Meet the Springfield area's top boys high school basketball seniors entering 2023-24

Tip-off for high school basketball across the Ozarks is later this month and it's time to start getting ready for the year by reintroducing you to the best players across the region.

The proud basketball area features the return of a handful of players who helped lead their teams on deep postseason runs. They will look to continue to be among the best players in the region and the state heading into the season.

Here are the best area senior boys basketball players heading into 2023-24.

Drew Akins, Kickapoo

Kickapoo’s magical run to the state championship game probably wouldn’t have happened without Akins’ efforts on the court. He’s not the biggest or fastest but he’s the hardest-working player on every court he steps on. He’s constantly diving after loose balls, playing tough defense and making the winning plays that every team would love to have.

Tyler Barnett, Fair Grove

Barnett is a 6-foot-7 forward who helped make Fair Grove one of the better teams in the Ozarks last season. He provided athletic size to a younger roster that also features the likes of Spencer Seigar and Bryden Baxter. He can do a little bit of everything which can include being the Eagles’ leading rebounder on a nightly basis and one who can be their leading scorer when needed.

Tyrique Brooks, Central

Brooks makes the move to Springfield after being a standout the last few seasons for Waynesville. Brooks is one of the most athletic players in southwest Missouri as someone who can throw down vicious dunks while also being able to fill up the stat sheet. He will be a welcomed addition to what should be one of the most exciting teams to watch in the area.

Jaylon Cryer, Hartville

Cryer made his name known for Hartville while helping it reach the state semifinals for the third time in the last four years. He leads a solid group of returning seniors by averaging 14.4 points, 3.1 boards and 1.6 assists.

Grant Culver, Hartville

A 6-foot-5 guard, Culver has emerged as a solid player for one of the top programs in the Ozarks. He’s able to score at all three levels, averaging 10.9 points for the Eagles last season, and provides Brett Reed's elite defense with versatile size.

Barron Duda, Webb City

Duda is a 6-foot-2 guard who averaged 13.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game for the Cardinals last season. He's a frequent 3-point shooter who made 54 a year ago. He made 26% of his shots from deep last year and could be in a great spot to put up bigger numbers if that mark improves in 2023-24.

Whit Hafer, Joplin

The Mizzou football-bound tight end is also a monster on the basketball court. At 6-foot-7, this special athlete is a force to be reckoned with inside the paint and he’s not afraid to spot up from beyond the arc. More might be put on his shoulders this season after star guard All Wright departed for the Link program.

TJ Hill, Parkview

There was a lot of growth from the Parkview basketball program throughout last season and Hill benefited from it. He’s a 6-foot-2 guard who stood out as one of the top 3-point shooters in the area. His ability to catch and shoot isn’t matched by many in the area. He’s a dangerous weapon for what should be a really good Parkview team this season.

Garrett Hines, Nixa

With the departure of Kael Combs, there are opportunities available for Nixa coming off an undefeated regular season. Hines is one that can take advantage after he made his name known across the area last year. Hines is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard who is headed to Missouri S&T after this season. He’s one of the area’s elite shooters who can step into a starring role for the Eagles in 2023-24.

Briggs Hughston, West Plains

Known for being one of the best wide receivers in the Ozarks, Hughston can also put up big numbers on the hardwood. His athleticism for a 6-foot-6 forward makes him extremely difficult to guard while also being a force on the defensive end. He’s a matchup nightmare for most teams across the area.

Jamile Johnson, Parkview

Johnson is another standout for the Vikings who provides more athletic length to one of the more athletically lengthy teams in the Ozarks. He lists himself as 6-foot-8, 220 pounds and plays more as a center. He has good post moves inside and plays tough defense at the other end. He helps give Parkview the look of a college basketball team when it promises to be one of the better teams in the area this year.

Jacob Lafferty, Sparta

It wouldn’t be a reach to say Lafferty is the Ozarks’ best player entering the 2023-24 season. He was phenomenal last year in Sparta’s emergence into becoming one of the area’s best teams. He finished the season averaging 23.5 points and 12 rebounds per game — while also averaging 30 points and 15 rebounds over an eight-game stretch late in the season when the lights shined the brightest. Lafferty is a heck of an athlete who can do a little bit of everything for a rising Sparta program.

