Missouri State’s men’s basketball team has suffered back-to-back gutwrenching losses. First it was TravelGate at Northern Iowa (see for yourself) and then a blown 11-point lead late in the second half to Evansville.

There’s no time to hang heads and feel sorry about it now, because nationally ranked Creighton is coming to town tonight — and TAGsgf.com’s Live Blog crew will be on hand to provide game updates, photos and video highlights from the game. (It’s especially important because there’s no live TV option, and if you’re sitting in the stands, you don’t want to seem like you’re talking to yourself…)

Yes, on Dec. 28, MSU did beat Creighton 77-65 in Omaha. Now, we can see what that looks like in person, perhaps.

While everyone knows him as the country’s No. 1 football prospect in the country — including his Bass Pro Tournament of Champions peers on the court — Hillcrest High School senior Dorial Green-Beckham put on quite a show in the Hornets’ fifth-place finish.

But, in a video interview with TAGsgf.com, DGB talked to us about many things, but the most significant was how he said he was going to make everyone wait until Feb. 1 — National Signing Day — to make his college decision. A press conference has been scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Many in the media are scrambling to figure out what he is going to do. Recently KSPR’s Mike Scott had a report saying DGB had eliminated Alabama from his list after the national championship. A day later, the News-Leader’s Matt Schoch reported that he hasn’t informed the Tide of it.

That’s why we’re bringing you the video interview, that along with college football recruiting talk includes:

• His experience at the Army All-American Bowl, including his SportsCenter Top 10 catch (It was No. 4)
• How Oklahoma and Mizzou assistant football coaches showing up at the T of C doesn’t really matter.
• And more.

Jalen Norman is the hottest Division I basketball recruit in recent Ozarks history.

While the Ozarks are known as a basketball hotbed, the high volume of Division I basketball players — especially major D-I programs — is absent.

With all due respect to Missouri State, when a kid has a chance to go to a BCS conference to showcase his hoops skills, it’s a reason to celebrate.

That’s where Jalen Norman comes in.

The 6-foot-5 Nixa junior has the right blend of skill, athleticism and potential that has Division I schools fighting over him. It was no secret that former MSU coach Cuonzo Martin recognized Norman’s aptitude early on and has been recruiting him since he was a freshman. And now that Martin has moved on to Tennessee, he’s still on him — as is much of the country.

See, if you check with Rivals.com, he’s currently being courted by the following schools: Arizona, Arkansas, Boston College, Butler, Colorado, Georgetown, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, MSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon State, St. John’s and Tennessee. That’s right, every major conference is implicated.

That’s why we here at TAGsgf.com feel it’s important to keep a closer eye on Norman and see exactly what he’s up to on a game-by-game basis. Oh yeah, Norman’s Nixa Eagles are the area’s best team and look ready to make a deep run in the Class 5 playoffs next month. Thanks to Nixa coach Jay Osborne for keeping us in touch with Norman’s stats.

UPDATE: Norman and Co. torched Branson last Tuesday. The Eagles had the weekend off to take in the Tournament of Champions.

Nixa (13-1)

• Dec. 3: 77-69 loss to Columbia Rock Bridge — 14 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks
• Dec. 6: 100-34 win at Central — 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block
• Dec. 8: 75-50 win vs. Topeka (Kan.) Highland Park — 18 points, 19 rebounds, 3 blocks
• Dec. 9: 77-71 win vs. Hogan Prep — 18 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block
• Dec. 10: 75-70 win vs. Leavenworth (Kan.) — 13 points, 5 rebounds, 0 blocks
• Dec. 13: 92-86 (OT) win vs. Glendale — 13 points, 14 rebounds, 1 block
• Dec. 16: 73-32 win at Waynesville — 15 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks
• Dec. 17: 76-45 win vs. Pacific — 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks
• Dec. 26: 100-45 win vs. Lebanon — 20 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block
• Dec. 27: 107-42 win vs. Buffalo — 15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks
• Dec. 28: 54-43 win vs. Rogersville – 11 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block
• Dec. 29: 75-65 win vs. Kickapoo — 22 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks
• Jan. 6: 88-66 win vs. Hogan Prep — 18 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists
• Jan. 10: 76-41 win vs. Branson — 14 points, 11 rebounds, 1 block

Season: 16.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2 blocks per game, 65.4 percent shooting

Archie Goodwin hangs from the rim.

Before Archie Goodwin showed up in Springfield for the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, we weren’t sure just how good he was. After the first of many scoring bursts — he would seemingly go on stretches where he’d score all his team’s points — we got the picture fast.

Goodwin is a senior at Sylvan Hills (Ark.) High School and is headed to play at the University of Kentucky for coach John Calipari. That’s what happens when you’re the No. 12-ranked player in the country. Goodwin showed off the driving-to-the-bucket skills that have been reported on, but he showed the occasional jumper and his knack for scoring all kind of different ways around the basket.

TAGsgf.com caught up with Goodwin after his team’s win over Glendale on Day 2. Among the topics discussed were:

• How he chose Kentucky and it wasn’t really hard to say no to Arkansas.
• How many Kentucky hats he rocks on a regular basis.
• His love for hot wings, and a recent story about how he crushed Buffalo Wild Wings’ hottest sauce with ease.
• Goodwin says he works out 3 times a day.
• And much more

Coming into the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, LJ Rose was freefalling down the Rivals.com rankings. Once thought of amongst the best young underclassmen in the country, Rose found himelf ranked as the No. 96 senior and committing to Baylor.

But you couldn’t tell by his performance in the Tournament of Champions. Not only did his team, Westbury Christian (Houston, Texas), win the T of C, but he earned MVP honors, going for an average of 18.3 points and 10 assists per game.

TAGsgf.com caught up with the 6-foot-4 senior to talk about his play, the edge the Rivals.com rankings gave him and how passing has always been easy for him.

[[Show as slideshow]]
photos by Kyle Green (BakedFreshDaily.com) and Brett Johnston
Check out our All-Tournament Team and Awards Gallery.

[[Show as slideshow]]
photos by Kyle Green (BakedFreshDaily.com) and Brett Johnston

Champions: Westbury Christian (Houston)
Runner-up: Lincoln (San Diego)
3rd: Christ the King (Bronx)
4th: Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.)
5th: Sylvan Hills (Arkansas)
6th: Hillcrest (SGF)
7th: St. Rita (Chicago)
8th: Glendale (SGF)

Sportsmanship Award — St. Rita

All-Tournament Team

MVP — LJ Rose, Westbury Christian (Houston)
Omar Calhoun, Christ the King (Bronx, NY)
Delvin Dickerson, Westbury Christian (Houston)
Archie Goodwin, Sylvan Hills (Arkansas)
Dorial Green-Beckham, Hillcrest
Cameron Johnson, Glendale
Isaiah Lewis (Bronx, NY)
Tony Parker, Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.)
Tyree Robinson, Lincoln (San Diego)
Tyrell Robinson, Lincoln (San Diego)
Devon Turk, Westbury Christian (Houston)

Father John Savage Award — Devin Pearson, Sylvan Hills (Arkansas)

Tyree Robinson is an athletic slasher/scorer who happens to be a dynamic football prospect, as well.

Tyree and Tyrell Robinson are a package deal — just ask them.

The 6-foot-4 junior twin brothers are top 150 national recruits in both basketball and football, and say they will only go to schools that will offer scholarships to both, in the same sport. The Robinsons currently have basketball offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, Stanford and Texas.

The duo helped Lincoln (San Diego, Cal.) to a 52-49 victory over Hillcrest — and national No. 1 football recruit Dorial Green-Beckham — in the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions first round. The twins combined for nearly 80 percent of their team’s scoring.

Even when asked to do a video interview, the brothers wanted to do it together, so TAGsgf.com Sports Editor Allen Vaughan obliged. The pair discussed:

• How they actually enjoy lifting weights and working out.
• Their willingness to attend college together.
• How they like to trick others into knowing which one is which
• And plenty more.

(Shout out to Kyle Green of BakedFreshDaily.com on the video)

Omar Calhoun is smooth.

CTK's Omar Calhoun is back, and he looks like the real deal.

Christ the King guard Omar Calhoun showed everyone at JQH Arena how his game has improved over the last two years since Calhoun and the Royals were last at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. The 35th best player in the country — the No. 6 best shooting guard — is headed to play for the defending national champion UConn Huskies.

Calhoun showed off in an easy win over Sylvan Hills Thursday night, but it was the way he did it that was impressive. He finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, but didn’t have a single point after the first quarter. Then, as you’ll hear in the interview, he went into his bag of tricks and showed off all the pieces of his offensive game.

