First Look - Missouri Boys Basketball - Gateway Central conference outlook

Corrected 9/20
I talked about the Gateway South conference a few weeks ago and then was side-tracked by the AAA conference analysis.  Fort Zumwalt South was the premier team the past few years, relying heavily of EJ Bellinger to carry the scoring load to some great seasons.  How do these teams look on returnees and return scorers for this coming season?

I also need to apologize to Holt for misplacing them in the Central conference with Timberland.  The two teams switched places in 2018-2019.  Since I already discussed Timberland in the South post, I will carry over my mistake and talk about Holt with the Central even though they left two years ago.  I reposted Timberland at the end of the blog.

My, oh, my, how does one keep up with the changing conferences and district pairings?  Someone out there is saying "Gramps, you are losing what little mind you have left".  I know exactly how this happened....  I started examining returnees two years ago and didn't go back and thoroughly review the two conferences.  Measure twice, cut once.

Let's take a look at the Gateway Central plus Holt:

Gateway Central		2018-2019 Record		#	%	%	Avg 2020	Avg 2019
	2019 Rating	Wins	Losses	Returnees	Return	Scoring	Hgt(")	Hgt(")
Fort Zumwalt South	121	24	3	9	56%	46%	n.d.	72.3
Liberty (Wentzville)	104	18	8	6	16%	84%	73.6	73.6
Fort Zumwalt East	103	13	13                8		67%	50%	73.4	73.4
Holt (South conference)	104	10	16	10	71%	60%	n.d     n.d
Washington	94	8	18	10	71%	67%	73.8	73.8
Fort Zumwalt North	104	10	16	7	50%	58%	73.3	72.5
Gateway Central avg.	105	14	14	9	65%	61%	73	73

Fort Zumwalt South

Returnees:
JJ Schwepker, Judah Nunn, Connor Bekebrede
Graduates:
EJ Bellinger, Jake Patton (54% of scoring)
Outlook:
The Bulldogs took a big hit with Bellinger graduating but Schwepker (Prep Hoops #35 rated senior), Nunn and Bekebrede will give the Dogs a more balanced offensive look.  Some fresh faces will pop up from a strong feeder program, but South probably won't win more than 20 games. They should still outdistance their conference opponents with a rating in the 113-116 range.


Liberty
Jaden Betton, Gabe McCrary, Landon Ball

Returnees:

Graduates:

Corye Keller, Jarrin McKeithen, Jayce Catchings transfer (60% of scoring)

Outlook:

According to Prep Hoops Missouri, Jayce Catchings transferred to a school in California, so Liberty will have to find some additional support from three or four players that got some varsity experience but didn't have a significant role last year.  Liberty Wentzville has a strong feeder program that continues to develop good ballers so I expect that Liberty may fall off from their three year streak of 16-20 win seasons into this year with a rating in the 95-100 range and 10 wins.

Fort Zumwalt East

Returnees:

Amori Johnson, Jude Highfill and Marlon Woods

Graduates:

Zac Bonney and Donovan Shanks (50% of scoring)

Outlook:

The Lions bring back two thirds of their team with Johnson, Highfill and Woods the heavy lifters of the scoring end.  Bonney and Shanks will be tough to replace and FZE may slip a little from their 13-13 record and 103 rating last year.  11-14 wins and 100 rating look likely unless some up and comers fill in the blanks in scoring.

Holt (South Conference)

Returnees:

Jaylon Ashford, Emmanuel McLemore, Zarius Looney

Graduates:

Jake Ryan, Damian Winner-Johnson (35% of scoring)

Outlook:

The Indians had a better rating than FZE but only managed 10 wins last year.  Bringing back three fourths of the team, led by Ashford, McLemore and Looney, will help get Holt to 15 wins and 105-110  rating.  After starting fast last year (5-3 after 8 games) but finished a disappointing 1-11, to end last season.  I expect this year's Indians to be closer to the team that started the season, shaking off last years experience.  They found ways to lose last February but hopefully now know what it will take to win and it will show this season.  They will move up a couple of notches in the SOUTH conference.

Washington

Returnees:

Ryan Hoerstkamp, Brigham Broadbent, Jeremiah Broadbent

Graduates:

Alec Brinkmann, Rett Corley (33% of scoring)

Outlook:

The Blue Jays will be better than their 8-18 (1-9 league play) records of last year.  Bringing back three fourths of an experienced group led by Hoerstkamp (Prep Hoops #107 junior), and the Broadbent's, Washington can win 12-14 games and reach a 100+ power rating.  Look for good things out of a Washington program that is headed in the right direction this coming year.

Fort Zumwalt North

Returnees:

Mujtaba Alklfadi, Grant Rapplean, KJ Lee

Graduates:

Kyle Bampton, Jeff Lewis (40% of scoring)

Outlook:

The Panthers have two Prep Hoops seniors with 6'6" Alklfadi (#81) and 5'7" Rapplean (#158) to take up the slack of Bampton and Lewis.  Throw in an experience junior like KJ Lee and North will have a great trio to build around.  12 wins and 108 rating are in the cards for these cats if they can find some good youngsters to fill out the line-up.

Timberland (already reviewed but in the wrong conference)

Returnees:

Jackson Lamb, Blake Lyerla among others 

Graduates:

Blake Busateri and Cole Martin (57% of scoring)

Outlook:

Timberland made good progress in the last two years, jumping from 8 to 11 wins, even though they had less than half the team and scoring back last year.  This winter, they have a good crop of players returning, led by Lamb and Lyerla who can score 15 ppg.  There are about five other guys that scored 80-100 points last year that could jump up and take a varsity starting position and get Timberland to 13-15 wins and 105 rating.  Who's in the gym right now, guys?  Get off your phones, stop reading this drivel and get to work.