College – Page 366 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Kansas State men’s basketball signs St. Louis prep Xavier Sneed

Posted on November 11, 2015November 12, 2015

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber announced the signing of high school standout Xavier Sneed (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central) on the first day of the Fall National Signing Period on Wednesday.

A 6-foot-5, 180-pound small forward, Sneed is considered one of the Top 150 prep players in the country, according to most recruiting services, ranking No. 92 in the Rivals150 and No. 140 by 247Sports. He is considered one of the top small forward prospects nationally, ranking No. 21 by Scout and No. 31 by 247Sports. He is also rated a Top 5 recruit in the state of Missouri, including No. 2 by Scout and No. 3 by 247Sports.

“We have had our attention on Xavier since we arrived here (in 2012) and (associate head coach) Chris (Lowery) has done a great job with his recruitment,” said Weber. “He is an elite athlete who has developed into a standout on both the football field and basketball court and would’ve been a high-level prospect in either sport. As a basketball player, he is a slasher who excels at not only driving to the rim, but has also developed into a very good 3-point shooter. Since giving up football, he has spent a considerable amount of time honing his basketball skills. He has tremendous upside and the ability to be a high-level defender.”

Sneed has helped Hazelwood Central to 46 wins the past two seasons, including back-to-back Suburban XII North titles, while he has enjoyed tremendous success playing for the St. Louis Eagles U17 team, which lost in the championship game of the 24-team Peach Jam Tournament this summer. The Peach Jam is the season-ending tournament for Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League. The Eagles, who count current NBA players Bradley Beal, Tyler Hansbrough and David Lee as alums, could produce as many as four Division I signees in 2016.

“Xavier is not only a great young man and student, but he comes from a great family,” said Weber. “He has had the opportunity to play for one of the best high school programs in the state of Missouri – Hazelwood Central – as well as one of the top AAU programs in the St. Louis Eagles. He is a tremendous addition to our basketball team.”

Sneed is the first St. Louis area signee since current junior D.J. Johnson (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North) in 2012.

— K-State Athletics —

Nebraska inks Barstow senior Jeriah Horne to National Letter of Intent

Posted on November 11, 2015November 12, 2015

Lincoln – Nebraska men’s basketball coach Tim Miles announced Wednesday that Jeriah Horne (Overland Park, Kan.) has signed a National Letter-of-Intent to attend the University of Nebraska and play basketball for the Huskers beginning in the 2016-17 season.

Horne, who is ranked among the top 150 players by Rivals.com, is a two-time first-team all-state pick and continues Nebraska’s run of players from the Kansas City metro area, a region which has produced current Husker starters Shavon Shields and Benny Parker.

“Jeriah is a physical player with excellent skill and his basketball IQ is outstanding,” Miles said. “He finds a way to be extremely productive as both a scorer and rebounder, but also allows for his team to be successful at the same time. He has experienced great success at both the high school and AAU levels, and knows how to win. I believe he will be a very good player for us and has the opportunity to contribute immediately.”

Horne attends The Barstow (Mo.) School and is one of the top players in the Midwest region. He is rated No. 129 nationally by Rivals and is listed by a three-star recruit by Scout, Rivals and 247 Sports. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward led Barstow to a 29-2 record and the Missouri Class 3 State title as a junior, averaging 20.1 points and 10 rebounds per game for Coach Billy Thomas. A first-team Class 3 selection and a second-team all-state (all classes) performer as a junior, Horne had 33 points in the state quarterfinals and finished his season with 19 points and 10 rebounds in the state title game. He was also a first-team All-Metro selection by the Kansas City Star as a junior.

Horne, who moved to the Kansas City area prior to his sophomore season, turned in an impressive first season at Barstow, averaging 25 points and 11 rebounds in leading the school to a 27-3 record and a state runner-up finish. For his efforts, he was a first-team Class 3 selection and a second-team all-metro choice by the KC Star. Horne played his AAU ball for L.J. Goolsby.