When TAGsgf.com Sports Editor Allen Vaughan caught up with Calhoun, they discussed:

• Calhoun’s relationship with former UConn star and current Charlotte Bobcat Kemba Walker.
• How he feels he can never be stopped on the court because his offensive game is so diverse.
• His love for the SGF fans, especially the ones that remember him from two years ago.
• Brooklyn rappers.
• And more.

(Shout out to BakedFreshDaily.com’s Kyle Green on the video)

Day 1 of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions was a success, as usual. If you want to rehash our Live Blog, click here, and for the Day 1 video recap, click here.

But, while you’re here, get ready for the Day 2 Live Blog featuring words and analysis from Allen Vaughan, and videos and still photography from TAG’s Brett Johnston and BakedFreshDaily.com’s Kyle Green.

Here is today’s schedule:

Seventh-place game
Glendale vs. St. Rita, 2 p.m

Fifth-place game
Hillcrest vs. Sylvan Hills, 3:30 p.m.

Third-place game
Miller Grove vs. Christ the King, 5 p.m.

Championship game
Lincoln vs. Westbury Christian, 6:30 p.m.

Walk? Multiple walks? No matter, Northern Iowa’s Chip Rank scored with 2.2 seconds left to help the Panthers beat Missouri State 61-60 last night.

For a game recap, click here, but we have the video courtesy FoxSportsMidwest.com

Tony Parker is a big dude.

When Tony Parker talks, everyone listens.

The 6-foot-9 senior center from Miller Grove High School (Lithonia, Ga.) is one of the top recruits in the country, and is still undecided. Rivals.com ranks him as the 33rd best player in the country and the 5th best center. His list is enormous and includes heavy hitters like Duke, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Memphis, Ohio State and UCLA.

Sure, he was putting his skills on display for the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions fans, but the real gems came when TAGsgf.com Sports Editor Allen Vaughan caught up with the gregarious Parker after Thursday’s first-round victory over St. Rita (Chicago). Parker touched on the following topics:

• Clothes
• How unstoppable he is on NBA 2K12
• Music
• Recruiting: “If you commit after an official visit, you’re dumb.”
• Young Jeezy, “You should check him out, I’ll introduce you.”

Hilarious.

Brandon Morris is long.

The Miller Grove High School (Lithonia, Ga.) senior is a 6-foot-8 senior forward who’s equipped with long arms and legs that allow him to reach beyond and over defenders, and wreak havoc on his own defensive end.

He’s heading to Georgia to play in the SEC for his home state, something he’s very proud of, and he said Dawgs coach Mark Fox really made him feel like a piece of the future.

TAGsgf.com Sports Editor Allen Vaughan caught up with the Division I player who’s been compared to former NBAer Stacey Augmon.

We’d tell you everything that happened, but to recap, you can either find our Day 2 Live Blog or enjoy this video produced by TAGsgf.com’s Brett Johnston and BakedFreshDaily.com’s Kyle Green.

Mizzou offensive coordinator Dave Yost shoots the breeze with DGB's sister, Sarah.

Oklahoma coaches Jay Norville and Josh Heupel surround John Beckham.

As the Dorial Green-Beckham clock ticks down to Feb. 1 on his college football decision, Mizzou and Oklahoma assistant football coaches have made the trip to round two of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.

And the Beckham family have split up to be the most gracious of hosts. DGB’s adoptive mother, Tracy, sister, Sarah, is sitting next to Mizzou offensive coordinator Dave Yost.

Just a few seats to Tracy’s right is John Beckham in the middle of an Oklahoma sandwich — co-offensive coordinator Josh Heupel and wide receivers coach Jay Norville.

Of course, both schools are in DGB’s top 5 choices. The others include recent national champion Alabama, Arkansas and Texas.

Day 1 of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions was a success, as usual. If you want to rehash our Live Blog, click here, and for the Day 1 video recap, click here.

But, while you’re here, get ready for the Day 2 Live Blog featuring words and analysis from Allen Vaughan, and videos and still photography from TAG’s Brett Johnston and BakedFreshDaily.com’s Kyle Green.

Archie Goodwin was just one of the T of C's Day 1 highlights.

We’d tell you everything that happened, but to recap, you can either find our Day 1 Live Blog or enjoy this video produced by TAGsgf.com’s Brett Johnston and BakedFreshDaily.com’s Kyle Green.

TAGsgf.com is your one-stop shop for Tournament of Champions coverage. Get your player interviews, game highlights, photography, score updates, people watching notes, entertainment, and, of course, general hijinks right here. You can set your reminders below.

You can set a reminder below so you don’t miss a moment of the live blog. The tourney (and accordingly, the live blog) kicks off Thursday at 5 p.m. Until then, study up with the Ultimate Tournament of Champions Guide (holy crap!, there’s more than team photos), and take a walk down memory land with the TAGsgf.com TOC Alumni Roll Call.

You can find the bracket and matchups by clicking here.

And, finally, if you’re not sure what a Tournament of Champions Live Blog consists of, check out last year’s installments here, here and here.

Jalen Norman is the hottest Division I basketball recruit in recent Ozarks history.

While the Ozarks are known as a basketball hotbed, the high volume of Division I basketball players — especially major D-I programs — is absent.

With all due respect to Missouri State, when a kid has a chance to go to a BCS conference to showcase his hoops skills, it’s a reason to celebrate.

That’s where Jalen Norman comes in.

The 6-foot-5 Nixa junior has the right blend of skill, athleticism and potential that has Division I schools fighting over him. It was no secret that former MSU coach Cuonzo Martin recognized Norman’s aptitude early on and has been recruiting him since he was a freshman. And now that Martin has moved on to Tennessee, he’s still on him — as is much of the country.

See, if you check with Rivals.com, he’s currently being courted by the following schools: Arizona, Arkansas, Boston College, Butler, Colorado, Georgetown, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, MSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon State, St. John’s and Tennessee. That’s right, every major conference is implicated.

That’s why we here at TAGsgf.com feel it’s important to keep a closer eye on Norman and see exactly what he’s up to on a game-by-game basis. Oh yeah, Norman’s Nixa Eagles are the area’s best team and look ready to make a deep run in the Class 5 playoffs next month. Thanks to Nixa coach Jay Osborne for keeping us in touch with Norman’s stats.

Nixa (12-1)

• Dec. 3: 77-69 loss to Columbia Rock Bridge — 14 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks
• Dec. 6: 100-34 win at Central — 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block
• Dec. 8: 75-50 win vs. Topeka (Kan.) Highland Park — 18 points, 19 rebounds, 3 blocks
• Dec. 9: 77-71 win vs. Hogan Prep — 18 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block
• Dec. 10: 75-70 win vs. Leavenworth (Kan.) — 13 points, 5 rebounds, 0 blocks
• Dec. 13: 92-86 (OT) win vs. Glendale — 13 points, 14 rebounds, 1 block
• Dec. 16: 73-32 win at Waynesville — 15 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks
• Dec. 17: 76-45 win vs. Pacific — 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks
• Dec. 26: 100-45 win vs. Lebanon — 20 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block
• Dec. 27: 107-42 win vs. Buffalo — 15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks
• Dec. 28: 54-43 win vs. Rogersville – 11 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block
• Dec. 29: 75-65 win vs. Kickapoo — 22 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks
• Jan. 6: 88-66 win vs. Hogan Prep — 18 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists

Season: 16.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2 blocks per game, 65.4 percent shooting

For the past 27 years, the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions has thrilled a basketball-hungry area with future basketball stars at the college and the professional level.

When someone says Tournament of Champions, what do you think? I harken back to Alonzo Mourning, Todd Day, Anthony Peeler and even as recent as guys like Erving Walker, DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall.

So, I’ve taken the time to put together the most comprehensive and interactive guide for this year’s T of C. This way, not only can you marvel at their skill, but be up on their background and be able to sound smarter when talking to total strangers in the concession line.

If you missed our post on the schedule, with a pairings, click here.

CTK's Omar Calhoun is back, and he looks like the real deal.

CHRIST THE KING (MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY)

School’s athletic website
Preseason No. 14 rated team by MaxPreps.com
Last year: 22-7, NY City champions
Coach: Joe Arbitello

The Stud

Omar Calhoun, a 6-3 senior guard
Rivals rank: No. 35 overall, No. 6 shooting guard
College commitment: Connecticut
Other schools that offered: Arizona, Florida, Louisville, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Oklahoma State, Pitt, Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Virginia, West Virginia

Calhoun has been described as a slasher who is becoming a better shooter as he matures. He was here with CTK two years ago and showed flashes of brilliance, but had a very thin frame. Well, he’s filled out and has been described as UConn’s best New York City recruit since Kemba Walker. High praise, indeed.

