The five members of the St. Louis American “Fab Five” Boys All-Star Basketball represent a physical group of athletes who love to compete. Because of their stout physiques – aside from slender 6’8″ Leon Powell of Vashon – the quartet of Torres Roundtree, Kavon Lacey, Kenny Leverette and Anthony Mitchell couldpass for football players.
However, those physical attributes have yielded tremendous results on the basketball court. And their versatility and knowledge of has led to both individual and team success. Here is a capsule look at the members of the 2007 St. Louis American Fab Five Boys All-Star Basketball Team.
Kavon Lacey (Alton): A member of the “All-American” Football team in the fall, the 6’0″ senior guard now joins the First Team basketball quintet. Lacey closed out a stellar career at Alton by leading the Redbirds to a 27-5 record and a share of the championship in the powerful Southwestern Conference. A physical guard who plays with great poise and leadership, Lacey is the epitome of a winner. As a senior he averaged 16 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals. He hit 16 points in the fourth quarter of Alton’s 46-43 victory over Vashon at the Shootout. Lacey also had 29 points in a road victory over East St. Louis, which put the Redbirds in position to grab a share of the conference crown. The Redbirds won 81 games in the three years with Lacey as the team’s starting point guard.
Kenny Leverette (O’Fallon): A muscular 6’3″ junior guard, Leverette was the main reason the Panthers made history in 2007 with their first ever appearance in the IHSA Class AA State Tournament where they advanced all the way to the state championship. Leverette averaged 13.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists for the 28-8 Panthers. While his strength and versatility enabled him to play against bigger players in the post, he spent much of the season playing point guard. The leader of a balanced team, Leverette really stepped up his game during the state playoffs with 21 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks to lead O’Fallon to its first ever sectional championship. In the supersectionals against Decatur Eisenhower, Leverette had 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in a 63-60 victory.
Anthony Mitchell (East St. Louis): After missing most of his junior year with injuries, the 6’4″ senior made his mark in 2007 with a huge season for the Flyers. An explosive athlete with an unquenchable will to compete, Mitchell led the Flyers to a 23-5 record and a share of the Southwestern Conference title. Included in that season was an 18-game winning streak and Mitchell averaged 14.5 points and 11.1 rebounds to lead the league. He enjoyed several explosive performances, including a 21 point, 20-rebounds, seven-block performance against McCluer in the first round of the Collinsville Tournament. Mitchell will continue his career at Saint Louis University where he will sign this week.
Leon Powell (Vashon): A four-year starter for the perennial power Wolverines, the 6’8″ Powell enjoyed his finest individual season. He averaged 20.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and four blocks to lead Vashon to the Public High League title. Powell was a dominant player in the low post on both ends of the floor, but his improved play from the perimeter made him a more dangerous player to guard. His mid-range 15-footer became just a valuable weapon in his offense as his low-post moves and big dunks. During Powell’s career, Vashon won two state championships, played in three state-championship games and won four PHL and district titles.
Torres Roundtree (McCluer North): The 2007 St. Louis American Player of the Year, the 6’3″ junior was the shining star on a talented team that won the Missouri Class 5 state title. Roundtree is a versatile player with a great feel for the game. During the semifinals of the Final Four state tournament against Lindbergh, Roundtree scored 17 of his game-high 19 points in the second half. That merely set the stage for a memorable performance against Kansas City Rockhurst, when he had 38 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Stars to their first state title. For the season, Roundtree averaged 17.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.9 steals to lead McCluer North to a 26-3 record. Roundtree has given a verbal commitment to Chris Lowery’s Southern Illinois University Salukis.
St. Louis American Fab Five Boys All-Star Basketball Teams
First Team
Kavon Lacey 6’0″ (Sr.) Alton
Kenny Leverette 6’3″ (Jr.) O’Fallon
Anthony Mitchell 6’4″ (Sr.) East St. Louis
Leon Powell 6’8″ (Sr.) Vashon
Torres Roundtree 6’3″ (Jr.) McCluer North
Second Team
Anthony James 6’1” (Jr.) Normandy
Josh McCoy 6’4″ (Jr.) Fort Zumwalt South
Sam Pearson 6’1″ (Sr.) Hazelwood Central
Chris Stokes 5’7″ (Sr.) Career Academy
Scott Suggs 6’7″ (Jr.) Washington
Third Team
Rodney Ford 6’5” (Sr.) Affton
DeAndre Gilmore 6’2″ (Sr.) Cardinal Ritter
Rudy Harper 6’3″ (Sr.) St. Charles
Femi John 6’4″ (Jr.) McCluer North
Jesse Perry 6’7″ (Jr.) Gateway Tech
Fourth Team
Bryant Allen 6’0″ (Soph.) Maplewood
Richard Anderson 6’8″ (Soph.) Beaumont
Mike Baker 6’7″ (Sr.) Whitfield
Darian Sain 5’10” (Jr.) East St. Louis
Robert Williams 5’10” (Sr.) Lindbergh
Fifth Team
Jesse Gilliam 6’1″ (Sr.) Parkway South
Edward Jamerson 6’2″ (Jr.) Wellston
Marvin McNutt 6’3″ (Sr.) Hazelwood Central
Willis Smith 6’4″ (Sr.) Beaumont
Abel Tillman 6’7″ (Jr.) McCluer South-Berkeley
Austin Achievement Awards
Player of the Year: Torres Roundtree (McCluer North)
Coach of the Year: Randy Reed (McCluer North)
Team of the Year: McCluer North
Defensive Player of the Year: Abel Tillman (McCluer South-Berkeley)
Breakthrough Team of the Year: Wellston
Freshman of the Year: Julian Johnson (Whitfield)
Sophomore of the Year: Bryant Allen (Maplewood) & Richard Anderson (Beaumont)
Junior of the Year: Torres Roundtree (McCluer North)
Senior of the Year: Kavon Lacey (Alton)
