Conference Preview: COC

<p>Prep Hoops Missouri continues its preseason conference previews with a look at the Central Ozark Conference.</p> <p><strong>The Starting Five</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1182211" first="Colin" last="Ruffin"] 6'3 Nixa: A 2022 All-State guard who averaged 12 points, five rebounds and six assists a game as a junior.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1070087" first="Kael" last="Combs"] 6'3 Nixa (pictured): An explosive 2023 guard who averaged 13.4 points, four rebounds and three assists a game.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="984953" first="Always" last="Wright"] 6'3 Joplin: A talented two-sport athlete who's received offers in both basketball and football.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1070114" first="Ahlante" last="Askew"] 6'1 Republic: An excellent two-way 2022 point guard who averaged 14 points a game while playing stellar defense.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1050173" first="Ethan" last="Whatley"] 6'2 Ozark: A 2022 guard who averaged 13.7 points and four rebounds in leading his team to the district finals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Best of the Rest</strong></p> <p>2022</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1158796" first="Kyle" last="Scharbrough"] 6'3" Branson</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="984946" first="Cohl" last="Vaden"] 5'9 Webb City </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1050175" first="Ethan" last="Jones"] 6'2 Branson</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1180775" first="Jarret" last="Nelson"] 6'4 Nixa</p> <p>Haden Brown 6'4 Willard</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1010548" first="Kaden" last="Turner"] 6'4" Webb City</p> <p>Trey Pullford 6'0 Willard</p> <p>Tyler Harmon, Ozark</p> <p>Kade Goodwin 6'4" Branson</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1010547" first="Gavin" last="Davis"] 6'5" Willard</p> <p>Justyn Turner 6'3" Nixa</p> <p>Brett Hall 5'11" Willard</p> <p>Devon McMillin 6'2" Republic</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1180776" first="Colten" last="Berry"] 6'7" Nixa</p> <p>Joel Pugh 6'0 Carthage</p> <p>Avery Moody 6'2" Republic</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>2023</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1192431" first="Max" last="Templeman"] 5'10" Carthage</p> <p>Cooper Wilken 5'7" Willard</p> <p>Donte Washington 6'0" Webb City</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>2024</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1160660" first="All" last="Wright"] 6'2" Joplin</p> <p>Whit Hafer 6'7" Joplin</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1160841" first="Justin" last="Ray"] 5'10" Carthage</p> <p>Baron Duda 6'2" Webb City</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>2025</p> <p>Brenley Hagewood, Republic</p>