Horne, who was born in Dayton, Ohio, comes from a basketball background as his father, Jerrell, played at Memphis during the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons. Jeriah is the son of Tashannah and Jerrell Horne, and choose Nebraska over Kansas State, Wichita State, Pepperdine and DePaul.

— NU Athletics —

Missouri Western volleyball sweeps Northwest Missouri State

Posted on November 10, 2015

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western volleyball team needed just three sets to win the first of three matches in the final week of the 2015 regular season. Missouri Western battled through the first two sets then controlled the third for a 3-0 win over Northwest Missouri State Thursday inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The Griffons had to rally to take set one 25-22 then hung on to win an epic 31-29 second set. Missouri Western saw a 20-13 lead erased in the second set as Northwest scored seven unanswered to tie the set at 20. Northwest would take a 22-21 lead before Missouri Western scored three straight to reach set point. From there, the back-and-forth final points were on as each team reached match point three times before Missouri Western claimed the second set.

The Griffons took control early in the third set and never relinquished, winning the set 25-18 and the match, 3-0 to improve to 21-7 overall and 12-4 in the MIAA. Shellby Taylor led Missouri Western with 11 kills and Ashley Mainord chipped in 10. Rachel Friedrichs had eight kills while Blair Russell and Joran Chohon each had six. Chohon hit .375 for Missouri Western, led the team with 33 assists and finished the night with nine digs. Kayla Ruff again paced the Griffons with 17 digs, while Audrey Keim added 11.

The match featured 12 ties and eight lead changes, including six lead changes in the second set alone. Missouri Western stays at home for Senior Night when No. 13 Central Missouri visits the fieldhouse on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. Seniors Jordan Chohon, Lindsey Patridge and Jessie Thorup will be honored that night. The team will also wear throwback uniforms and fans are encouraged to join in the throwback theme.

— MWSU Athletics —

Kansas rolls to 95-59 exhibition win over Fort Hays State

Posted on November 10, 2015November 10, 2015

LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 4/5 Kansas men’s basketball concluded exhibition play with a 95-59 victory over Fort Hays State on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks shot 60 percent from the field with five players reaching double-figure points. KU, 2-0 in exhibition play, drained 10 3-point baskets en route to the 10th straight victory over Fort Hays State.

“Svi for three!” was announced five times over the Allen Fieldhouse public-address speakers as the sophomore guard, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, finished with 15 points all from 3-point field goals.

Senior forward Perry Ellis led the Jayhawks in scoring for the second time during exhibition play with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting in 24 minutes. Junior guard Frank Mason III dished out six assists with no turnovers while adding 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting in 23 minutes.

Fort Hays State (0-2 exhibition) was led by Dom Samac’s 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting in 22 minutes.

Kansas begins the 2015-16 regular-season against Northern Colorado on Friday (7 p.m.) at Allen Fieldhouse in the opening round of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational.

— KU Athletics —

Tigers picked sixth in preseason SEC women’s basketball coaches poll

Posted on November 10, 2015

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball was picked to finish sixth in the Southeastern Conference in a vote of the league’s coaches. The selection is the highest preseason ranking for the Tigers since joining the SEC. Junior forward Jordan Frericks (Quincy, Ill.) was voted second-team Preseason All-SEC.

Mizzou received 94 total votes and each coach also voted for an eight-player All-SEC first-team, second-team and Player of the Year.

Frericks earned second-team All-SEC honors last season after leading the team with 13.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. She led the SEC in rebounding, finished fifth in blocks, 11th in scoring and 12th in steals.

South Carolina was predicted to repeat as league champion and Gamecocks senior guard Tiffany Mitchell was named SEC Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Tennessee was picked second, followed by Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Kentucky.

