Logan Applegate - Drury University

We Are United and Yanders Law alum Logan Applegate is taking his talents across town to Drury University.

After his prolific high school career with the Nevada Tigers, Logan Applegate chose to reclassify and go the prep route, attending We Are United. This decision was based on faith in his AAU coach, Rob Yanders, who founded We Are United and has a proven track record of player development.

Once the time came to decide on a college, Applegate chose to stay in Springfield, MO, at Drury University.

“With the transfer portal and how crazy things are, me and Coach Rob decided on something close,” Applegate says. “He’s my guy. This way, I can keep working out with him and always have his voice and have him in my corner.”

Logan had an impressive high school career and showed out in his time with Yanders Law. For We Are United, he took his playmaking and well-rounded guard play to the next level.

“My biggest takeaways (from We Are United) were improvements in my individual skills as a basketball player,” Applegate says. “I was able to round out my game and perfect my craft. With Rob, I was also able to completely learn the process that goes into that.”

In addition to individual skills, Logan also says he learned much about team skills. “I got better at being a team leader and knowing how to deal with every situation,” he says. “I’ve learned a lot about every part of basketball and unwritten stuff that many don’t know about. Just raising my IQ about the game.”

Already declared as an accounting major, Logan admits he is currently locked in on Drury basketball.

“Right now, I am getting to know the coaches,” Applegate says. “We haven’t practiced yet, but there have been open runs, and I’m learning offensive and defensive systems. I’m figuring out what I can do to help the team win and how to be a system player that can make it happen.”

Wanting to win and doing anything it takes is what Logan’s new coaches and teammates can expect out of him.

“I will be a team-first guy,” Applegate says. “A quality I have tried to make evident over my years playing is that I try to make everyone better when I’m on the floor.”

His passion for the game and dedication to his craft have already carried Logan a long way. These qualities do not just disappear, so Drury Panther fans can expect a hard-working young man that will not stop improving. We wish him luck this season!

Zach Howell - UW-Milwaukee

Rob Yanders’ top high school player in Southwest Missouri last season, Zach Howell, is headed to UW-Milwaukee to continue his hoops career.

Springfield Catholic and Yanders Law alumni Zach Howell made his mark in Southwest Missouri and is ready for his next chapter. When asked if he was apprehensive about moving away to attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he simply said: “Honestly, not really.”

“I have been wanting to start this new chapter for a while,” Howell says. “Of course, I have a bunch of relationships back home, but I am ready for something new.”

Howell has already been in Wisconsin for about a week and is enjoying the fruits of his lengthy recruitment process.

“(My recruitment) started with SIUe the summer after my sophomore year,” Howell recalls. I didn’t have much else going even through my junior season, but I just stayed focused and worked hard. I had a visit to Texas Tech but still not a lot going on. My senior season was tough. With the weird COVID year and then also the portal… there are only like 3,000 D1 spots, but I stayed patient, kept my head down, and kept working.”

Howell then visited the campus at UW Milwaukee and was offered to play D1 hoops. He knew “right away” that is where he wanted to be.

“I had a visit with Northwest Missouri State the day before,” Howell recalls. “Then I visited (UW-Milwaukee’s) campus with Rob (Yanders), played with the guys a bit, and talked with Coach (Bart) Lundy afterward. I could tell he was a good coach but also a good person. After that talk, I went back with Rob, Sly (Yanders), and my Mom, discussed everything, and we found that there was no wavering in my decision. So, I made up my mind right there.”

This summer, Zach has his game to the grindstone as always. We at The Basketball Movement know that he is a complete gym rat.

“Defense is the thing I most want to get better at, mostly on-ball,” Howell says. “Also ball-handling, shooting, finishing… I’m trying to work on all facets.”

Asked about the takeaways from high school and AAU he will use the most, Howell delivered an answer we would expect out of one of our most frequent visitors.

“What I have relied on is hard work,” Howell says. “You cannot cheat getting better. I keep my head down and stay in the gym. High school and AAU are very different. The next level is really a combo of both. There is a higher level of competition in AAU but more organization in high school. College is both but elevated.”

If any player is ready for elevated play, it is Zach Howell. He does not take his time on the hardwood for granted, has worked for what he has, and will relentlessly work to keep improving.

Off the court, he will spend his first year or so taking gen-ed courses and getting a feel for the direction his education will head. Zach is a winner, and we have no doubt he will succeed in all areas of his exciting new journey!

Anton Brookshire - Iona

Another Yanders Law alumni to enter the NCAA transfer portal, Anton Brookshire, has made his selection.

Originally from Milwaukee, Anton Brookshire made quite the splash as a high schooler in Missouri at Kickapoo. His play earned him the opportunity to play for Mizzou in his first NCAA season. From there, as so many others have done, he entered the transfer portal.

The Basketball Movement caught up with Brookshire and asked about his experience in the portal.

