First Look - Missouri Boys Basketball 2019-2020 Season - Blue Pool teams

I took a look at the St. Louis Suburban Yellow, Red, Green pools earlier and now am back to a get a first look at the Missouri Boys Basketball 2019-2020 Season for the Blue Pool teams. The Blue Pool was a conglomeration of teams that have not had great success in the recent past which would allow a more competitive league than the traditional conferences these teams have played in previously.  For instance, U City and Clayton, the top two teams in the Blue Conference had been the bottom two in league with Ladue, Parkway West and Central.  Of course, it is hard to predict where teams will end up as Parkway West went from 19-7 to 7-19 to 3-23 over two plus seasons.  High school teams, as most coaches know, have their ups and downs depending on the talent that is coming through.  That is what makes it so important to have a sound feeder program to "feed the beast" and keep talent coming into the high school.  Many of the Blue teams, like Northwest and Seckman, have struggled with competition in their old conferences.  Their outlooks look better in the revamped conference for 2019-2020.

I have arranged the Blue Pool slightly differently.  I have lumped all the teams together and I will break out returnees, scoring and outlook below the table.  I hope this works better for you.

Blue Pool		2018-2019 Record		#	%	%	Avg	Avg 2020
	2019 Rating	Wins	Losses	Returnees	Return	Scoring	Hgt(")	Hgt(")
Affton	90	6	17	7	78%	55%	73.9	73.9
Clayton	103	11	15	8	57%	41%	72.4	70.8
Normandy	106	10	14	4	31%	58%	72.9	72.9
Northwest	79	3	22	15	94%	88%	72	72
Parkway North	97	8	17	8	67%	65%	71.6	72.1
Seckman	91	6	19	10	71%	66%	71.4	71.4
U-City	101	15	11	13	87%	95%	72.6	72.1
Fox	88	8	18	9	64%	46%	N.D.	72.9

Affton
Returnees:
Kaleb Recht, Joe Rolwes, Cody Recht, Alex Hercules
Graduates:
Adam Olliges, Jake Westbrook (45% of scoring)
Outlook:
The Cougars glory years were 2013-2015 but they have suffered through a four and six win season the past two years but improved from a 77  to 90 rating.  Losing Olliges and Westbrook (16 and 8 ppg respectively) is tough but Kaleb Recht hit 14 a game last year and is capable of 20 points per game this year.  The two Rechts, Hercules and Rolwes form a nice returning group.  The Cougars can hit 10 wins and a 95-100 rating with a little help from the up and comers that join them this year.

Clayton

Returnees:

Hunter Chestnutt-Perry, Rohan Tripathy, Tyler Walker

Graduates:

Darryl Sams, Ray Wood (58% of scoring)

Outlook:

The Greyhounds had two thirds of the team and 40% of the scoring back last year and finished 11-15, winning 5 more than they had the year before.  Losing Sams and Wood are a big hit but Chestnutt-Perry, Tripathy and Walker are all capable of double digit scoring.  Improving to 15 wins might be a stretch but Clayton has a sound feeder program and great tradition so look for an improved team over last year.  105 rating is likely.

Normandy

Returnees:

Terron Robinson, Omarion Henry, Dershun Hunt

Graduates:

Brandon Branscomb (42% of scoring)

Outlook:

Can Terron Robinson bring glory back to the Vikings?  Only a third of the team returns but Robinson, Henry and Hunt were all big contributors to their success last year.  Robinson could be a top area scorer, with Henry and Hunt in the 12-15 ppg range.  Normandy hasn't has great success since winning 21 games in 2012.  This group might win 15 and reach a 110 rating.  Let's hope there's reinforcements from the JV and freshman teams.

Northwest Cedar Hill

Returnees:

Trey Davis, Thomas Patient, Conor Luca, Hunter Lee

Graduates:

Seth Fortner (12% of scoring)

Outlook:

The good news is that things can't get worse, they can only get better with this energetic group.  With almost the entire team and nearly 90% of the scoring back, Davis, Patient, Luca and Lee should all score in double digits, something they haven't had from one guy for the last few years.  The last time the Lions won 7 games was 2014-2015.  These guys can double or triple their three wins and maybe 10 wins might be possible.  The teams has had a 79 rating the last two years, second lowest among large Missouri school, but they should top a 90-95 rating.  The sun will shine on Cedar Hill this winter.

Parkway North

Returnees:

Keashon Petty, Jalen Powell, Xavier Drummond and David Howell

Graduates:

Amari Wilson, Alijah Mitchell, Brennan May (35% of scoring)

Outlook:

The Vikings had almost an identical record the last two years even though they entered last year with over 80% of their team and scoring back.  Disappointing with a big D.  Petty and Drummond were top scorers with 14 and 12 ppg and will be expected to put up 15-20 per game this season.  Powell and Howell can both add 10-12 ppg.  Even though the team has about two thirds of the group and scoring back, these four can make or break the Vike's season.  Play well together and they will win 12-14 games or more.  A 100-105 rating is in the cards.

Seckman

Returnees:

Isaac Hoog, Josh Herget, Miles McPheeters

Graduates:

Jacob Deuster, Davis Mason (34% of scoring)

Outlook:

The Jaguars (6-19) won the same number of games the year before with half the team and one third of the scoring coming back.  With three quarters of the returnees and two thirds of the scoring, this group should hit double digits for wins and reach a 98-100 rating.  With Hoog (9 ppg), Herget and McPheeters (both 6ppg last year) leading the offensive, Seckman will have three double digit scorers, along with a good group of experienced seniors.  Seckman hasn't won 13 games in a season since 2009-2010.  This might be the year.

U-City

Returnees:

Jalen Hampton, Trayvon Robinson, Justin Holland, Larry Abbey

Graduates:

Azyah Brown (5% of scoring)

Outlook:

University City coaches have to be drooling over this returning Lions team.  What coach would not want 90% of their team and 95% of their scoring back every year?  Juniors Hampton (12ppg),  Holland and Abbey and senior Robinson (all 8-9 ppg last year) will form an unbelievable good but young team.  They took a lot of lumps last year but still came out a respectable 17-10.  Hampton is a dunk machine and Holland will light up the nets from three land.  Both are capable of 20 ppg and the four will all average high double digits.  20 wins and 115 rating is not unrealistic.  The Lions are roaring this winter.

Fox

Returnees:

Colby Reese, Brendan Moss and Juahad Thompson

Graduates:

Cole Elwood, Jacob Gowen, Chase Waters (54% of scoring)

Outlook:

Fox had identical records (8-18) and ratings (88) the past two years when they had half the team and 20% of the scoring coming back.  With nine returnees and half the scoring back, Fox should see an uptick in wins (10-12) and rating (95-100) this coming season.  Reese (10ppg), Moss (7ppg) and Thompson (5.5ppg) can all step up for 15, 12 and 10 ppg respectively.  Things are looking up for the Warriors this winter.


That's the Blue Pool.  I will be back blogging about the Metro Catholic and Public High Leagues in a few days.  I hope you enjoyed.