DeSmet standout who led the Spartans to a state championship in 2024. He saw 13 minutes of action as a freshman </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->