Day 1: Ozark Mountain Shootout
Kevin Karvinen, Confluence Prep are putting in work
“Does anybody know what the score is.”
“Are we just done playing defense?”
“What is he doing.”
“We might do this all night… allllll night.”
“Expletive.”
To be honest, this is the most entertaining guy I’ve ever seen on the sideline and that’s just the PG-13 stuff. He’s blunt and it comes out mostly unfiltered. He was as fun to watch as the game, largely because his team made a really good Class 5 Nixa squad look like a program that hasn’t had nine 20-win seasons. The best part about Karvinen is that he cares. You can tell he loves his kids and legitimately cares about their individual growth. His first year at CPA the Titans got beat by a combined 64 points by Glendale and Rogersville at the Ozark Mountain Shootout. On Friday they beat the best program in the Ozarks by 20 points – while playing without their best player. This Confluence Prep group is extremely good. To make a Final Four they’d have to beat district host St. Mary’s, Vashon in Sectionals and Sikeston in the Elite Eight. The crazy part is they might just be good enough to do it.
2018 6’8 C Ahmad Hodges – He’s a big body with long arms. He’s raw, but you can’t ignore his frame. He controlled the glass and protected the rim.
2018 6’4 G/F Jermaine Bell – He’s a long, athletic wing that can defend multiple positions and rebound. He did a tremendous job guard all three scorers for Nixa. Bell even knocked down a few perimeter jumpers.
2018 5’11 G Michael Clark – Fredrick was sensational, but Clark isn’t any easier to defend. He’s dynamic with the ball in his hand, with a consistent pull-up jumper. Several times CPA would clear out for Clark and he’d either get to the rim or his favorite spot on the right elbow and knock down a jumper. He also has mega bounce.
Brandon Fredrick is really good… like Show-Me Player of the Year good
Last year in this same event current Oklahoma guard Trae Young scored 52 points and hit nine 3-point field goals for Norman North, becoming an event legend. Brandon Fredrick dropped 34 points with seven triples and he didn’t play well. He came in averaging 31 PPG and exceeded that despite battling foul trouble throughout. He has excellent vision, great instincts and is extremely athletic. He’s been offered by a few Division Ones, but expect more to jump on board. He’s not as good as Young, but he’s certainly in that rare, insanely dynamic mold. *IF* Fredrick is to average 30-5-5 on a team that makes a Final Four run, it would be difficult to not give him heavy consideration for the award.
Pacific, Van Leer impressive against Kickapoo
Van Leer got off to a slow start, but turned it up late with 20 of his game-high 27 points coming in the second half. He didn’t shoot it well from deep, but the stoke is smooth and consistent. He’s the kid of a coach and it shows in his footwork and basketball IQ. He’s been a monster all season and with his ability to create matchup problems that trend should continue.
It was a huge win for Pacific. Obviously, Kickapoo is rebuilding but it’s still a quality team. You’d have to go back a long time to find the last time the Chiefs scored 36 points in a game. Pacific played some of the most physical and disciple defense you’ll see from a high school team and clearly understood the scouting report of running shooters off the line. St. Louis is loaded in Class 4, Pacific is capable of making a run.
Anton Brookshire, Kaleb Wofford most gifted scorers in 2021 class?
Brookshire continues to be a dynamic playmaker despite being a freshman. He’s slick in getting to the rim, has a pull-up jumper and floater and can also shoot it from deep. His 22 points were impressive, but Brookshire also finished with four steals. He has quick hands and anticipated well, ant defensive deficiencies he has comes from maturity not ability. Pacific couldn’t defend him without fouling, which has become a trend for opponents.
Wofford proved that he is worth every bit of the preseason hype. He scored a team-high 13 points, knocking down three 3s. He has a ton of poise to his game and he shoots it extremely well off the bounce or on the catch, with great range. During the game Karvinen’s quotes were “Don’t leave No. 20… he’ll shoot it from halfcourt” and “This kid is going to be really good” but the time frame appears to be expediting rapidly.
Is Ozark the best team in Southwest Missouri?
It’s a legitimate question after seeing Nixa and Kickapoo take loses, followed by Ozark giving Blue Valley Northwest (Kan.) a run for their money. Three consecutive threes by 2018 G Quinn Nelson – who scored 16 of his team-high 19 points in the third quarter, helped the Tigers cut BVNW lead to one possession late in the third. Keep in mind BVNW has a front line that goes 6-foot-8, 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-5, all of whom have Division One offers. Ozark isn’t very big and the development of 6-foot-5 sophomore AJ Elliott could decide just how far the Tigers can go.