One of my favorite high school basketball events to attend during the summer is the Midwest Showcase.
This year’s event was held last weekend at the Columbia Fieldhouse in mid-Missouri. I cannot stress enough how much I love and look forward to attending this event every year.
My friends at the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association put on a tremendous showcase featuring high school teams from six different states. This year’s event featured boys teams from Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The elite teams get a chance to test themselves against the best from other states. It makes for some high-level basketball.
The event is held during an NCAA live recruiting period in June, which allows college coaches to attend. And a slew of college coaches were in attendance. Some of the schools whose staffs attended included Missouri and Saint Louis University, Iowa, Oklahoma, Utah State, DePaul, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas State, Tulsa, Lindenwood, SEMO, Austin Peay and many, many others.
The St. Louis area was well represented with many teams in attendance. Local powerhouses Principia and Vashon were among the showcase teams for the event. On Sunday, the two teams played their respective games simultaneously on adjacent courts.
A swarm of college coaches attended those games, and for good reason. Both teams look to be not only the best in the state but among the best in the country.
Principia features one of the tallest front lines in the country in 6-foot-11 senior Tyran Frazier, 6-foot-9 senior Sekou Cisse and 6-foot-9 sophomore Majok Ater. The Panthers also feature a strong set of guards in 6-foot-3 seniors Gassim Toure and Kingston Money.
Vashon looks to be recharged after a fourth-place finish in the Class 4 state tournament. Seniors Jimmy McKinney III and Leon Powell Jr. were outstanding throughout the weekend in Columbia. They are the sons of former Vashon greats Jimmy McKinney and Leon Powell, continuing a strong family tradition.
By the way, Vashon and Principia are scheduled to play each other at the Edwardsville Live event on Friday, June 26 at 6 p.m.
Several other players from the St. Louis area also put in strong performances during the Midwest Showcase. Here are five players I watched who really stood out.
- Scottie Adkinson: The senior guard of Webster Groves was playing in:front of his future coaching staff at the University of Missouri.
- Sebastian Bolden: A 6-foot-4 senior guard from Clayton who is a smooth perimeter shooter.
- Elijah Poniewaz: A physical 6-foot junior point guard from Chaminade who can really score.
- Nolan Struckman: A 6-foot-8 senior forward from St. Dominic who is an excellent ball handler and perimeter shooter.
- Coleman Watson: A smooth 6-foot-4 junior point guard from Lafayette who is very fluid.
Girls Midwest Showcase event set for this weekend
The Midwest Showcase resumes this weekend with the girls event, which will also be held at the Columbia Fieldhouse in mid-Missouri.
The event will feature 75 high school teams from seven different states, including Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Florida.
Several of the top programs in the St. Louis area will also be on hand to compete. These include Incarnate Word Academy, Lift for Life, Cardinal Ritter, University City, Troy, Marquette, Lutheran North, Hazelwood West and Francis Howell.
The action will begin Thursday afternoon and run through Saturday.