Tuesday, March 29, 2022

What's Up In The Missouri Valley 3/29/2022

Call it a ‘Prohmcoming’; Former Murray State head coach takes reins for second tenure--Murray Ledger & Times
Racer guard Hill opts for transfer portal--Murray Ledger & Times
College basketball transfer portal: The top 20 Chicago area players in the the transfer portal--Chicago Sun-Times

2. Antonio Reeves, Simeon (Illinois State)

The most coveted player in basketball right now is the shot-making player who can space the floor with consistent three-point shooting ability. They are at an absolute premium, and it’s exactly what Reeves provides. 

Reeves was lightly recruited and overlooked as a senior at Simeon. He was uncommitted throughout a breakout senior campaign for coach Robert Smith and the Wolverines. While Wisconsin was a high-major that flirted with Reeves as a senior, it was Illinois State that jumped in hard, albeit late, and nabbed the blooming 6-5 guard. 

After putting up some whopping numbers this past season as a junior, dozens of high-major programs across the country, including several high-profile ones, have been calling and clamoring for his services for next year. 

The silky smooth Reeves averaged 20.1 points this past season–– second in the Missouri Valley Conference –– and has already scored nearly 1,200 career points in three years. 

But what really makes Reeves one of the most desired players in the portal is his shooting ability. He made 76 three-pointers as a junior while shooting a very respectable 39 percent from beyond the arc.

7. Jayson Kent, Oak Forest (Bradley) — Committed to Indiana State

The classic late-blooming player in high school. Kent’s game, production and physical dimensions all came together late in his career at Oak Forest. He went from a no-namer to an all-state caliber player in a matter of a year, growing into a multi-dimensional 6-7 wing with a promising jump shot with range. 

Bradley signed the high-upside Kent. He wasn’t quite physically ready for the grind of the Missouri Valley Conference as a freshman, playing just 10 minutes a game as a freshman.

But Kent found his way on the floor this past season as a sophomore, starting 15 games and playing over 20 minutes a game. Kent averaged 6.9 points and 2.9 rebounds. The jumper, which shows the potential to be a weapon, must become more consistent going forward as he shot just 26 percent from beyond the arc (24 of 91 from three).

13. Zion Griffin, Hinsdale South (UIC)

The 6-6 forward started his career at Iowa State where he played minimal minutes with little production. As a sophomore with the Cyclones he averaged three points and two rebounds a game. 

He then came home, transferring to UIC where he’s played 26 minutes a game the past two seasons. This past season Griffin averaged 11.1 points and four rebounds for the Flames.

16. Maurice Commander, Curie (UIC)

The 5-11 point guard is on the move after spending two years at Tennessee-Chattanooga and the past two seasons at UIC.

After averaging double figures (10.5 ppg) for the Flames in just 15 games, including 12 starts, a year ago, he missed this past season with a season-ending hip surgery. Prior to his surgery, Commander played in a lot of Division I basketball games. 

Before his transfer to UIC, Commander started all 32 games as a sophomore for Chattanooga, averaging 6.2 points and 2.2 assists.



Valley switch: Kent moves from from Bradley to ISU--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamore Basketball Signs Transfer Jayson Kent Ahead of 2022 Campaign--gosycamores.com



Mosley Named Finalist for Lou Henson Award--missouristatebears.com



AJ Green named Lou Henson Award finalist--unipanthers.com

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