Basketball prospects shine on the gridiron
The state of Missouri is in the heart of its state football playoffs and several basketball prospects have had a big hand in the success of their respective football teams throughout the 2017 season. Here is a look at some of those players:
Ronnie Bell (Park Hill): The standout guard signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Missouri State University on Wednesday. On the football field, he has been one of the most dominant wide receivers in the state in leading the Trojans to a district championship and a berth in Friday night’s Class 6 state semifinals. For the season, Bell has caught 82 passes for 1,488 yards and 20 touchdowns. He caught six passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns in Park Hill’s 28-14 victory over Rockhurst in last weekend’s district championship game. He was also named the Suburban Gold Offensive Player of the Year.
Deandre Campbell (Parkway Central): The talented point guard led the Colts to the Class 4 Final Four in basketball a year ago. He is having a tremendous senior year in football in leading the Colts to an 11-1 record and a berth in the state quarterfinals on Monday. Campbell was selected the Suburban Central (American) Defensive Player of the Year. He has 5-10 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns. On defense, Campbell has 64 solo tackles, 92 total tackles and six interceptions.
Diego Bernard (St. Joe Lafayette): A Northwest Missouri State basketball signee, the 6’0″ Bernard enjoyed a big season in football as one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the state. He put up some eye-popping numbers in amassing more than 2,600 yards of total offense and accounting for 30 touchdowns in leading the Fighting Irish to a 10-2 record and a berth in the district championship game.
Latroy Harper (Hamilton-Penney): The 6’2″ two-sport standout enjoyed another phenomenal season in leading Penney to a 10-2 record. He rushed for 1,990 yards and 32 touchdowns, passed for 703 yards and 10 touchdowns and 302 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Harper also added 50 tackles and two interceptions on defense. He is a tremendous athlete who made his share of highlight reel plays over the course of his stellar career.
Austin Thompson (MICDS): A collegiate prospect as a point guard, Thompson came out for football his senior season and became a two-way standout in helping the Rams to a 9-3 record and a berth in the Class 4, District 2 championship game. He has also garnered some recruiting interest for football from Ivy League schools such as Brown, Columbia and Cornell. On defense, Thompson made 33 tackles and led the Rams with three interceptions. On offense, he was a big-play performer who averaged 10 yards per carry as a running back and 20-yards per catch as a receiver while scoring three touchdowns.
Antonio Burks (St. Mary’s): The leading scorer for St. Mary’s 25-win district-championship team, the 6’2″ Burks was a two-way standout for the Dragons, who finished with an 8-3 record. On offense, Burks finished with 33 receptions for 822 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also added three more touchdowns on interceptions and kick returns. He also had 52 tackles and four interceptions as a defensive back.
Yahuza Rasas (St. Mary’s): The 6’6″ Lindenwood University basketball commit came out for football as a senior and had a very productive season as one of the tallest receivers in the state. Rasas caught 14 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns in helping the Dragons to a 8-3 season.