If you turn back time to five years ago to look at who were the top high school boys basketball teams in the area, the Principia Panthers were nowhere to be found.
Those days of Principia being an easy mark for opposing teams are long, long gone. Under the direction of Hall of Fame head coach Jay Blossom, the Panthers are not only one of the top teams in the St. Louis area, but the state of Missouri as well.
In 2023, the Panthers advanced to the Class 2 state championship game where they finished as the runners-up. After a 21-victory season last year, the Panthers are playing at an even higher level in 2025.
Principia entered the week with a 16-0 record, which included championships of three in-season tournaments. The Panthers won the Borgia Thanksgiving Tournament, Rolla Christmas Tournament, and last week’s Rotating 8 Classic. Principia has defeated established programs such as Sikeston, St. Mary’s and Vianney along the way. Principia is currently ranked No. 1 in the Class 3 state rankings.
What’s even more daunting for opposing teams is that the Panthers are still a very young team. The top player is 6’3” junior Quentin Coleman, who has emerged as one of the top guards in the state of Missouri. He is currently averaging 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, three assists and two steals while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range.
Sophomore Gassim Toure is an explosive 6’3” guard who averages 11 points, four rebounds and four assists a game. He is an improved perimeter shooter and he will throw down an entertaining dunk or two every night.
There is even more talent on the perimeter with 6’3” sophomore Wyatt Slay, 6’3” sophomore Kingston Money and 5’10” junior Jaevyn Jones. Slay is averaging eight points a game while Money averages 10 points a game coming off the bench. Jones is a veteran guard who averages seven points a game. Junior guard Neo Swanson has also played well in his reserve minutes.
The front court play is anchored by 6’9” sophomore Sekou Cisse and 6’7” junior Ron Henry. Cisse is averaging 10 points and five rebounds a game while showing signs of dominance in the paint at times. Henry averages four points and four rebounds a game.
Principia plays in the tough Metro League, which means upcoming games with excellent teams in John Burroughs, MICDS and Westminster, who are all in the state rankings. Also on the horizon is a big showdown against perennial powerhouse program Vashon on February 1 at the Vashon Mid-Winter Classic.
Earl’s World
Former Vashon High standout Keshon Gilbert is enjoying an excellent season for Iowa State, which is ranked among the top five teams in the country. The 6’4” Gilbert is currently averaging 15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists and shooting 51 percent from the field for the 15-2 Cyclones…Former Collinsville High standout Ray’Sean Taylor recently became the all-time leading scorer at SIU-Edwardsville. The 6’1” Taylor now has more than 1,550 points during his stellar four-year career. Taylor has been able to come back from two serious knee injuries to have a tremendous collegiate career. As a senior, Taylor is currently averaging 18.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists a game in leading the Cougars to a 12-7 record….Congratulations to former Berkeley High track and field coach Rod Staggs, who will be announced as the 39th Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Legend, which is the highest honor bestowed from the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. A bronze bust of Staggs will be featured in the walkway of the Hall of Fame in Springfield. The ceremony will be held on February 2 in Springfield. Staggs guided the Bulldogs to 19 state championships during his legendary coaching career.