For a YouTube highlight package, here is some of Calhoun’s handiwork:

Calhoun was here two years ago and we dusted off the old video we captured then:

The other stud

Is Isaiah Lewis ready to commit to Kansas? Reports say he's close.

Isaiah Lewis, a 6-3 junior guard
Rivals rank: No. 53 overall, No. 6 point guard
College commitment: None
Other schools that offered: Kansas, Florida, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina

This report says Lewis is very close to committing, and leaning toward Kansas.

Lewis, a 6-foot-3 prospect, is ranked No. 40 in CBSSports.com’s Top 100. They describe him like this:

Lewis is a high-level scorer who is very good in the mid-range. He has a good floater and pull-up jumper, and also knows how to get into the lane. Lewis has good athleticism, and has been developing into more of a facilitator than a scorer since moving over to the point. He said he is working on his 3-point shot.

The rest of the team

The Royals have two other players that are probably Division I players, including Jordan Fuchs — a 6-6 junior forward — and Jon Severe — a 6-1 junior guard. Fuchs has offers from Florida, Ohio State, Rutgers and Xavier. He’s been dunking in games since his freshman year. Severe is being recruited by Florida, Providence and Drexel.

Tony Parker is a big dude.

MILLER GROVE (LITHONIA, GA)

What looks to be an up-to-date MaxPreps page
Preseason No. 2 ranked team by ESPN
Last year’s record: 32-1, back-to-back state champs
Coach: Sharman White

Remember Milton (Ga.) HS? Last year, Milton had three big D-I studs (Shannon Scott, Dai-Jon Parker and Julian Royal) and Miller Grove took them down in the state playoffs, thanks in part to Tony Parker and emerged as a national powerhouse. He’s a big dude, but looks like he can move well. I’m sure conditioning is always going to be a problem, but he looks the part. Oh, he’s one of five future D-I players.

The studs

Tony Parker, 6-9 senior center (“270 pounds”)
Rivals rank: No. 33 overall, No. 5 center
College commitment: None
Schools that have offered: Duke, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Memphis, Ohio State, UCLA

ESPN breaks down Parker’s strengths as such:

With his combination of size and skill level, Parker is one of the elite big men in the 2012 class. He is a space eater in the post who can carve out position on the block. When watching him play you quickly see the skill he possesses; once he catches he has an array of post moves he is capable of throwing at you, led by the left shoulder jump hook. He is very adept at facing the basket from 15′ where his soft touch enables him to knock down a jump shot or drive the ball one or two dribbles to the rim. His greatest attribute though is his tremendous hands which are soft and sticky.

Here is a YouTube clip of Parker:

Miller Grove's Brandon Morris

Brandon Morris, a 6-8 senior small forward
College commitment: Georgia
Schools that offered: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia State, Kansas State, Memphis, Missouri, Nevada, NC State, Wichita State

The experts say:

Strengths:
Morris is another of the many Miller Grove kids that can play. He is an active athlete that is relentless on the glass. He has the potential to be a lock down defender with excellent length and lateral quickness.

Weaknesses:
He is going to have to develop his perimeter game to be a more effective wing player, but he has good instincts and a motor to match. Although we need to see him shoot it more from the perimeter to get a true evaluation of his shooting ability he looks like he will fine in this area.

Bottom Line:
For you old schoolers Morris is a Stacey Augmon look alike.

It looks like Morris is clutch, too. Here’s a clip of him hitting a game-winner.

The rest of the team

Aside from Parker and Morris, Rivals.com lists three other seniors in the D-I database. Toney Evans is a 6-5 small forward who has an offer from Georgia State, but is being recruited by other small majors including Appalachian State, UALR, Kennesaw State, Tennessee Tech and William and Mary. Florida State is interested, as well. Point Guard Davante Provost (6-foot, 175) is being recruited by Georgia Southern, Iona and NC Central. Christian Houston is another senior point guard (6-1, 165) that is grabbing D-I attention, even though Rivals doesn’t list a school. Look out for Justin Colvin, a 6-2 senior guard, too.

SYLVAN HILLS (SHERWOOD, ARKANASAS)

Last year’s record: 27-2, state runner-up
Coach: Kevin Davis

It’s rude to say Sylvan Hills is a one-man show, but in T of C terms, it is. That show is run very well by one of the top players in the entire country. Let’s get to it.

The stud

Archie Goodwin hangs from the rim.

Archie Goodwin, a 6-4 senior guard
Rivals rank: No. 12 nationally, No. 2 shooting guard
College commitment: Kentucky
Other schools that offered: Kentucky, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Memphis

ESPN describes him as the following:

The long athletic small forward has brought back comparisons of the last great player from the state in Joe Johnson because of the smooth way he plays the game. Goodwin is a multi-skilled forward who can put the ball on the floor to attack the rim or spot up for knock-down jump shots out to the 3-point arc. He has tremendous length on his side which he utilizes to rebound and defend. It looks as if all facets of the game come easy to him. Goodwin has a nice handle that gets him where he needs to go, and has improved his perimeter stroke from behind the arc.

Here’s a video:

The rest of the team
In terms of big-time college hoops recruits, the rest of the team doesn’t have them. But, some other names to remember are Larry Ziegler (6-2, G, sr.) and Dion Patton (5-9, G, sr.)

ST. RITA (CHICAGO, ILL.)

What looks to be an up-to-date MaxPreps page
Last year’s record: 12-14
Coach: Gary DeCesare (former St. Raymond coach, has coached in T of C before)

St. Rita looks to be a quality program from Chicago that’s currently missing one of its two Division I players, A.J. Avery, a guard headed to Penn. He’s expected to be back in January, but it’s unclear if he’ll play in the T of C. Still, the Mustangs are ranked in ESPNChicago.com’s Top 20 and feature future Division I guard Tony Hicks.

Tony Hicks drives baseline

The studs

Tony Hicks, a 6-2 senior guard
Rivals rank: None
College commitment: Penn
Other schools that offered: Loyola, Dayton and South Florida

According to reports, few players in the entire 2012 improved their stock more than Tony Hicks. A combo guard, Hicks averaged 13 points as a sophomore and 16 points as a junior. Remember De La Salle HS with now-Illinois forward Mike Shaw? DLS is still a quality program and Hicks just scored 31 to beat them. Without Avery, Hicks has had to put his game in overdrive.

 
AJ Avery is a 6-6 senior forward who has committed to Western Michigan. So far, he’s been hampered by a wrist injury, but when healthy, he’s a force on both ends. Senior point guard Cullen Foulks (5-7, 140) is a key player, but the other excitement comes from a group of underclassmen.  Sophomore forward Victor Law (6-5, 170), sophomore guard Dominique Matthews (6-1, 165) and freshman guard Charles Matthews (6-2) are being recruited by Big East and Big 10 schools.

Sorry fans, I couldn’t find any videos.

L.J Rose is a 6-foot-4 pass-first point guard? Yes, please.

WESTBURY CHRISTIAN (HOUSTON, TEXAS)

Last year’s record: State runner-up (School has won 16 of last 21 state titles)
Coach: Russell Carr

The studs

L.J. Rose, 6-4 senior point guard
Rivals rank: No. 95 overall, No. 20 point guard
College commitment: Baylor
Other schools that offered:

ESPN.com wrote the following about Rose:

Strengths:
Rose is a pass first lead guard that can score when needed. He possesses good size and length to go along with his excellent basketball IQ. Recovered well from a foot injury and is in the process of getting back into game shape after being off the court since July (2010). Rose does a good job of beating defender with his size and IQ rather than speed and quickness. When he gets a defender on his hip while penetration Rose can get deep into the lane where he deliver the ball to an open teammate or score. Rose also uses his size to shoot over smaller point guards when he feels the need to score.

Bottom Line:
Rose is a terrific true point guard that can handle and pass. His court vision is great as well. He can score when needed mostly off the bounce. Rose has the IQ and talent to be a special player to go along with his size and length. Strength and verbal leadership and consistent shooting from behind the arc takes his game to the next level.

