Game Changers at PHM Top 250 Expo
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The Prep Hoops Missouri Top 250 Expo was held last Saturday at the Center of St. Louis Sports. The event featured more than 100 players from around the state, along with kids from across the river in Illinois. We saw many talented players on Sunday, but there was a group that really stood out with their overall excellence in all facets of the game. Here is a look at the players who emerged as Prep Hoops Missouri Top 250 Expo GameChangers.
Winston Allen Winston Allen 6'5" | SF Oak Park | 2023 State MO (Oak Park): What makes this 6’5″ 2023 wing player from Kansas City a GameChanger is his motor that never stops running. He is a talented and very skilled player, but he plays with great energy and effort from the opening tip off to the final buzzer. When he catches the ball on the wing, he’s going downhill strong to the basket and he can finish with a layup or a dunk. He was also attacking the offensive boards and getting putback after putback. He’s a high flyer who loves to play above the rim. He recognizes mismatches and he can score on smaller players in the post and on bigger players from the perimeter. He is also excellent defensive player who gets into the passing lanes and will hustle for chase down blocks. He’s one of the top players in the KC area, but he plays with the zeal of a youngster trying to make the varsity team for the first time. This is what makes Winston Allen Winston Allen 6'5" | SF Oak Park | 2023 State MO a Prep Hoops Missouri Top 250 GameChanger.
Cameron Williams Cameron Williams 6'8" | PF Cape Girardeau Central | 2023 State MO (Cape Girardeau Central): The 6’8″ 2023 forward from Southeast Missouri is a GameChanger because he was one of the dominant players at Saturday’s event. The 235-pound Williams is a force because of ability to cause big matchup problems. He has the size and low post ability to dominant like a power forward and the skill set to excel on the perimeter like a small forward. He has been a strong and productive performer throughout his high school career, but he has shifted his game into another gear, which has taken him to another level. He attacks the boards with force and he looks to dunk everything when he gets the opportunity. That goes along with his soft touch in the paint. He has a feathery shooting touch from 3-point range as he excels on the pick and pop. He can also handle the ball and make finesse moves off the dribble while also being able to make the nifty pass to an open teammate. This kind of talent make Cameron Williams Cameron Williams 6'8" | PF Cape Girardeau Central | 2023 State MO a Prep Hoops Missouri Top 250 Expo GameChanger.
Kobi Williams Kobi Williams 6'4" | SG Westminster | 2023 State MO (Westminster Christian): The 6’4″ 2023 guard is a talented two-way player who had a big performance in the game that I watched him on Saturday. He is a GameChanger because he can impact the game in a variety of ways with his explosive athleticism and high basketball IQ. When he decided that he want to the basket, there was very little that defenders could do to stop him. He used his burst and quick first step to get into the lane and he could elevate over defenders at the rim. He can also get a bucket from all three levels as he can pull up from the mid-range while being able to hit the high-arching 3-pointer. He is a versatile defender who can play his man straight-up very effectively while also roaming in help position in search of steals and deflections. All of this makes Kobi Williams Kobi Williams 6'4" | SG Westminster | 2023 State MO a Prep Hoops Missouri Top 250 Expo GameChanger.
Dontrez Williams (Sikeston): The 6’4″ 2024 wing from Southeast Missouri had a tremendous all-around performance in his first game at the showcase. That showing alone made him a GameChanger as he dominated the action at both ends of the floor. On the defensive end, he was disruptive on the perimeter with steals and deflections and he also blocked five shots, which is a tremendous amount for a guard. He blocked one on a chase-down in transition and he also blocked a couple of perimeter jumpers. He was also smooth on offense as he scored a game-high 21 points, with buckets coming from all three levels. He was grabbing rebounds and going coast to coast for transition buckets. He knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and scored on slashing drives to the basket. He also threw down a few explosive dunks. Dontrez Williams is indeed a Prep Hoops Missouri Top 250 Expo GameChanger.
Isaiah Bonaparte Isaiah Bonaparte 5'10" | PG Hickman | 2024 State MO (Columbia Hickman): The 6’2″ 2024 point guard was a GameChanger because of his talented offensive skills and his ability to make everyone on his team better with his playmaking ability and unselfishness. When it comes to handling the ball and breaking down defenders off the dribble, he was one of the best at the event. It enabled him to get into the lane for easy scoring chances while also separating from defenders to knock down mid-range jumpers. I also liked how he was setting up his teammates for open layups and 3-pointers. He has solid quickness, but he has a good burst and he knows all of the angles, plus he knows how to set up his man for his move before he attacks. He did not have to score a lot of points to have a major impact on the game. As one of the top point guards that I watched on Saturday, Isaiah Bonaparte Isaiah Bonaparte 5'10" | PG Hickman | 2024 State MO was a Prep Hoops Missouri Top 250 Expo GameChanger.