Six Talented Players Coming ‘Home’

(St. Louis, MO) – Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz knew there was ‘no place like home’ and six talented players feel the same way about the Missouri Valley Conference teams they’ll be playing for this year.

Valley Hoops Insider editor Harry Schroeder previews these six talented players that are staying close to home.

 

 

All six players come to their respective programs with impressive resumes and gaudy high school stat sheets. Each player received impressive ratings from VerbalCommits.com and several received notariety from ESPN and 247.com.

Editor: In the video we say Southern Illinois’ Darius Beane was ranked as the 11th best player in the State of Illinois. In the latest ESPN reports, the four-letter-network has moved him up to number seven. ESPN calls Northern Iowa’s A.J. Green as the second best player in Iowa.

What’s Next?

Beyond these six talented players, Valley coaches have struck gold in the junior college ranks. At least six different MVC recruits are listed in jucorucruiting.com‘s Top 100 Player Rankings.

Drake recently landed 20th rated Tremell Murphy while also signing his twin Austin and three star recruit D.J. Wilkins. Illinois State signed Zach Copeland (#42 from the previous season) and number 92 Josh Jefferson. First year Missouri State coach Dana Ford brought in a bumper crop of juno talent. 31st ranked Kabir Mohammed, number 51 Darnell Butler and Keandre Cook who came in at 76 bring immediate experience and talent to Springfield.

So those six talented players and those referred to in the above video gives an indication of some of the skill level coming into the Valley.

In our previous piece Increased Talent in the MVC, we took a broad look at the league, and in these stories we are attempting to dig a bit deeper into the specifics of this recruiting class. The Valley’s talent pool has been significantly strengthened.