Here is some great YouTube footage of Rose:

Rose to Dickerson:

Delvin Dickerson (right) might be an instant fan favorite

Delvin Dickerson, 6-6 senior forward
Rivals.com: None
College commitment: South Alabama
Twitter handle:http://twitter.com/_Durrel2x

The rest of the team

Darin Minniefield (6-1, jr.) is a guard that’s being recruited by Florida State, Kansas, San Francisco and Texas. You might remember his father, Dirk, who played for Kentucky in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Devon Turk (6-3, sr.) is a guard that’s listed by Rivals and ESPN as a recruit, but doesn’t have schools listed. As you can tell by winning 16 of the last 21 state titles, they are a clinic.

LINCOLN (SAN DIEGO, CAL.)

Team’s MaxPreps Page
Last year: 31-2, state semifinalist
Coach: Jason Bryant

Why is it when twins are good at basketball, everyone assumes they are super-tall and post players? With Lincoln, that’s totally wrong. Instead, Lincoln is stacked with twin junior guards Tyrell and Tyree Robinson, both of whom are rated inside the top 150 players in the country and took California by storm last season. (Oh, and Tyree Robinson is a national top 150 football recruit)

The studs

Tyree Robinson is an athletic slasher/scorer who happens to be a dynamic basketball prospect, as well.

Tyree Robinson, 6-4 junior guard
Rivals.com rank: 69th nationally, 5th shooting guard
College commitment: None
Schools that are recruited Robinson: Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, Stanford and Texas

Robinson looks smooth in the video that follows. Not only is he a top-70 shooting guard, but he’s a top 100 recruit nationally in football as an athlete. Either way, here’s what ESPN.com has to say about him:

When discussing the top combo-guards in the country for the class of 2013, Robinson needs to be near the top. He has a chiseled frame with long arms and plays at a relentless pace. Offensively, he can attack off the dribble and utilize his strong frame and explosiveness to finish at the rim or drop off an assist to an open teammate%u2014had a number of high-level alley-oop passes during the regular season and AAU season. He can knock down the 3-point shot and he gets great lift on his shot. His release is smooth on his shot and he gets great arc on it as well.

Tyrell Robinson, 6-4 junior guard
Rivals.com rank: 111th nationally
College commitment: None
Schools that are recruited Robinson: Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, Stanford and Texas

Copy much of what you see from his twin brother, and jot it down here. It’s unfair to say he’s the lesser talented one, because there are plenty of games that he outscores Tyree. He’s also a big-time football recruit and is a wide receiver. Expect plenty of SGFers to get these two mixed up.

The studs

The third big piece of Lincoln’s squad is 6-6 junior center Jeremiah Turner. He’s an undersized shotblocker at the D-I level and is going to Cal-Irvine. Here are some highlights of Turner doing his thing:

The local teams

As for the local teams, Glendale and Hillcrest, we’ll talk more about them as the tournament approaches. But, there’s no need to worry about them right now. You’ve got some studying to do. Go ahead, share this link with your family and friends and feel free to print this out.

It’s a great time of year.

Want to get in touch with Allen Vaughan? E-mail him at Allen@TagSGF.com. You can follow him on Twitter here or on Facebook here.

How many people knew who John Wall before he arrived in Springfield? Now he's a part of the family, right?

There’s no denying the best part of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions is watching the elite high school basketball talent in person. But if there was going to be a part 1A, it would be the, “I saw them when…” aspect.

Seriously. How many of you puffed out your chest during Kentucky’s amazing 2009-10 season? Why, not because you bleed Kentucky blue like Ashley Judd. Nope, it was because both John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins both dominated the T of C — and you saw it live Or maybe you didn’t, but they balled big time in your town.

It’s those type of moments that are indelible, forever creating memories and imprints on your basketball brains. And with that, we set out to put together a refresher course of the most successful T of C alums, past and present. Enjoy. And don’t miss the next Wall or Cousins. To get familiar with this year’s crop, click here for our Ultimate T of C Guide.

We’ll start with the NBA alums. Below that will be the college guys.

Current alums

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NBA

John Wall won the 2009 T of C and was the MVP.

John Wall

T of C school: Word of God (Raleigh, N.C.), 2008
College: Kentucky (one season)
Pro team: Washington Wizards
NBA Draft status: No. 1 pick in 2010 draft
2011-12 NBA stats: 14.4 points, 6.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds per game (8 games)

From the first dribble Wall took, we knew Wall was sensational. While ESPN’s high school rankings had guys like Avery Bradley No. 1, Rivals.com’s Jerry Meyer had Wall No. 1. And he didn’t disappoint, helping Word of God win the 2009 T of C and securing MVP honors. After leading a Kentucky team full of freshman to the Elite 8 (nearly the Final Four), Wall was the No. 1 pick in the most recent NBA draft. And we got to see him before all of that.

As a junior, DeMarcus Cousins and LeFlore finished second in the 2008 T of C.

DeMarcus Cousins

T of C school: LeFlore (Mobile, Ala.), 2008
College: Kentucky (one season)
Pro team: Sacramento Kings
NBA Draft status: No. 5 pick in 2010 draft
2011-12 NBA stats: 14.6 points, 10.1 rebounds per game (8 games)

The T of C is no stranger to big bodies, but Cousins’ grown-man frame was already full grown as a junior in high school. Currently, he’s 6-11, 270 pounds, but he was at least 240, if not more when he was 17. Cousins’ LeFlore team lost to Erving Walker and Ryan Pearson’s Christ the King team in overtime in 2008, but it wasn’t his fault. He led all scorers with 38 points, and for a guy who many wanted to portray as lazy, I’ll never forget interviewing him with tears in his eyes. Just because he’s eccentric, doesn’t mean he isn’t passionate about basketball. Still, those “character issues” helped Cousins fall to the No. 5 draft pick. Some said if it wasn’t for his Kentucky teammate John Wall, Cousins might have been the top pick.

Currently, those “character issues” have already caused Cousins troubles. There was a snafu between he and then-coach Paul Westphal, leading to a media report that said Cousins demanded a trade — twice. Cousins disputed it and less than a week later, Westphal was fired.

Tyler Hansbrough's Poplar Bluff teams didn't win a T of C Tournament, but he ended up as one of college basketball's all-time greats.

Tyler Hansbrough

T of C school: Poplar Bluff (Mo.), 2004, 05
College: North Carolina (four seasons)
Pro team: Indiana Pacers
NBA Draft status: No. 13 pick in 2009 draft
2011-12 NBA stats: 12.6 points, 6.9 rebounds per game (8 games, zero started)

Always known as a throwback player, well before he was winning a four-time All-American and national champion at North Carolina, Hansbrough was outworking HS players at Hammons Student Center, dunking on schools from at least 10 different states. He made his T of C debut in 2004 with a third-place finish, but it’s 2005′s championship game that T of C fans will remember. Hansbrough’s Poplar Bluff team lost 64-58 to Kickapoo, which is still the only local team to ever win the T of C.

Of course, after Hansbrough became one of college basketball’s all-time great and was the 13th pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 2009 draft. He’s turned into one of the NBA’s premier bench players and should be a contender for 6th man of the year.

Ekpe Udoh (left) was a surprise at No. 6 in last year's NBA draft, but he seemed to improve every year in college.

Ekpe Udoh

T of C school: Santa Fe (Edmond, Okla.), 2007
College: Michigan and Baylor
Pro team: Golden State Warriors
NBA Draft status: No. 6 pick in 2010 draft
2011-12 NBA stats: 4.5 points, 3.6 rebounds per game (8 games, zero started)

I won’t try to hide it, but when Ekpe Udoh was playing for Santa Fe in the T of C, he was an project that a college hadn’t committed to. He looked stiff and not overly athletic. After going to Michigan as a late commit, he lingered during Tommy Amaker’s final Wolverine season and never really fit into John Beilein’s system. He transferred to Baylor, and by the end of his career, because an athletic, versatile shot blocker-meets-dunker-jump-shooter who nearly helped the Bears reach the school’s first final four. His final shock to the national hoops system was when Golden State selected him No. 6 overall, making him a part of T of C history when he was one of four T of C alumni to be drafted in last year’s top 7.

So far, Udoh’s game hasn’t translated to NBA success. He’s only getting 15.5 minutes per game on a subpar Warriors team. He’s also had to play for two coaches in two years, but so far he’s been a disappointment.

Greg Monroe was thought to be a T of C dud, but the Detriot Pistons didn't agree.

