Valley’s Top Six Sophomore Duos

Season Changing Sophomore Duos

(St. Louis, MO) – ‘Sophomore Slumps’ or ‘Second Year Break Throughs’? The answers to those questions for six Missouri Valley Conference teams could make or break their seasons. Every Valley team has veterans they are leaning on and transfers coming in to ignite some life, but how these six, pairs of sophomores perform will go a long way to determining the MVC standings.

Last season’s player of the year was Northern Iowa sophomore A.J. Green. He was joined on the All-Valley team by teammate, and fellow sophomore Austin Phyfe. That sophomore duo brought home the regular season title. Drake’s sophomore duo of Roman Penn and Liam Robbins sparked the Bulldogs to a 20-win season.

Exploding sophomores can be key components to a winning season, but to have two of them can be truly unique.

Six Valley teams have outstanding sophomore duos. We’re focusing this discussion on program sophomores, not second-year players that have transferred in.

SIU = Sophomore U – Domask & Jones

While we’re focusing on pairs of sophomores, the young Salukis have underclassmen everywhere. Because we’re only talking about duos, we’re leaving out sophomore transfer Ben Harvey (Eastern Illinois) and the productive Trent Brown.

Reigning ‘Freshman of the Year’ Marcus Domask enjoyed a brilliant freshman season. He landed on the Valley’s ‘all-newcomer’ team and was a second team, all-league player. He averaged 13.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, while making 40% of his long distance shots. The former Wisconsin ‘Mr. Basketball’ converted 83% of his free throws and has an inside-outside game that reminds some people of Doug McDermott.

His sophomore partner, Lance Jones averaged 9.3 points per game, but played his best basketball during the team’s final six games. The 6’2 guard went on a scoring tear, averaging 18 points over those final six contests. Both freshmen averaged 2.5 assists per game. Jones has explosive athleticism and excels in the open floor.

Power Up Front

Indiana State sophomore duo Jake LaRavia and Tre Williams play with different styles, but for the first time in a long time Indiana State has front court strength. While LaRavia was named to both the MVC ‘newcomer’ and ‘freshman’ teams he and Williams represent kind of a Larry Bird/Robert Parish problem for opposing Valley teams.

LaRavia is actually taller (6’8) but plays a more 3/4 combo, while Williams (6’7) is more of a true center. The Indianapolis born LaRavia averaged 9.3 points and 5.9 rebounds, grabbing 2.6 of those rebounds off the offensive window. He trailed only UNI’s Phyfe in that department. The pair tied for third in the Valley’s shot blocking race, while Williams chipped in 7.2 points per game.

LaRavia had a breakout senior season, indicating his best basketball is before him. Williams grew from 6’3 to his current 6’7 during his junior year of high school and is just now understanding his new found height in a true way.

Loyola’s Double K

Marquise Kennedy was the Valley’s ‘Sixth Man of the Year’ and landed on the all-freshman team. Many fans forget that Cooper Kaifes returns from a hip injury with practically the same credentials. Kaifes was part of the 2019 ‘freshman’ and ‘bench’ teams. Porter Moser’s team is loaded with talent and this sophomore duo might be the best in the league.

Kennedy is one of the most explosive athletes in Rambler history. He averaged 9.2 points and was one of five Ramblers to land in the league’s top ten in steals.

Kaifes averaged just 5.7 points, but buried 47% of his long distance shots and 81% from the line. That was the season of Cameron Krutwig and Lucas Williamson’s sophomore duo season. The biggest factor in limiting headlines for these two, is the depth and talent of this year’s squad.

While Valley fans know about Krutwig, Williamson, Keith Clemons and third-teamer Tate Hall, Moser has brought in Oakland transfer Braden Norris. That SOPHOMORE was on the Horizon League’s ‘all-freshman’ team and possessed one of the nation’s best assist-turnover ratios (2.75).

Valpo Hidden Treasures

Donovan Clay and Ben Krikke were put on full display during Arch Madness, but most Valley fans didn’t know about these two Crusaders until that first weekend in March. Clay, is another late bloomer that grew about six inches during his time at Alton (Illinois) High School. He landed on the all-freshman team after averaging 9.4 points and 4.6 rebounds. It took Clay several weeks to find his collegiate basketball groove, but when he did, he became a go-to player for Matt Lottich’s team.

Krikke took a little longer to adjust to the college game, but the Canadian transplant displayed his enormous upside during the league tournament. During Valpo’s historic run to the Arch Madness title game, Krikke contributed two, double-figure scoring performances. He finished the season averaging 6.7 points per game, but the lefty’s game is just rounding into form. Lottich is building the future, and some of the present around this sophomore duo.

Lottich says they are special players and Clay could become the Crusaders’ top offensive option.

 

 

Illinois State Gunners

While suffering through a disappointing, 10-win season, coach Dan Muller found two, up-and-coming guards. D.J. Horne landed on the all-freshman team, averaging 8.7 points and making 40% from deep, while Antonio Reeves was part of the Valley’s all-bench team contributing 7.2 points per game.

At 6’4 Reeves has the ability to switch between the two and three spots and play some occasional point. Horne (6’1) is shorter but can play both guard spots and is a deadly shooter. They combined to make 80 triples last season.

While head coach Dan Muller says both players seem ready for a break out season, sophomores can go either way.

“Sophomores kind of go one way or the other,” said Muller. “And there’s two reasons. Number one, people know what to expect and the scouting reports are out. You’re more of a focal point because you usually lose some older guys. Number two, You can be just as good and you think it’s a slump because your numbers don’t go up dramatically, which is normal.”

Muller believes his sophomore duo is ready for those challenges.

“As good of years as they had, their roles are significantly different this year,” he replied. “And it gives them the opportunity to grow. They are both great kids and great workers.”

Other Notables

We are super high on Northern Iowa sophomores Antwan Kimmons and Noah Carter. Their numbers don’t jump off the page, but the future is bright for those two and Ben Jacobson says they are both in great shape and ready for their sophomore seasons.

“He’s (Carter) ready to take off. He’s in the best shape that he’s been in,” said Jacobson. “From January on he was really good for us and he’s better now than he was then and he is light-years ahead of where he was a year ago. He’s got that unique ability to put the ball in the basket. His ball just rolls in. Where he’s made his biggest strides is in terms of his conditioning. He is doing all the right things so that he can be on the floor and do what he does best and that’s putting the ball in the basket.”

The Dean of the Valley coaches says Kimmons is also ready to ‘take off’.

Missouri State’s duo of Isaiah Mosely and Jamonta Black were high school teammates and both had their moments last year. Black is more a floor general and team leader, while Mosely might be the most talented sophomore on this list. Watch out for the emergence of Isaiah Mosley.

Sophomore duos will leave a lasting mark on this season’s Valley race.

Do Good