SEC Coaches Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
1. South Carolina
2. Tennessee
3. Texas A&M
4. Mississippi State
5. Kentucky
6. Missouri
7. Ole Miss
8. Arkansas
9. Georgia
10. LSU
11. Vanderbilt
12. Florida
13. Auburn
14. Alabama

— Mizzou Athletics —

Mizzou’s Tyler Hunt honored as Burlsworth Trophy nominee

Posted on November 10, 2015November 10, 2015

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football senior RB Tyler Hunt (Huntsville, Mo.) has been named a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, as announced by the Burlsworth Trophy and the Springdale, (Ark.) Rotary Club on Tuesday (Nov. 10). The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on. Hunt is one of 55 players on the list and one of eight SEC players.

The Westran High School product has 139 yards on 20 rushing attempts and has also hauled in five catches for 201 yards, the latter of which is the third-best on the team. He is also responsible for Mizzou’s four longest plays from scrimmage this season, including a 72-yard run vs. Mississippi State and a 78-yard TD catch in the opener vs. SEMO.

The Trophy is named in honor of former University of Arkansas Walk-On and All-American offensive lineman, Brandon Burlsworth. Without one D1 scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of Arkansas in 1994. He became a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998. Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft, but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. The Burlsworth Foundation was created in his memory and supports the physical and spiritual needs of children, in particular those children who have limited opportunities.

Springdale Rotary Club will host an awards ceremony on Dec. 7th in Springdale, Ark., to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2015 winner.

Hunt and the Tigers will host BYU at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., this Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Missouri football to resume normal activities, will play BYU on Saturday

Posted on November 9, 2015November 9, 2015

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — University of Missouri officials say the football team will resume its regular activities following the resignation of the university system president.

Athletics Director Mack Rhoades and head football coach Gary Pinkel said in a joint statement that the team will resume practicing Tuesday, as it typically does.

The announcement came hours after university system President Tim Wolfe said he was stepping down amid criticism over his administration’s handling of racial issues.

Black student groups that complained for months about Wolfe’s leadership got a big boost over the weekend when 30 black football players said they wouldn’t take part in team activities until Wolfe was gone.

Pinkel sent a tweet of support for his protesting players on Sunday.

Missouri plays BYU at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

— Associated Press —

Mizzou women roll to exhibition win against Quincy

Posted on November 9, 2015November 9, 2015

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Senior twin sisters Maddie Stock (Town & Country, Mo.) and Morgan Stock (Town & Country, Mo.) combined to score 32 points and drained nine 3-pointers in a 97-54 exhibition victory over Quincy on Monday evening at Mizzou Arena. As a team, the Tigers grabbed 15 steals and dished out 20 assists.

“I thought we moved the ball really well and our shot selection was outstanding,” head coach Robin Pingeton said. “I’m proud of our kids, and for the most part, I was very pleased with the first two exhibition games.”

Mizzou outscored the Lady Hawks 40-14 in the paint and 62-12 in bench points. Maddie Stock finished with a game-high 17 points, including five 3-pointers in eight attempts. She also had a game-best five assists. Morgan Stock added 15 points, including four triples. Freshman Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) added 15 points with three steals.

Lianna Doty (St. Louis, Mo.) made her first start since returning from an injury that sidelined her last year and scored 13 points on 4-for-5 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 mark from long range. Bri Porter (Columbia, Mo.) also scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds in reserve action. Jordan Frericks (Quincy, Ill.) recorded game-highs with eight rebounds and four steals.

For the night, Mizzou shot 60 percent (37-for-62) from the floor, 52 percent (14-for-27) from 3-point range and 69 percent (9-for-13) from the foul line.

Anika Webster led Quincy with 15 points while Kara Gerbus added 14 points. The Lady Hawks were limited by the Mizzou defense to a 35 percent (18-for-52) shooting mark from the floor.

Mizzou begins the regular season on Friday with a 7:05 p.m. CT tipoff at Missouri State. The game will be streamed live on ESPN3.

