The high school basketball season is off to a running start in the St. Louis metro area. Here are some of the top boys players to watch for the 2007-08 season.
Bryant Allen (Maplewood): Multi-talented junior guard who can score in bunches. Has averaged more than 20 points a game in his first two seasons.
Courtney Belger (University City): Top defensive guard who should help turn around the Lions in ’08.
Lonnie Boga (McCluer): High-scoring junior guard who has a talented freshman brother named Shaquille to run alongside him for two years.
Anthony Booker (McCluer North): Versatile 6’8” senior who is ready for breakout season. Signed with Southern Illinois.
Antonio Campbell (McCluer South-Berkeley): Diminutive point guard who’s back to lead one of the top small schools in the state.
Cornielus Chatt (Madison): Metro-east scoring phenom who is capable of putting up some huge scoring nights.
Dez Hickman (Collinsville): Smooth 6’4” swingman who was one of the top players in theSouthwestern Conference.
Anthony James (Normandy): Talented 6’1” guard who is a tremendous shooter, but can also score off the dribble.
Femi John (McCluer North): Powerful 6’4” guard returns for state champs after averaging 15 points a game as a junior. Signed with Saint Louis University.
Julian Johnson (Whitfield): The 2007 American Freshman of the Year is already off to a great start to his sophomore season.
Jermone Jones (Career Academy): The 6’6” junior forward is one of the area’s most explosive players.
Kenny Leverette (O’Fallon): Powerhouse 6’3” swingman who led the Panthers to the championship game of the IHSA Class AA state tournament in 2007.
Brandon Lockhart (Chaminade): Excellent junior point guard who is one of the top players in the Metro Catholic Conference.
Josh McCoy (Fort Zumwalt South): Smooth 6’4” senior guard who led Bulldogs to first ever Final Four berth in the Class 5 state tournament.
Jesse Perry (Gateway Tech): Versatile 6’8” performer who is the top returning player in the Public High League.
Torres Roundtree (McCluer North): The 2007 American Player of the Year returns after leading the Stars to the Class 5 state championship. Signed with Southern Illinois.
Darian Sain (East St. Louis): Talented senior guard who is one of the most electric perimeter shooters in town.
Scott Suggs (Washington): Do-it-all 6’6” senior guard who will try to lead the Bluejays back to prominence. Signed with the University of Washington.
Abel Tillman (McCluer South-Berkeley): A 6’7” senior pogo-stick who is the top shot-blocker in the metropolitan area.
Corneilus Walker (Vashon): “Cornbread” returns for his senior year after helping lead Vashon to the PHL title and district title in ’07.