Greg Monroe

T of C school: Helen Cox (Harvey, La.), 2008
College: Georgetown (two seasons)
Pro team: Detroit Pistons
NBA Draft status: No. 7 pick in 2010 draft
2011-12 NBA stats: 15.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists per game (9 games)

Monroe came to the T of C with a ton of hype. He was ranked as Rivals.com’s No. 1 player, was a 7-footer with the ability to block shots, shoot and pass. However, it didn’t translate well, but provided Waynesville with one of the better local squad moments. The Tigers beat Monroe’s team 63-60, painting Monroe as a soft, yet skilled, big man. He has similarly underwhelming results at Georgetown, never becoming a dominant force for the Hoyas. Still, the NBA couldn’t deny his tantalizing skill set and the Detroit Pistons took Monroe with the No. 7 pick in the most recent NBA draft, after spending two seasons in Washington, D.C.

Sure, the Pistons are terrible, but Monroe might be their franchise player. He’s still as versatile as any big man in the league, but he’s becoming a complete player and looks like a future all-star.

Lamar Odom was one of the T of C's early NBA alums. That happened before he married a Kardashian.

Lamar Odom

T of C school: Christ the King (NYC), 1996
College: Rhode Island
Pro teams: Current, Dallas Mavericks; past, LA Lakers; LA Clippers and Miami Heat
NBA Draft status: No. 4 pick in 1999 draft
2011-12 NBA stats: 6.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists per game (9 games)

Unless you were an early T of C watcher, you missed Odom balling at Hammons Student Center. Still, take our word for it. He helped Christ the King win the 1996 T of C by a margin of 22.3 points per victory.

Of course, this was all before he became a two-time NBA champion with the LA Lakers, an all-star and a married member of the Kardashian family. Not a Hall of Famer, but Odom has scored more than 11,000 career NBA points. Recently, he’s gained fame as a part of the Chris Paul trade that was rejected by the NBA, and after having his feelings hurt, ended up with the Dallas Mavericks.

Kickapoo's Anthony Tolliver now belongs with the T of C's NBA alumni

Anthony Tolliver

T of C school: Kickapoo, 2003
College: Creighton
Pro teams: Current, Minnesota Timberwolves; San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors
NBA Draft status: Undrafted
2011-12 NBA stats: 5.3 points, 3.7 rebounds per game (9 games)

In a nice twist, one of Springfield’s own can be now placed amongst the T of C NBA alumni. After bouncing around the NBA and then the Developmental League, former Kickapoo and Creighton big man Anthony Tolliver caught on with the Golden State Warriors, averaging 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game over a 44-game span. It served him so well, he had multiple multi-year offers to mull over before choosing the Minnesota Timberwolves.

And before you think AT is simply a feel-good story for NBA undrafted free agents, he gained infamy when he spoofed LeBron James’ The Decision, with his own YouTube production — The Decision, Part Deux.  As for T of C history, Tolliver’s Kickapoo team finished third, losing to eventual champ White Station in the semifinals.

Tolliver is averaging 23 minutes per game and is struggling offensively, shooting only 38.5 percent from the floor and only 30 percent from deep.

Mario Chalmers didn't have a great T of C, but Kansas and Miami aren't complaining.

Mario Chalmers

T of C school: Bartlett (Anchorage, Alaska) 2005
College: Kansas
Pro team: Miami Heat
NBA Draft status: 2008 second round
2011-12 NBA stats: 11.4 points, 4.7 assists, 3.0 per game (9 games)

If you remember correctly, Chalmers was one of the top names in the 2005 T of C. But you’ll also remember how the rest of his team wasn’t really any good and how Mizzou fans reveled in the future Kansas Jayhawks’ eighth-place (!) finish.

That might have been the last time they laughed at Chalmers. The Alaska native went on to hit THE shot that sent Kansas and Memphis to overtime during the 2008 national championship game, helping the Jayhawks win the whole the thing. (I still would have fouled. Sorry, Calipari.)

Now, Chalmers finds himself as the starting point guard for the Miami Heat. His numbers are impressive, and how much fun must it be to play for the Heatles? He’s off to a hot start and if the numbers hold true all season, he’ll establish new career highs.

Chandler Parsons pays homage to fellow Florida Gator Tim Tebow.

Chandler Parsons

T of C school: Lake Howell (Winter Park, Fla.), 2007
College: Florida
Pro Team: Houston Rockets
NBA Draft status: 2011 second round
2011-12 NBA stats: 5.3 points, 4.6 rebounds (7 games)

Like most 6-7 high school “guards,” Parsons was surprisingly athletic for his slender frame and lacked the awkwardness of a tall lanky forward. He wasn’t the type of kid that wowed you at the high school level, but turned into a nice college player at Florida and has caught on with the Houston Rockets.

As a second round pick, many thought Parsons would head overseas and get some more seasoning, but he made the team and even earned a start. He’s averaging 15.7 minutes per game and on Saturday, Jan. 7 he scored 2 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.

Honestly, of the three Division I players from his Lake Howell team, Parsons ended up being the most well-known of the three (Nick Calathes, Joey Rodriguez).

Retired NBA alumni

• Alonzo Mourning — 15 seasons, future Hall of Famer; T of C, Indian River, 1987
• Larry Hughes — 12 NBA seasons, 10,230 career NBA points; T of C, CBC, 1997
• Anthony Bonner — T of C, Vashon, 1985; College, Saint Louis; NBA, Sacramento Kings and NY Knicks
• Jayson Williams — T of C, Christ the King, 1985; College, St. John’s; NBA, NJ Nets
• Todd Day — T of C, Hamilton (Memphis, Tenn.) 1988; College, Arkansas; NBA, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns
• Anthony Peeler – T of C, KC Paseo, 1985 and ’88; College, Missouri; NBA, LA Lakers, Vancouver Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves
• Speedy Claxton — 7 yr. NBA vet; T of C, Christ the King 1996; College, St. John’s
• Erick Dampier (not currently retired, but unsigned free agent) — 15 yr. NA vet; T of C, Lawrence County (Miss.), 1992; College, Mississippi State; NBA, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks

Recent T of C players playing professional ball (or did)

• Kyle Singler, Duke — T of C, South Medford (Ore), 2007 (champs); Drafted by Detroit Pistons in second round and chose to play this season for Real Madrid.
• Nick Calathes, Florida — T of C, Lake Howell (Winter Park, Fla.), 2007; Calathes shocked the NBA world by signing with a team from Greece and not entering the NBA Draft in 2009. But this most recent draft, Calathes saw his NBA rights acquired by Minnesota and traded to Dallas. The versatile guard is still playing in Greece for Panathinaikos and averaging 9.9 points per game.
• Ben Hansbrough, Notre Dame — T of C, Poplar Bluff (Mo.), 2004-05; Not drafted, but signed with FC Bayern Muenchen before being granted his release before Christmas. He’s currently unsigned.
• Maurice Miller, Georgia Tech — Miller was a solid starter for some subpar Georgia Tech teams, and has surfaced for a team in Iceland (UMF Tindastoll). He’s the leading scorer with 20 points per game.
• Joey Rodriguez, VCU — T of C, Lake Howell (Winter Park, Fla.), 2007; Rodriguez helped VCU reach the Final Four last season and at last check, was playing professional basketball in Puerto Rico for the San German Atleticos.
• Stanley Robinson, Connecticut — T of C, Huffman (Ala.) 2006; Robinson was drafted in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, but was waived in immediately after. He recently was waived by the NBDL’s Iowa Energy.
• J. P. Prince, Tennessee — T of C, Memphis White Station; Prince has played professionally in Turkey and China, and was headed to training camp with the Cleveland Cavs in December, but was arrested for DUI.

Former T of Cers Blake Ahearn (DeSmet and Missouri State) and Obi Muenelo (Santa Fe and Oklahoma State). Others cup of coffee NBA alums like Ryan Robertson, Loren Woods, etc., can be found here, under the Pro Alumni tab.

College

Memphis' Joe Jackson was a revelation in the 2009 T of C.

Joe Jackson

T of C school: Memphis White Station, 2008-09
College: Memphis sophomore
2011-12 NCAA stats: 10.8 points, 2.9 assists per game (15 games)

Not many teams are good enough to get two cracks at the T of C, but not every team is Memphis White Station. Armed with good guards, the best was Joe Jackson, who if you saw on the street wouldn’t get anyone’s attention.

But when he was in that green uniform, he turned into a superhero, knifing through defenses, burying 3-pointers and even dunking, all looking like he weighed 100 pounds, tops.

He was the MVP of the 2009 T of C and helped White Station to a tournament championship. He decided to stay at home and help coach Josh Pastner and the Memphis Tigers rebuild. He’s proving people wrong there, too, getting Memphis into the top 25 and being a solid scorer.

