The 2009 St. Louis American “Fab Five” Boys All-Star Basketball Team may not have a lot of height, but the team members make up for it with an abundance of talent and competitive spirit. The team represents an excellent collection of perimeter talent. They either won state championships or made history by leading their schools to their first ever Final Four appearance. They are all winners in anyone’s book.
Here is a closer look at the “Fab Five” First Team members.
Bryant Allen (Maplewood): The 2009 St. Louis American Co-Player of the Year, Allen concluded a spectacular four-year career by leading the Blue Devils to their second consecutive Class 3 state championship. As a senior, Allen averaged 23.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 4.3 steals in leading Maplewood to a 30-3 record. Allen was an electrifying performer who could score off the dribble of hit opponents with a demoralizing barrage of 3-pointers. People will remember his 26-point first half barrage against Charleston in the state quarterfinals or his 38-point performance in the triple-overtime classic against Hazelwood Central. Allen finished his career as one of the top scorers in the history of the state of Missouri. A four-year starter, Allen finished his career with 2,632 points, the most in the school’s history. The Blue Devils compiled a 99-24 record during Allen’s career. He has been a scoring phenom from the moment he entered Maplewood as a freshman. An All-State performer in basketball and football, Allen signed with the University of Minnesota, where he will play both sports.
Bradley Beal (Chaminade): The St. Louis American Co-Player of the Year in 2009. One of the top sophomores in the United States, Beal emerged as a star player this season as he led the Red Devils to the Class 5 state championship, the first in the school’s history. The 6’3” Beal combines a picture-perfect jump shot with a tremendous amount of knowledge on how to play the game offensively. He exploded on the area scene early this season when he erupted for 52 points against rival CBC in the third-place game of the Pattonville Tournament. He scored 26 points in the fourth quarter to rally Chaminade from a 16-point deficit. Beal scored 30 points against Grandview in Chaminade’s 80-70 victory over Grandview in the state-championship game. For the season, Beal averaged 23.5 points a game while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range and 78 percent from the free-throw line.Although just a sophomore, Beal has attracted serious recruited interest from many of the top collegiate programs in the country. Kansas, Missouri, Florida, Illinois, Saint Louis University are among the top schools in pursuit of Beal.
Jerome Jones (Miller Career Academy): A 6’5” senior forward, Jones led the Phoenix to their first ever berth in the Final Four of the state tournament. Jones put the Phoenix on his back and led them to a fourth-place finish in the Class 4 state tournament. As a senior, Jones put the entire offensive package together as he enjoyed some huge scoring games against some of the top teams in the area. The biggest came on Jan. 9 when he scored 65 points in a 115-111 victory over Public High League foe Gateway Tech in a four-overtime thriller. He scored 34 points in an upset victory over eventual Class 4 state-champion St. Francis Borgia earlier that week. Jones had 27 points to lead the Phoenix past top-ranked St. Charles West in the Class 4 state quarterfinals. He averaged 24 points a game to lead the PHL in scoring. Jones is headed to Missouri State University in the fall.
Brandon Lockhart (Chaminade): The 6’1” Lockhart was the starting floor leader and maestro of the Red Devils team that won the Class 5 state championship. A four-year starter, Lockhart brought senior leadership to a team loaded with talented sophomores. That leadership was apparent in Chaminade’s 80-70 victory over Grandview in the state-championship game when Lockhart had 21 points and five assists. He was unstoppable in breaking down Grandview’s pressure defense. He also had 19 points, 11 assists and six steals in Chaminade’s sectional playoff victory over Kirkwood. Lockhart is the two-time Player of the Year in the Metro Catholic Conference. As a senior, Lockhart averaged 15.9 points, 5.6 assists and three steals per game.
Keith Pickens (Oakville): The most dynamic athlete in the St. Louis area, Pickens led the Tigers to the school’s first appearance in the Final Four of the state tournament. Despite standing just 6’3” Pickens could still dominate games with his outrageous leaping ability. He was always good for at least one crowd-pleasing dunk and blocked shot during the game. As a senior, Pickens averaged 15 points, 9.3 rebounds with 114 blocked shots. In the Class 5 state quarterfinals, Pickens had 22 points, seven rebounds and seven blocked shots to lead the Tigers to a 68-48 victory over Hazelwood Central is what was a shockingly easy upset. Pickens will join Career Academy’s Jones at Missouri State University.
St. Louis American Boys Fab Five All-Star Teams
First Team
Bryant Allen 5’11” (Sr.) Maplewood
Bradley Beal 6’3” (Soph.) Chaminade
Jerome Jones 6’5” (Sr.) Miller Career Academy
Brandon Lockhart 6’1” (Sr.) Chaminade
Keith Pickens 6’3” (Sr.) Oakville
Second Team
Lonnie Boga 6’3” (Sr.) McCluer
DeShaun Cooper 5’7” (Sr.) Jennings
Connell Crossland 6’7” (Sr.) Hazelwood Central
Bryce Foster 6’3” (Sr.) Hazelwood Central
Keith Pettiford 5’11” (Sr.) Belleville East
Third Team
Shaquille Boga 5’10” (Soph.) McCluer
Will Clark 6’10” (Sr.) Rockwood Summit
Julian Johnson 6’3” (Sr.) Whitfield
Bobby Peebles 6’1” (Sr.) McCluer North
William Triggs 6’5” (Jr.) Edwardsville
Fourth Team
Corey Allen 6’0” (Jr.) Ritenour
Eric Clark 6’3” (Jr.) Cardinal Ritter
Javier Duren 6’3” (Soph.) Oakville
Gerald Jones 6’1” (Jr.) McCluer South-Berkeley
Ben McLemore 6’5” (Soph.) Wellston
Will Kirksey 6’7” (Sr.) Lafayette
Fifth Team
Charles Brooks 6’6” (Sr.) Maplewood
Derrick Dilworth 6’2” (Jr.) Webster Groves
Ben Hamiel 5’10” (Sr.) Lovejoy
Brier West 6’1 (Jr.) Soldan
Darrin Young 6’1” (Sr.) Kirkwood
E.J. Carter 6’4 (Sr.) CBC
Player of the Year: Bryant Allen (Maplewood)
Bradley Beal (Chaminade)
Coach of the Year: Kelvin Lee (Chaminade)
Senior of the Year: Bryant Allen (Maplewood)
Junior of the Year: Julian Johnson
Sophomore of the Year Bradley Beal (Chaminade)
Freshman of the Year: Partice Sanders (Soldan)
Zach Ellis (Whitfield)
(Next Week: The Girls)