— Mizzou Athletics —

K-State women’s basketball team rallies past Pitt State for exhibition win

Posted on November 9, 2015November 9, 2015

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State women’s basketball team overcame a sluggish offensive performance on Monday night to complete its exhibition schedule unbeaten with a 58-50 win over Pittsburg State.

K-State’s Kindred Wesemann led all scorers with 23 points and four steals, while Breanna Lewis chipped in with 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks.

In the first half, K-State went without a field goal for the final 7:33 of the opening quarter, as Pitt State held a 15-9 lead after the first.

The Wildcats recorded an 11-0 run to open the second quarter to take a 20-15 lead with 5:23 to play. Bri Craig scored seven of the 11 points during the run.

The Gorillas ended the half on a 7-2 run to close to within 25-24 at the break.

Pitt State continued its run into the second half, opening with an 8-0 run to jump into its largest lead of the night, 32-25, with 6:37 to play in the third quarter. The Wildcats started the second stanza by shooting 0-of-7 from the field.

Wesemann helped bring K-State back into the game, scoring seven straight points to narrow the deficit to 38-34 with 5:33 to play in the third quarter.

Wesemann would score 11 of K-State’s 15 points in the third quarter, as the Wildcats would take a 40-38 lead at the end of the third. K-State’s defense stiffened, holding the Gorillas to six points for the remainder of the third quarter and scoreless for the final 4:45 of the frame.

K-State was able to keep Pitt State at a margin of six in the early stages of the fourth quarter. The Gorillas narrowed the game to three points twice, 49-46 and 53-50.

With under a minute to play, Wesemann drained a three-point field goal and Lewis converted a fast break layup for the final margin of victory.

The Wildcats open the 2015-16 non-conference portion of its schedule on Friday, Nov. 13, at Tulsa at 7 p.m. The game can be heard on the K-State Sports Network and for free at kstatesports.com.

— K-State Athletics —

Missouri State to retire jersey of coaching great Bill Thomas

Posted on November 9, 2015November 9, 2015

SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State University Director of Athletics Kyle Moats announced today that a ceremonial jersey will be retired on Dec. 10 to honor legendary men’s basketball coach Bill Thomas.

The basketball Bears entertain IUPUI at 7:05 p.m., on Dec. 10 with Thomas’ jersey to be revealed during halftime ceremonies.

Thomas’ legacy on the Springfield campus shaped the landscape of Bears’ basketball for nearly three decades as a player, assistant coach and most notably as head coach of the Bears for three trips to the NCAA Division II championship game. He became the head coach of the Bears in 1964 when long-time coach Eddie Matthews passed away. Over the next 16 seasons, the Buffalo, Mo., native directed Missouri State to eight MIAA basketball titles, more than any other coach in league history.

The Bears won or tied for the conference championship five straight years from 1966 to 1970 and finished second in the NCAA Division II tournament in 1967, 1969 and 1974.

Thomas compiled a 16-year coaching mark of 265 wins and 158 losses, twice was honored as NABC District Coach of the Year and in 1974 was named the College Division National Coach of the Year by the NABC.

He was also a three-year starter at the guard position for the Bears after he came to the Springfield campus in 1950 as a transfer from Westminster College. The 1951 Bears were the MIAA conference runners-up and went on to win league titles the next two seasons. Both of those Bears clubs went through district NAIA playoffs and a grueling five-game endurance test to win back-to-back NAIA national championships in 1952 and 1953.

Thomas was a two-time all-conference selection and gained NAIA All-America honors in 1953.

He later returned to Missouri State as an assistant coach in 1956 under Matthews and was on the coaching staff in 1959 when the Bears finished as an NCAA Division II national runner-up.

Thomas will be the sixth men’s basketball representative to have a jersey retired in his honor at Missouri State, joining fellow coach Charlie Spoonhour, whose jersey was retired posthumously in 2014. Former players Winston Garland (1985-87), Daryel Garrison (1971-75), Jerry Anderson (1951-55) and Curtis Perry (1966-70) have also had their respective jerseys retired by the University.

— MSU Athletics —