First Look - Missouri Boys Basketball - AAA Division II conference preview

I posted the AAA Division I conference earlier today and here's the other half, with Division II, another really strong division.  Since 2016, Trinity has been an elite basketball program with back to back 20+ win seasons.  25-4 last season, only pair of losses in the state championship game and an one point mid-season to Vashon marred a nearly perfect season.  And while Trinity has only half their scoring back, they boast seven footer, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Rashad Weekly-McDaniels, the Prep Hoops #3 and #9 rated Missouri seniors, who will pave the way.   O'Fallon Christian, DuBourg, Duchesne and Lutheran St. Charles will all need superior effort to unseat Trinity from another conference title.  Overall, both conferences are super tough.   Here's a breakdown on returnees and return scoring:




AAA Division II 2018-2019 Record # % % Avg 2020 Avg 2019
2019 Rating Wins Losses  Returnees Return Scoring Hgt(") Hgt(")
Trinity 128 25 4 10 63% 52% 76 73.7
O'Fallon Christian 108 16 11 13 93% 90% n.d. 71.7
DuBourg 98 8 18 10 77% 53% 73.2 72.4
Lutheran St. Charles 80 7 18 13 87% 59% 73.2 71.7
Duchesne 99 12 15 11 79% 26% 71.5 74.4
averages 102.6 13.6 13.2 11.4 80% 56% 73.475 72.78



Trinity:

Returnees:
Ryan Kalkbrenner (#3), Rashad Weekly-McDaniels (#9), Jordan Fulton, Zach Patterson and Terrell Rush
Graduates:
Jaron Thames, Marcus Washington, Rashaud Johnson, Isaiah Williams and DaJaun Young (48% of scoring).
Outlook:
Since the arrival of Kalkbrenner, Weekly-McDaniels and Rush as freshman, the Titans have been on the rise.  While the seven foot Kalkbrenner will draw a lot of attention, the others will make their opponents pay with offense coming from several quarters.  Kalkbrenner will get his 20 PPG but it might be with three defenders drapped on his back.  The Titans are looking at a possible 30 win season and 130+ rating, but they will have to get over the hump with Vashon to put a title belt on this winter.  The League will be a cake-walk.  Hope you don't draw these guys in the seeding for a holiday tournament.

O'Fallon Christian:

Returnees:
Roddy Alexander, Colby Bolden and Kalin Black
Graduates:
Micah Gill (10% of scoring)
Outlook:
These Eagles have continued on a winning trajectory over the past 5 years and are looking for continued success in 2019-2020.  With just 10% of the scoring graduated in Micah Gill, this squard could have a breakout season behind Alexander, Bolden and Black plus the other talented bench players from last winter.  A coach could not ask for much more than 93% returnees and 90% of their scorring.  A 115 rating might be a reach but the Eagles seem ready to continue their upward progression.


DuBourg:

Returnees:
Demoriay Davis, Jaiden Maxey, LeMond Shaw, Eddie Weekly
Graduates:
Carlos Brickhouse, Micah Holt and Eli Goedecker (47% of scoring)
Outlook:
The Cavaliers are banking on an experienced quartet of lunch pail carrying juniors, led by Davis, Maxey, Shaw and Weekly.  Losing half their scoring, albeit no big point getting in Brickhous, Holt or Goedecker, someone will need to step up and pick up the scoring slack.  A very balanced attack with four or five 10 point per game players might have to do for this team   To improve on five year track record of 8, 5, 7, 9 and last year's eight wins, the team will have to win a lot of non-conference games because Division II will be super tough.  Getting over a 100 team rating might be tough too.

Lutheran St. Charles:

Returnees:
Frank May, Lance Hackney, Seth Reed
Graduates:
Drew Ritter (41% of scoring)
Outlook:
Lance Hackney, Gateway 16U stallwart, along with Frank May and Seth Reed form the nucleus of the Cougars, who made significant  strides from three and seven win seasons prior to last year's  7-18 record.  With nearly all the players back, except the high scoring Ritter, the team has a chance to win at least 10-13 games and raise their rating into the 90's from 80 last year.  Let's hope the Cougars are less roar and more bite against opposing teams. 


Duchesne:

Returnees:
Mitchell De Guentz and Ryan Gancarz
Graduates:
Will Suellentrop and Jack O'Brien (74% of scoring)
Outlook:
The Pioneers have a big mountain to climb in replacing 75% of their scorers from last year without a Prep Hoops ranked player on the squad.  The loss of Suellentrop and O'Brien (both 15+ppg scorers) to graduation, leaves De Guentz and Gancarz to pick up the slack and get into double figures.  A whole lot of help from younger players will be needed to win 10 or twelve, let alone get back to the 18 win seasons of 2016-2018.  A 95 rating might be their tops.


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