Erving Walker is an all-time favorite.

Erving Walker

T of C school: Christ the King, 2006, 2008
College: Florida senior
2011-12 NCAA stats: 13.4 points, 5.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds per game (16 games)

If you saw Erving Walker play live in the 2008 T of C, you’ll never forget it. As we’ve mentioned earlier, the T of C has been kind to the point guards, especially the sub-6-footers. And at 5-8, Walker put on a show, hitting 3s, driving to the bucket and finishing, as well as dishing to open teammates.

Walker was the 2008 MVP and Christ the King won yet another T of C title. He’s taken that same big-shot bravado to Florida, escaping the cold of New York City. Now a junior, he regularly scores in double-digits for a nationally-ranked Florida teams. And everyone who saw him here in Springfield, smile.

Truck Bryant is an underrated player.

Truck Bryant

T of C school: St. Raymond, 2007
College: West Virginia senior
2011-12 NCAA stats: 17.8 points, 2.8 assists per game (13 games)

When you come up with a list of the best guards in T of C history, Darryl “Truck” Bryant doesn’t readily come to mind. But when you make up a list of the most underrated college guards in the country, Truck should be there.

As a sophomore, Bryant was injured and not 100 percent during West Virginia’s Final Four run. However, as a senior, he’s the go-to guy for a Mountaineer team just on the outside of the Top 25.

He’s bigger than you think at 6-2, and has a strong body that absorbs contact well. Plus, he might have one of the best nicknames in all of sports. Truck? Really? Cool.

The George Mason diehards are campaigning for Pearson to win CAA POY.

Ryan Pearson

T of C school: Christ the King, 2006, 2008
College: George Mason senior
2011-12 NCAA stats: 18.2 points, 8.3 rebounds (17 games)

Pearson took a back seat to Erving Walker when Christ the King won the 2008 T of C, but you could tell he was a difference maker. Now it looks like he’s taking a run at the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the year.

The southpaw is nearly averaging a double-double and had 35 points and 14 rebounds in a win at the College of Charleston on Dec. 30. While only 6-foot-6, he’s a beast in the post and has a knack for scoring in different ways, including a mid-range J. He’s not the most vertical guy, but it doesn’t mean he’s not athletic.

The George Mason diehards are campaigning for Pearson to win CAA POY, coming up with the Twitter hashtag #FearTheBeard 24.

Syracuse's Fab Melo dropped 30 pounds before his freshman season.

Fab Melo

T of C school: Sagemont (Weston, Fla.) 2009
College: Syracuse sophomore
2011-12 NCAA stats: 7.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.9 blocks per game (17 games)

When he was here in the T of C last year, it was hard not to smile at Fab Melo. His sense of humor was infectious (which you can see from our interview with him last season), and his ability to block shots made it tough on opposing defenses. His offense wasn’t overly impressive, but when you’re a legit 7-feet tall, there’s a reason he ended up at Syracuse.

Right on cue, Melo is blossoming into a differencemaker for the country’s No. 1 ranked team. His minutes has doubled (22.5 per game) and he’s blocking nearly 3 shots in that time.  He might not be an early-entry NBA guy, but he’ll get there eventually.

He’s actually gained more notoriety for getting former Syracuse star and current Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony to joke about changing his name to Car Melo, so he can get his commonly referred nickname “Melo” on the back. And to take it a step further, you have to think that Fab Melo went with No. 51 just to tweak Car Melo, who was 15 at Syracuse, right?

CJ Leslie might be a one-and-done college freshman.

C.J. Leslie

T of C school: Word of God (Raleigh, N.C.), 2009
College: N.C. State sophomore
2011-12 NCAA stats: 13.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 blocks per game (15 games)

When Word of God came to the T of C in 2008, the Holy Rams were billed as the John Wall show. And while Wall was out of this world, Leslie was the one who saw his stock skyrocket the most. It was a reflection of his entire junior season that saw him grow into his 6-8 frame.

That’s the thing I remember the most about Leslie, his ability to leap off the floor. He flirted with Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke, but eventually ended up in his hometown at N.C. State, where he’s the focal point of the offense.

Because of his height and the ability to play both the 3 and the 4, Leslie was on many draft lists, but chose to come back to school. Still, he looks like he may be another NBA lottery pick for T of C alums.

Will Sheehey's athleticism definitely translated to the Big 10.

Will Sheehey

T of C school: Sagemont (Weston, Fla.) 2009
College: Indiana sophomore
2011-12 NCAA stats: 10.7 points, 3.3 rebounds (16 games)

When at the T of C co-starring with Fab Melo, Sheehey injured his foot, but still gave a glimpse into his hoops future. He was going to be a slasher with the ability to dunk on anyone at any time. The questions about his game all revolved around his jump shot and its range, or lacktherof.

He’s answered a lot of questions with his ability to play at a high level and on a team that’s ahead of schedule with its rebuilding process that’s already beaten the No. 1 ranked (Kentucky) and No. 2 ranked (Ohio State) teams. Sheehey has missed the last 6 games with a leg injury, but is closer to returning according to this report.

He gained Internet fame last season when he made SportsCenter’s top 10 with this dunk. Yes, it’s sick and is worth popping up those YouTube numbers. He did plenty of it here at the T of C.

Trae Golden is turning into the star we all thought he'd be — and he's doing it for Cuonzo Martin. Small world.

Trae Golden

T of C school: McEachern (Ga.) 2009
College: Tennessee sophomore
2010-11 NCAA stats: 14.6 points, 5.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds per game (15 games)

Golden was always a great interview, but some were skeptical of how high his Division I ceiling was. Sure, he could handle and make shots, but could he be a star?

So far, so good. He’s the Vols leading scorer and dropped 17 pounds under the watch of former MSU coach Cuonzo Martin. You know Martin saw Golden when McEachern was here in the T of C. I wonder what he thought then, and after Golden beat MSU with two free throws at the beginning of the 2010-11 season…

Golden has already been named the SEC player of the week once and his 5.3 assists lead the league.

Ian Miller is off to a fast start for FSU after missing the first semester.

Ian Miller

T of C school: United Faith Christian Academy (Charlotte, NC), 2010
College: Florida State
2011-12 NCAA stats: 13.8 points, 2.5 rebounds per game (15 games)

Miller was an underrated player at the T of C, with a ton of handle and savvy, but never a lot of vertical. He wasn’t an overly highly recruited player, but was figured to be solid at Florida State. It turns out, he’s much more valuable than that.

Even though FSU isn’t living up to early expectation, it may be because the team was without Miller. He sat out the first semester for unspecified reasons, but in four games is the ‘Noles’ leading scorer at 13.8 points per game, a number even higher than former McDonald’s All-American Michael Snaer. FSU is known for its defense, but Miller is providing the offense.

Korie Lucious has had an up-and-down Spartan career.

Korie Lucious

T of C school: Rufus King (Milwaukee, Wisc.), 2005
College: Michigan State
2010-11 NCAA stats: 7.0 points, 3.9 assists (15 games)

Though only 5-foot-11, many thought Lucious fit Michigan State coach Tom Izzo’s mold of the shorter, yet stronger and quick point guard. Sure, he’s been stuck behind star Kalin Lucas, but when Lucas went down during last year’s NCAA Tournament, Lucious became a star.

He was the one that hit the big 3 to beat Maryland in the NCAA Tournament, staving off elimination. And recently, he hit another buzzer-beating 3 to beat Big 10 foe Wisconsin.

Rufus King’s team wasn’t overly special, but Lucious has become a steady, if not clutch Division I player. Unfortunately, Lucious fell out of favor with Izzo and announced he’s transferring to Iowa State for his senior season. He’s sitting out this year, but will be eligible for the 2012-13 season.

