The five members of the 2016 St. Louis American “Fab Five” All-Star Basketball Team have a tremendous blend of talent and winning pedigree.
First-team members Jayson Tatum, Jordan Goodwin, Xavier Sneed and Jordan Barnes were all members of the St. Louis Eagles’ 17U team that advanced to the championship game of the Peach Jam in the Prestigious Nike Elite Youth Basketball League last summer. The fifth member, Daniel “Peanut” Farris, brought back the championship tradition at Vashon by leading the Wolverines to the Class 4 state championship.
Here is a capsule look at the members of the St. Louis American “Fab Five” Boys First Team.
Jayson Tatum (Chaminade): The St. Louis American Player of the Year, the 6’9” Tatum finished his career as one of the all-time greats in St. Louis high school basketball. As a senior, Tatum averaged 29.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals in leading the Red Devils to the Class 5 state championship. A McDonald’s All-American, Tatum is now Chaminade’s career-leading scorer and the Gatorade National Player of the Year. He will be playing at Duke next season.
Jordan Goodwin (Althoff):
The 6’3” Goodwin led the Crusaders to the Illinois Class 3A state championship, the first in the school’s history. A tireless worker, Goodwin is one of the most relentless competitors in the country. As a junior, Goodwin averaged 18 points and nine rebounds to lead Althoff to a 32-3 record. Only a junior, Goodwin has already received a number of scholarship offers from NCAA Division I schools around the country.
Xavier Sneed (Hazelwood Central):
A repeat performer on the first team, the 6’6” Sneed led the Hawks to a 24-5 record and a berth in the Class 5 sectionals. A high-flying performer, Sneed averaged 20.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and two assists while making 48 3-pointers and shooting 85 percent from the free throw line. He is also one of the top defensive players in the state. Sneed is headed to Kansas State.
Jordan Barnes (CBC):
A three-year starter at point guard for the Cadets, the 5’10” Barnes earned the reputation as one of the state’s biggest clutch performers with one game-winning shot after another. As a senior, Barnes averaged 17.4 points and four assists while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line in leading the Cadets to a 20-9 record and a district championship. Barnes is headed to Indiana State.
Daniel Farris (Vashon):
The Wolverines returned to its state championship glory thanks to the young man they call “Peanut.” A 5’10” junior point guard, Farris averaged a team-high 14.9 points a game in leading Vashon to a 26-4 record and the Class 4 state title. The bigger the stage, the bigger the performance you got from Farris, who loved to take over tight games in the fourth quarter. Farris will return next year season as the Wolverines make a bid for a repeat.
St. Louis American Boys “Fab Five” All-Star Teams
First Team
Jayson Tatum 6’9” (Sr.) Chaminade
Jordan Goodwin 6’3” (Jr.) Althoff
Xavier Sneed 6’6” (Sr.) Hazelwood Central
Jordan Barnes 5’10” (Sr.) CBC
Daniel Farris 5’10” (Jr.) Vashon
Second Team
Javon Pickett 6’4” (Jr.) Belleville East
Tyler Cook 6’9” (Sr.) Chaminade
Aaron Cook 6’2” (Sr.) Westminster
Brandon McKissic 6’2” (Jr.) SLUH
Dominique Dobbs 6’6” (Sr.) Hazelwood Central
Third Team
Courtney Ramey 6’3” (Soph.) Webster Groves
Tarkus Ferguson 6’3” (Sr.) Althoff
Zeke Moore 6’7” (Sr.) Riverview Gardens
Javonte Perkins 6’6” (Jr.) Miller Career Academy
Torrence Watson 6’4” (Soph.) Whitfield
Fourth Team
Christian Willis 6’2” (Sr.) CBC
Michael Lewis 6’2” (Sr.) Chaminade
Hasaan Decarolis 5’10” (Sr.) St. Charles West
Maurice Edwards 6’1” (Jr.) Alton
Brandon Jackson 6’7” (Sr.) Cardinal Ritter
