St. Louis Players in the Valley

(St. Louis, MO) – St. Louis’ reputation as a talent rich basketball region continues to grow. Nationally, we see star freshmen players like Chaminade teammates Jayson Tatum (Duke) and Tyler Cook (Iowa) and Hazelwood Central’s Xavier Sneed (Kansas State) coming into prominence.

There are four St. Louis area players in the NBA as Washingtion’s Bradley Beal and San Antonio’s David Lee (both from Chaminade), Golden State’s Patrick McCaw (CBC) and Sacramento’s Ben McLemore (Normandy) are bringing more notoriety to the Gateway City.

But is St. Louis well represented in the Missouri Valley Conference? There are some significant local products that look to perform in MVC arenas this season.

Arguably the most is expected from Bradley’s Ronnie Suggs. The 6’6 sophomore from nearby Washington, Missouri was third on the team in scoring (8.5 points per game), second in assists, second in three pointers and fourth in rebounding. He’s grown an inch and added 11 pounds of muscle in the offseason.

But Suggs isn’t the only St. Louis area player poised to do some damage in the Valley this season.

Indiana State has three players from the region, and all three have the opportunity to make significant contributions this year. Collinsville’s Emondre Rickman played in 31 games as a true freshman last season. The 6’9 sophomore led the Sycamores with 24 blocked shots while averaging 2.3 ppg and 2.8 rebounds per game.

(Read About St. Louis Players in the OVC)

Joining Rickman are freshman point guard Jordan Barnes (CBC High) and sophomore Donovan Franklin (O’Fallon High) who joins the team from Gulf Coast State College. Franklin averaged just under 15 points per game at Gulf Coast.

Barnes’ senior season was special. The 5’11 point guard averaged over 17 points per game and over four rebounds and four assists for the 20-9 Cadets. CBC lost three times to that loaded Chaminade squad led by Tatum and Cook, and once to Sneed’s Hazelwood Central.

Bradley head coach Brian Wardle and Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing discuss recruiting the St. Louis area and their St. Louis players. Each coach believes his player(s) can make a difference this year.

 

 

There are other St. Louis area players flying a bit under the radar, but with significant upside.

Missouri State’s Robin Thompson (MICDS) showed flashes of ability and watchers of the Bear program are waiting for the athletic sophomore to emerge this season. Jim Connell (Springfield News Leader) tells me Thompson has lost weight and is in great shape. Thompson averaged 16.2 ppg and 9.7 rebounds during his senior season with the Rams. Sneed’s Hazelwood Central teammate Jordan Martin will be a senior bench player at MSU.

A similar player is Southern Illinois’ Armon Fletcher. The Edwardsville High graduate is a 6’4 sophomore that head coach Barry Hinson believes can be a star. Fletcher was a double-double machine his senior year with the Tigers (17.3 ppg & 13.4 rpg). Both Thompson and Fletcher are redshirt sophomores. Fletcher averaged 5.1 points per game during his freshman season.

Hinson says Fletcher has an opportunity to be really good.

“I tell Armon on a daily basis, that we need to get out of the point where we say he has a chance to be a good player,” said Hinson. “He’s either going to be a good player or he’s not. He’s got to make up his mind. He has as much athletic ability and talent as anyone on our team. I do believe he’s got incredible talent.”

High scoring Aaron Cook (Westminster Christian) has signed with the Salukis. The 6’1 freshman averaged over 22 points per game during his senior Wildcat season.

Whether any of these players or Drake’s C. J. Rivers (Cahokia) De’Antae McMurray (Alton High) emerge as stars, remains to be seen, but there is a steady flow of St. Louis area players in the MVC and several should become well known to Valley watchers.

Do Good

Editor: Thanks to a fan (Courtney Stockard), I corrected the omission of McMurray, an Alton Redbird stand out and AAU teammate of his Bulldog teammate Rivers.