Other active college players

• Verdell Jones, Indiana, sr. — The slender wonder out of Champaign (Ill.) Central is a senior leader for the upstart Hoosiers. He’s averaging 8.7 points, 3.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game, and he had the game-winning assist in Indiana’s win over then-top ranked Kentucky this season.
• Ferrakohn Hall, Memphis, jr. — After being recruited out of White Station (Memphis, Tenn.) to attend Seton Hall, the 6-9 Hall transferred back home to Memphis. He became eligible in mid-December and is currently averaging 4.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 21.4 minutes.
• E.J. Singler, Oregon, jr. — While his brother went on to Duke and national fame, the younger E.J. Singler has emerged as Oregon’s second-leading scorer at 12.8 points, adding a team-high 5.3 rebounds per game. The Singlers played at South Medford (Ore.) in 2007.
• Rakeem Buckles, Louisville, jr. — A big-bodied post player for Monsignor Pace (Fla.), Buckles has seen his minutes dwindle with Rick Pitino. In just 14.0 minutes per game, Buckles is averaging 4.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
• Anthony Booker, Iowa State, jr. — Considered a recruiting coup for Chris Lowery and Southern Illinois, Booker decided to transfer to Iowa State. He sat out last season, but is averaging 11.4 minutes per game, scoring 4.0 points and grabbing 2.5 rebounds per game.
• Ray Shipman, Florida — Shipman is doing something not many do. He played two seasons at the University of Florida as a basketball guard, but transferred to Central Florida to play linebacker. And he’s doing well, finishing 7th in the team in tackling and grabbing an interception.
• Chris Jones, Northwest Florida State (juco), fr. — The self-proclaimed Chris Jones Show, who wowed crowds as the 2011 MVP, was dismissed from Oak Ridge Military Academy not long after the T of C and didn’t qualify at Tennessee, where he originally committed. He’s currently average 16 points per game for NWFS.
• Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia, fr. — The underrated and versatile Brogdon was one of our favorites last year for Greater Atlanta Christian (T of C ’11). He’s averaging 6.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 21.9 minutes per game for an upstart Cavalier team.
• Avery Dingman, Creighton, fr. — The Branson native proved he belonged with elite D-I competition, putting on a show for the Pirates last season in the T of C (’11). He’s seeing limited minutes with the nationally ranked Creighton Blue Jays at 7.1 minutes per game.
• Jacob Lawson, Purdue, fr. — Chris Jones’ athletic frontcourt friend, Lawson did not get redshirted by a young Purdue team and is averaging 14.9 minutes per game. He’s averaging 3.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
• Mike Shaw, Illinois, fr. — Highly recruited out of De La Salle in Chicago (T of C, ’11), Shaw has struggled to get playing time for a mediocre Illini squad. He’s averaging 8.3 minutes and saw only 3 minutes against Nebraska on Jan. 7.
• Bruce English, Loyola Marymount, fr. — A solid piece for LaVerne, Cal. (T of C, ’11), English is averaging 8.3 minutes for the Lions. Averages: 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds.
• Kadeem Green, Mizzou/transfer, fr. — A 6-foot-8 forward for United Faith Christian Academy (T of C, ’10), Green recently announced he’s transferring from Mizzou to be closer to home.

For a list of former D-I players who never made it to the NBA, click here and go to History and NCAA Alumni List. Thansk to Patrick Dailey and BassProTofC.com for the research help.

Bass Pro T of C matchups, courtesy BassProTofC.com

The pairings for the 2012 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions were released this morning, and provide the platform for what is the Ozarks top yearly basketball event on Jan. 12-14.

For more information, check back for our Ultimate Tournament of Champions Guide which is the premier piece of T of C research, as well as the rest of our T of C coverage.

Here are the matchups for the tournament at JQH Arena.

First-round
St. Rita (Chicago, Ill.) and Miller Grove (Ga.), 5 p.m.
Hillcrest vs. Lincoln (San Diego, Cal.), 6:30 p.m.
Sylvan Hills (Ark.) vs. Christ the King, 8 p.m.
Glendale vs. Westbury Christian (Houston, Texas), 9:30 p.m.

Day 2 times are 5, 6:30, 8 and 9:30 p.m.

Day 3 times
Seventh-place game, 2 p.m.
Fifth-place game, 3:30 p.m.
Third-place game, 5 p.m.
Championship game, 6:30 p.m.

DGB wins the tip for Hillcrest, photo by Kyle Green, BakedFreshDaily.com

The info:

Day 3 Results, Day 4 Schedule

The Live Blogs

Championship Bracket Semifinals
Consolation Bracket Semifinals
Championship Bracket Quarterfinals
Blue Division, First Round
Gold Division, First Round

The photos

[[Show as slideshow]]

The Dunks

DGB freaks a jamwich
Video by Kyle Green, BakedFreshDaily.com

Kameron Bundy brings the thundy
video by Kyle Green, BakedFreshDaily.com

‘crest oop to DGB
video by Brett Johnston

Kam (Bundy) Yam
video by Brett Johnston

Republic's Nick Yocum game-winner to the cup, photo by Brett Johnston

The Big Finish

Nick Yocum’s game-winner for Republic

Nixa's Kam Bundy is the man.

If you missed our Live Blog from the winner’s bracket, click here.

If you missed our Live Blog from the consolation bracket, click here.

If you missed Nixa senior Kam Bundy’s legendary dunk against Rogersville, click here.

Or, just watch here.

Wednesday’s scores

Blue Division
(1) Nixa 54, (4) Rogersville 43
(2) Kickapoo 52, (6) Morrisville 29

Gold Division
(1) Hillcrest 77, Ozark 67
(3) Republic 45, (2) Marshfield 43

Thursday’s schedule

At Hammons Student Center
Blue Division Consolation Final
Lebanon vs West Plains, 12:30 p.m.

Gold Division Consolation Final
Hartville vs Greenwood, 2 p.m.

At JQH Arena
Blue Division Third-place game
(6) Morrisville vs (4) Rogersville, 4 p.m.

Gold Division Third-place game
(5) Ozark vs (2) Marshfield, 5:30pm

Gold Division Championship
(1) Hillcrest vs (2) Republic, 7 pm

Blue Division Championship
(1) Nixa vs (2) Kickapoo, 8:30 pm

Blue Consolation

Lebanon vs Branson 9:30am
West Plains vs Willow Springs 11:00am (Approximate)

Gold Consolation

Hartville vs Reeds Spring 12:30pm (Approximate)
Ava vs Greenwood 2:00pm (Approximate)

Follow along at home by clicking the link to launch the Cover it Live Blogging Window!

Ozark pulled off a stunning win, making coach Steve Hunter the most wins in Blue and Gold Tournament history. Photo: Kyle Green/BakedFreshDaily.com

Here is a collection of our coverage from Tuesday’s second round of the Blue and Gold Tournament at Missouri State University.

BLUE DIVISION

(1) Nixa 107, Buffalo 42
(4) Rogersville 51, Bolivar 34
(2) Kickapoo 78, (7) Strafford 53
(6) Morrisville 51, (3) Willard 42

GOLD DIVISION

(1) Hillcrest 68, Conway 45
(5) Ozark 58, (4) Mount Vernon 56
(2) Marshfield 61, (7) Spokane 20
(3) Republic 62, (6) Fair Grove 32

If you missed our Live Blog from the winner’s bracket, click here. We also did a Live Blog from the consolation bracket. If that interests you click here.

Otherwise, here is Wednesday’s schedule

Games at Hammons Student Center
BLUE DIVISION
(1) Nixa vs. (4) Rogersville, 4 p.m.
(2) Kickapoo vs. (6) Morrisville, 5:30 p.m.

GOLD DIVISION
(1) Hillcrest vs. (5) Ozark, 7 p.m.
(2) Marshfield vs. (3) Republic, 8:30 p.m.

You are in the right place if you’re looking for news, updates and analysis for Day 2 of the Blue and Gold Tournament. Check back for updates from both the Blue and Gold Divisions all day long. If you’re interested in the Consolation Bracket, you can follow its action by clicking here.

If you missed the results from Day 1, click here. That’s right, TAGsgf.com has everything you want to know about the Blue and Gold. Follow us on Twitter.com/tagsgf and on Facebook.com/TAGsgf.

NIxa's Austin Ruder looks to return to the Blue and Gold championship game.

For those of you wondering, here are Blue and Gold Tournament scores from Day 1 and the Day 2 schedule:

BLUE DIVISION

Buffalo 65, (8) Clever 49
(1) Nixa 100, Lebanon 45
Bolivar 83, (5) Branson 72
(4) Rogersville 76, Aurora 30
(7) Strafford 64, West Plains 44
(2) Kickapoo 51, Camdenton 43
(6) Morrisville 57, Skyline 41
(3) Willard 62, Willow Springs 36

GOLD DIVISION

(8) Conway 63, Hartville 61
(1) Hillcrest 66, Mansfield 34
(5) Ozark 82, Mountain Grove 56
(4) Mount Vernon 42, Reeds Spring 29
(7) Spokane 51, Miller 39
(2) Marshfield 48, Ava 44, OT
(6) Fair Grove 56, Crane 51
(2) Republic 49, Greenwood 27

DAY 2 SCHEDULE

BLUE DIVISION
(1) Nixa vs. Buffalo, 9:30 a.m.
(4) Rogersville vs. Bolivar, 11 a.m.
(2) Kickapoo vs. (7) Strafford, 12:30 p.m.
(3) Willard vs. (6) Morrisville, 2 p.m.

