Scouting Report: Kickapoo vs. Rolla
Kickapoo, the fourth ranked team in Class 5, improved to 22-2 and remained undefeated in the Ozark Conference with a 76-65 win over Rolla, ranked fourth in Class 4, avenging a loss a year ago that gave the Ozark Conference…
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Continue ReadingKickapoo, the fourth ranked team in Class 5, improved to 22-2 and remained undefeated in the Ozark Conference with a 76-65 win over Rolla, ranked fourth in Class 4, avenging a loss a year ago that gave the Ozark Conference title to the Bulldogs. The Chiefs built a big lead in the first half, only to see Rolla pull within five early in the fourth quarter. Kickapoo pulled away down the stretch for the win.
Scouting Report:
Jared Ridder, 6-7, F, 2017
Kickapoo’s leading scorer has picked up six NCAA Division I offers and is hearing from numerous other schools as well. He is long and athletic with the ability to play above the rim at both ends of the floor. Ridder is perhaps best known for his 3-point stroke and had made 46 3’s through his teams first 22 games, shooting at a 38 percent clip. But he has also taken his game into the post where he has developed a soft jump hook. Ridder is averaging nearly 21 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Cam Davis, 6-1, PG, 2017
Davis has taken his game to new heights this season for the Chiefs, averaging 13.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He has been a model of efficiency, shooting 57 percent from the field, 44 percent from 3 and 83 percent from the FT line. He is arguably the premier point guard in southwest Missouri and is making a case for one of the top PGs in Missouri.
Isaac Johnson, 6-1, G, 2016 (Drury)
The first Kickapoo player to commit, Johnson played Tuesday’s game in front of Drury head coach Steve Hesser and assistant Brandon Kimbrough. He is averaging 9.4 points and 3.5 assists per game for a balanced and deep Kickapoo team. Johnson is at his best knocking down pull up jumpers in the mid-range game, but also has the ability to shoot from deep as he showed against Rolla, making 3s from well beyond the arc. Johnson has been compared to Drury star and former Nixa standout Kameron Bundy and could replace the talented lead guard in the Panther line-up.
Niekie Thomas-Fontleroy, 6-2, G, 2016
Thomas-Fontleroy is perhaps best known for his high-flying slams and his ability to score in transition, but he is also a fearless defender and a much improved perimeter shooter. Thomas-Fontleroy is shooting 41 percent from 3-point range and nearly 60 percent from the field overall this season. He is averaging 11 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Derrick Roberson, 5-11, PG, 2016
Might be as talented a senior coming off the bench as you’ll see in high school basketball. In limited time, Roberson is averaging 5.4 points and is shooting 52 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3. He can handle the ball, get to the bucket and is a solid defender. Look for him to emerge at the JUCO ranks and develop his game.
Donyae McCaskill, 5-11, PG, 2019
It’s not often that we feel compelled to write about junior varsity, or lesser, players, but McCaskill has a chance to be a high-level player in the upcoming years. His path to the varsity is only blocked as a ninth-grader due to the high-level talent at Kickapoo. McCaskill has tremendous court vision, but his best attribute might be his athleticism. Teams can not keep him out of the paint as he can really handle the ball and has a tremendous first step. Has tremendous body control and a knack for finishing tough shots in traffic.
Rolla
Kobe Wands, 6-0, PG, 2016
One of the state’s premier point guards, Wands is a four-year starter that has helped usher in a new era of basketball at Rolla. He has terrific court awareness, is a good ball handler and can really fill it up from long distance. Wands has drawn some interest from some Division II schools, but we see him as a likely fit at an NAIA or Division III school.
Sam Marshall, 6-5, F, 2016
One of the kids in area basketball who is really flying under the radar. Marshall has improved his ball handling and all-around game, but remains at his best at the 3-point line where he is one of the state’s premier shooters. He is much better at taking the ball off the dribble, an aspect of his game he has definitely improved, and is even comfortable shooting the ball from 3 off the dribble. Marshall is definitely a player for NAIA and perhaps even Division II programs to track for the remainder of the season.
Logan Short, 6-3, SG, 2016
Kid can play, capable of putting points on the board in a hurry. Like his teammates, Short has no conscience about shooting from deep as he can pull up from well beyond the 3-point arc. Is a good ball handler, capable of creating his own shot off the dribble and athletic enough to score in traffic. Another player for area NAIA programs to track this season.