SWMO Basketball Showcase (Top 2019 Forwards)
Prep Hoops Missouri was in attendance at the inaugural SWMO Basketball Future 50 Showcase in Lebanon, MO. Here is look at the top Class of 2019 forwards at the camp:
Ayden Stone 6’4″ Thayer: The talented post player took home one of the two MVP honors from the camp after three games of high productivity. He averaged 13 points and was by far the leading rebounder in the event. He is a tough, physical competitor who plays with a high motor around the basket. He displayed a nice touch and scored on his share of offensive rebounds. He was also a factor on defense with several blocked shots.
Dylan Caruso 6’9″ Mansfield: The talented power forward enjoyed some dominant moments during the showcase on both ends of the court. He is a skilled big who can really score in the post, especially over his left shoulder. He knocked down a couple of jumpers and passed the ball well to open teammates. He was easily the top shot blocker in the camp with at least four swats in each of the three games.
Dawson Zimders 6’6″ Lebanon: A very active forward who was impressive with his motor and productivity. He attacked the boards, ran the court, scored inside and blocked shots. He also knocked down four 3-pointers during the day. I really enjoyed his work rate during the day.
Matt Thompson 6’4″ Nevada: An impressive combo forward with good size and versatile skill set. He was very comfortable on the perimeter when he could step out and knock down 3-pointers off the catch. He handles the ball well and he is strong around the basket as a scorer and rebounder. He’s very solid and reliable on both ends of he court.
Lucas Roeman 6’4″ Nixa: An athletic combo forward who was always in the right place on the floor. He worked the baseline well and scored on many offensive rebounds and in transition. He did a nice job of getting a lot of buckets without having a lot of touches.
Tahja Stewart 6’3″ Waynesville: One of the most impressive athletes in the camp, Stewart led the camp in slam dunks. He’s 6’3″ with a strong body and he plays much bigger because of his athleticism and high motor. He has a very quick second and third jump, which enabled him to grab extra offensive rebounds.
Graden Ragland 6’7″ Buffalo: A capable post player who was one of the biggest players in the camp. He did a nice job of hanging around the offensive boards and scooping up missed shots for buckets. He has a big body and he was a very good at carving up space around the basket. He keeps the ball high, which was very good.