GOLD DIVISION
(1) Hillcrest vs. (8) Conway, 5 p.m.
(4) Mt. Vernon vs. (5) Ozark, 6:30 p.m.
(2) Marshfield vs. (7) Spokane, 8 p.m.
(3) Republic vs. (6) Fair Grove, 9:30 p.m.

Did you miss our Live Blogs from Round 1. Click here for a Blue Division wrap-up and here for a Gold Division summary.

Don’t miss Round 2′s Live Blog starting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Jalen Norman leads top-seeded Nixa.

Check back throughout the day to get updates from court side of the Blue Division. Also, feel free to leave comments in the CoverItLive comments section.

Glendale and Willard warm up before their Gold Division championship clash

There are few things more exciting in the Ozarks than holiday basketball tournaments, and the Blue and Gold is the king.

That’s why the TAGsgf.com crew will be posted up on the campus of Missouri State University, hawking both JQH Arena and Hammons Student Center for all four days of the Blue and Gold Tournament, Dec. 26-29, pumping out the greatest Live Blog the Ozarks can handle. Games start at 9:30 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday. If you missed the seeds and matchups, click here.

Be sure to set alarms to log on to TAGsgf.com, whether by computer, smartphone or tablet, because the TAG crew of Allen Vaughan, Brett Johnston, Kyle Green, Chris DeRosier and Coleman Mitchell will be providing TAG’s unique blend of commentary, analysis, photos, video highlights and news you can’t find anywhere else. Think of it as the best the Internet can provide — a website, Twitter feed, Facebook status updates — all rolled into one. It’s interactive, too, as you can post comments and get instant reaction, as well.

If you’ve never been a part of a TAGsgf.com Live Blog, we’ve included some links below. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season.

• 2010 Blue and Gold Final Round
• 2010 Blue and Gold – The Pictures
• 2010 Blue and Gold All-TAG Teams

Video highlights

This year’s tournament pairings

Blue Division
First-round games, Dec. 26
At Hammons Student Center

(8) Clever vs. Buffalo, 9:30 a.m.
(1) Nixa vs. Lebanon, 11 a.m.
(5) Branson vs. Bolivar, 12:30 p.m.
(4) Rogersville vs. Aurora, 2 p.m.
(7) Strafford vs. West Plains, 5 p.m.
(2) Kickapoo vs. Camdenton, 6:30 p.m.
(6) Morrisville vs. Skyline, 8 p.m.
(3) Willard vs. Willow Springs, 9 p.m.

Gold Division
First-round games, Dec. 26
At JQH Arena

(8) Conway vs. Hartville, 9:30 a.m.
(1) Hillcrest vs. Mansfield, 11 a.m.
(5) Ozark vs. Mountain Grove, 12:30 p.m.
(4) Mount Vernon vs. Reeds Spring, 2 p.m.
(7) Spokane vs. Miller, 5 p.m.
(2) Marshfield vs. Ava, 6:30 p.m.
(6) Fair Grove vs. Crane, 8 p.m.
(3) Republic vs. Greenwood, 9:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals and beyond at JQH Arena
Consolation bracket games at Hammons Student Center

Parkview's Taylor Harville

Taylor Harville is one of the most improved high school basketball players in the Ozarks. At 6-foot-7, you probably saw him playing with his back to the basket and not leaving the paint for the Parkview Vikings. But this year, he’s extended his game to the perimeter. It’s all a part of the Division I basketball plan as he will head to Taylor Harville to play at Drake University. Harville is averaging 8.8 points per game this season.

Normally, this is the part where we teast what we spoke about with Harville and introduce the video. But because of technical difficulities, we will bring you highlights from the interview.

TAGsgf.com: How has your game improved since people saw you last season?

Harville: Last year, I spent most of my time in the paint. But I’ve been including more perimeter and cutting to the basket, because that’s what I’m going to need to do at Drake because 6-7 isn’t that big there.

TAGsgf.com: How did you end up at Drake?

TH: They have the program I want to go into. … It’s nuclear physics. … I’ve always wanted to fix things and know how they work. They can help me get there. … For example, we can work on things like trying to fix the power plants (in Japan, destroyed by earthquakes.).

TAGsgf.com: Most athletes are typecast as jocks and not good at school, which is unfair, but do you ever feel like a science nerd who plays basketball? Does everyone know how smart you are?

TH: (Laughs) We all get along pretty well. I’m not that much smarter, I just like science.

TAGsgf.com: Your dad, Chris, played at Missouri State for Charlie Spoonhour. Are you an MSU fan and will it be weird to play against the Bears at Drake?

TH: No, I’m not really a big fan, so it won’t be weird. It will just be another team we need to beat.

TAGsgf.com: What do you do for fun?

TH: I like to fish. My grandpa is the one that taught me. He’s much better than I am.

TAGsgf.com: What else do you do for fun? Music? Movies?

TH: My favorite TV show is The Big Bang Theory. I really like science…

Hillcrest junior guard Austin Petrey

Most quality Class 4 or 5 programs don’t ever need to call on a freshman to start. But that’s what’s happened to Hillcrest High School guard Austin Petrey, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Thrown into starting duty as a freshman, Petry has continued to be a big part of Hillcrest’s basketball resurgence, helping the Hornets win the Class 4 championship in 2010 and another playoff berth in 2011.

But now as a junior, more is expected from the 6-foot-1 Petry than ever. Sure, Dorial Green-Beckham gets all the attention, but it’s possible Petry is the Hornets’ most important player. He’s a versatile wing who can shoot and take the ball to the bucket — he averaged 7.6 points, 2.7 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore — but is on the record in the following video as loving defense.

TAGsgf.com caught up with Petry and discussed DGB as a 4th grader, Wale and his latest prank, one that involves free water and drive-thru windows.

Nixa's Austin Ruder looks to return to the Blue and Gold championship game.

The 66th Blue and Gold Tournament is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 26 to Thursday, Dec. 29, and the seeds were released this morning for the area’s top holiday high school basketball tournament.

Blue Division

1. Nixa
2. Kickapoo
3. Willard
4. Rogersville
5. Branson
6. Morrisville
7. Strafford
8. Clever

Gold Division

1. Hillcrest
2. Marshfield
3. Republic
4. Mount Vernon
5. Ozark
6. Fair Grove
7. Spokane
8. Conway

The Blue Division plays its first round at Hammons Student Center and the Gold Division plays its first round at JQH Arena. But in a new twist, all second-round and semifinals will be played at JQH. Why? Because the B&G is introducing a losers’ consolation bracket. All of those games will be played at Hammons Student Center.

Here are the matchups:

Blue Division
First-round games, Dec. 26
At Hammons Student Center

• (8) Clever vs. Buffalo, 9:30 a.m.
• (1) Nixa vs. Lebanon, 11 a.m.
• (5) Branson vs. Bolivar, 12:30 p.m.
• (4) Rogersville vs. Aurora, 2 p.m.
• (7) Strafford vs. West Plains, 5 p.m.
• (2) Kickapoo vs. Camdenton, 6:30 p.m.
• (6) Morrisville vs. Skyline, 8 p.m.
• (3) Willard vs. Willow Springs, 9 p.m.

Gold Division
First-round games, Dec. 26
At JQH Arena

• (8) Conway vs. Hartville, 9:30 a.m.
• (1) Hillcrest vs. Mansfield, 11 a.m.
• (5) Ozark vs. Mountain Grove, 12:30 p.m.
• (4) Mount Vernon vs. Reeds Spring, 2 p.m.
• (7) Spokane vs. Miller, 5 p.m.
• (2) Marshfield vs. Ava, 6:30 p.m.
• (6) Fair Grove vs. Crane, 8 p.m.
• (3) Republic vs. Greenwood, 9:30 p.m.

Don’t miss our extensive B&G coverage, including our unique Live Blogs and videos.

[[Show as slideshow]]
photos by Kyle Green (BakedFreshDaily.com) & Brett Johnston (TAGsgf.com)

The Bears led by 12 points with 12 minutes left, but failed to score in the final four minutes of the game after Oklahoma State battled back. Kyle Weems notched a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds and Jarmar Gulley scored 19 in the loss — Missouri State’s third straight defeat. Oklahoma State’s McDonald’s All-American freshman Le’Bryan Nash paced the Cowboys with 19 points.

VIDEO: Kyle Weems dunk and block against Oklahoma State