Ross Lawrence, Logan-Rogersville

The Wildcats’ star pitcher on the diamond can also hoop. The Missouri State commit has been a 3-point weapon in John Schaefer’s offense in recent years. He’s a great athlete who can also defend.

Ian Ngugi, Lamar

There aren’t many better all-around athletes in the area than Ngugi who is also an explosive receiver on the football field and a standout on the track. Basketball is another place where Ngugi shines as he’s coming off a year in which he nearly averaged 20 points per game. It’s no surprise that Ngugi’s quickness helps him create a lot of opportunities as the basket.

Brady Nicholson, Ash Grove

In Nicholson’s three years with the Pirates, he’s helped take them from a one-win team in 2020 to one that won 10 the next year and 20 or more for the last two seasons. The Drury commit is a 6-foot-4 guard who is one of the better scorers in southwest Missouri.

Josh Peters, Nixa

Another Eagle destined for a big season, Peters broke out during his junior season when he got his first expanded action in a great Nixa program. Peters is another lethal 3-point shooter who stands at 6-foot-3 and helps give the Eagles one of the better backcourts in southwest Missouri.

Drew Quinlan, Willard

Quinlan is one of the great all-around athletes in the Springfield area as he contributes to the great Willard baseball program and is a force on the basketball court. Quinlan, a point guard, is a great outside shooter who has been one to knock down five or more shots from deep in different games. He’s a good athlete at 6-foot-1 and he has a knack for grabbing long rebounds.

Caleb Ray, Lebanon

Ray is Lebanon’s standout 6-foot point guard who earned himself first-team All-Ozark Conference recognition last season. The lefty has an outside shot in addition to his great quickness in handles. He’s a smart player who can also cause a lot of problems on the defensive end.

Justin Ray, Carthage

Ray will move into the starring role for the Tigers after the graduation of Max Templeman. If Templeman wasn't the one leading Carthage in scoring last year, Ray was usually the one picking it up. Ray is a 6-foot-0 point guard who is an excellent shooter off the dribble. He's great at finding little spots on the floor to get himself an open look and he'll knock it down.

Logan Simpson, Hartville

Another Eagles senior standout, Simpson is the point guard who makes everything work in the Brett Reed system. He’s not going to overpower anyone at 5-foot-9 but his IQ stands out while putting the Eagles in prime spots of high percentage shots. As you would expect from a Hartville basketball player, he’s also awesome on the defensive end.

Hogan Smith, Kickapoo

Under the radar at Kickapoo, Smith should emerge as a player to watch this season as a 6-foot-5 forward who recently committed to Drury. The deep program had studs in front of him en route to a state championship appearance and Smith could be in line to make a big jump. Smith has a smooth shot from beyond the arc and great basketball IQ to put himself in the best positions to score. Keep an eye on this kid.

Antonio Starks-Fewell, Willard

Moving over to Willard from Central, the Tigers are getting one of the more fun players in the area to watch. Starks-Fewell is a flashy 6-foot-1 athlete who can deliver some sweet passes or great moves while getting to the basket. He’s starting to get some Division I attention after Sacramento State recently offered. Starks-Fewell has been one of the best players in the area for several years and that should continue right outside city limits.

Ta’Veaion Washington, Glendale

Glendale is one of the area teams on the rise and Washington will be counted on for the senior leadership heading into his final year. The 6-foot-3 guard has one of the more solid frames at his height in the area which also helps him on the defensive end. He’s got great handles and is fun to watch drive to the hoop.

Jace Whatley, Ozark

Whatley has been one of the better athletes in the Ozarks over the last few years. At 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, Whatley has been a great player for the Tigers for several seasons. He'll be able to go out with a bang as a senior. Whatley was the team's second-leading scorer last season by averaging 13.5 points per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. You know that if he plays for Mark Schweitzer's team, he's going to play his tail off defensively. He should be in for a great year.

Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL. He's also the host of the weekly "Wyatt's World Podcast" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcasting platforms

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield area top senior boys high school basketball players 2023-24