Toughness, physical play part of Missouri roster’s charm for Muddy River Showcase

QUINCY — What do you get when you put arguably the most versatile boys basketball player in Northeast Missouri alongside a top-flight scorer, a couple of lethal jumpers and a backcourt of nose-to-the-grindstone workers?

It’s an all-star team capable of challenging Illinois’ best for supremacy.

The Missouri roster for the third annual Muddy River Showcase is going to be one of the deepest and most versatile the Show Me State has produced since the summer all-star game came to life in 2022.

Here is an alphabetical look at the Missouri roster which will take the court at 4 p.m. June 15 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center:

Bear Bock, Palmyra — The Clarence Cannon Conference Player of the Year filled the stat sheet with his consistency and all-around game. Bock averaged 13.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. He shot 51.5 percent from the field and blocked 39 shots.

Brady Campen, Highland — An all-district selection and a second-team All-Clarence Cannon Conference pick, the 6-foot-5 Campen can play above the rim and alter shots defensively. Campen also was a second-team All-CCC selection in football where he excelled as a wide receiver and a punter.

Nikos Connoway, Van-Far — The William Woods University-bound point guard was a Class 2 first-team all-stater as well as the Eastern Missouri Conference and District 5 Player of the Year. He averaged 17 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals per game while recording an incredibly rare quadruple double against Wellsville-Middletown last winter.

Carson Hicks, Palmyra — Hicks is in the midst of chasing state track and field glory as a high jumper, and it’s that ability to get off the floor that gave him an advantage on the basketball court. He averaged 8.3 points and 4.3 rebounds and was dynamic force on a team that went 26-2.

Mason Hull, Hannibal — The son of former Hannibal coach Marty Hull who brought a high basketball IQ to the game and the ability to knock down 3-pointers, Hull earned second-team All-North Central Missouri Conference honors last winter.

Brayden Logsdon, Highland — A first-team All-CCC defensive back in football who suffered an injury in the fall that kept him sidelined during basketball season, Logsdon was a returning starter who played substantial minutes as a junior. He became another coach on the bench all of last winter.

Chance Rainey, South Shelby — Headed to Monmouth College to play football, the 6-foot-2 Rainey is a physical force on the block. An all-district selection and a first-team All-CCC pick on the hardwood, Rainey used his wingspan, quality footwork and toughness to outplay taller forwards. 

Zach Sparrow, Canton — Sparrow averaged five points per game in each of the last two seasons for the Tigers, but his bulldogged attitude and endless determination helped Canton win a district championship. Sparrow was a Class 1 all-state soccer player in his varsity career.

Jackson Stewart, Marion County — Junior guard Joey Lagemann became the Mustangs’ go-to-scorer, but Stewart was the perfect backcourt complement and a glue guy who helped the Mustangs win 16 games and reach the Class 1 District 11 championship game.

Quinn Thomas, Hannibal — Best known for his golfing exploits — Thomas won the Class 4 state championship as a freshman and has signed to play golf at Maryville University — Thomas put his 6-foot-5 frame to good use as a scorer and defender for the Pirates.