“Honestly, it was pretty smooth,” Brookshire says. “It was a process of patience. Sometimes you are hearing from a different coach every day, but other times you would have several days of quiet. I had guys like Rob (Yanders, Brookshire’s uncle) in my corner, so I never lost hope. It is a tough process but a good process.”

Brookshire announced on social media that he made the decision to play for legendary Head Coach Rick Pitino at Iona. The decision takes Anton out of the Midwest part of the country for the first time in his hoops career as he heads to New York.

“After talking with family, Uncle Rob, going on visits… the coaching staff (at Iona) treated me in a way that felt like home,” Brookshire says. “I went to dinner with some of the players and learned a lot. Having a Hall of Fame coach like Coach Rick makes me know I can reach my goals and that it’ll be a good fit for me.”

Overall, Anton is ready to embrace the move across the country, as he can stay connected with those he is leaving behind through technology. “I’m excited about it,” Brookshire says. “Getting here, getting to work, and being around these guys is exciting. I’m ready to try out getting away from home - it is actually pretty easy to stay in contact with family through Facetime and stuff.”

Brookshire has already been in New York for about a month. Practice has not started, but he can complete individual workouts and start applying his knowledge earned at The Basketball Movement and the experience he gained at Mizzou.

“I was blessed by the opportunity to be under the coaches’ wings at Mizzou and learn for a year,” Brookshire says. “I learned how to deal with each day and be consistent. I learned to never take a day for granted, and I am thankful for my time at Mizzou.”

That consistency applies to Anton’s work ethic, which he notes his new coaches and teammates can always expect from him.”I’ll bring energy and be a guy that’s the same whether I’m playing or not playing,” Brookshire says. “I will be a great leader and hopefully bring some wins. They had a great season and were close to the tournament last year. We all want to make it, so that is goal number one.”

Anton says that classes are going well too. He was a Sports Management major his freshman year, but with that program not offered at Iona, he is currently undecided.

One of the premier student-athletes to come out of our area in a while and an all-time-great Yanders Law alum, we will be rooting for Brookshire as he continues his journey. Good luck this upcoming season, Anton!

Isaac Haney - Northwestern State

Another SW MO standout and Yanders Law alum commits to a new school - Isaac Haney is headed to Northwestern State.

Isaac Haney torched the prep scene in Missouri and traveling with Yanders Law around the country. During his first year in the NCAA, he was an impactful player for a solid Missouri State squad. When he decided to enter the transfer portal, he admittedly did not know quite what to expect.

“It was definitely all very new,” Haney tells The Basketball Movement. “I had not spoken to anyone that had personally done it. I talked with family and all my supporters, people like Rob (Yanders) that are closest to me. Like anything else, you just take it as it comes. It felt kind of like my sophomore and junior seasons (in high school) getting recruited all over again.”

During his time playing for Missouri State, Haney came away with a wealth of experience as he continues to grow with the game he has always loved.

“I learned how to adjust to the college game,” Haney says. “It is a bit like in high school when you come in as a freshman but get to play varsity against guys that may be three or four years older than you. Getting recruited is tough enough, but then you’re back to playing older dudes again.”

Isacc says that the best thing to come out of his year with MSU was becoming more physically equipped to play at the college level.

Asked how he decided to play for Northwestern State, Haney gives a nod to his new head coach and a desire to continue the winning ways he has been accustomed to throughout his career.

“I had to take a step back and think about what was best for me and my future,” Haney says. “I also have a great relationship with Coach (Corey) Gipson. He’s about what I’m about - winning most of all. (Northwestern) is a smaller school, but we’ll be able to compete with whoever we play.”

Moving over 400 miles to Louisiana will be a big transition for the prolific guard, but it is really just one more challenge for Haney to conquer as he always has.

“(Moving so far) is not what I would probably call ideal,” Haney says. “But, I am excited and thankful." The town is smaller and actually feels like home at West Plains. Even if it is not ideal, I am more excited than nervous.”

Haney is majoring in business administration and is choosing to emphasize financial planning. His GPA is sitting around 3.9 after his first year in school, and he seems to have a hang of being a collegiate student-athlete."

“It’s been nice,” Haney says. “I owe a lot to academic advisors in my corner, giving me the tools to be stress-free in the classroom.”

New school, same “Ice” Haney on the hardwood and in the classroom. The Basketball Movement and #LawNation will back Isaac in all his endeavors - he earned Rob Yanders’ stamp of approval long ago. He keeps getting better, and we are excited to see what he does for the Northwestern program. Good luck, Isaac!

Transfer portal talk with Rob Yanders

Rob Yanders breaks down what the transfer portal is as well as the pros and cons.

Many familiar names have recently entered the NCAA transfer portal. Former high school stars from the area (and Yanders Law alumni) such as Anton Brookshire, Trevon Brazile, and Monty Johal are among the players to test the waters. But, what exactly is the transfer portal?

Rob Yanders breaks down what the transfer portal offers to collegiate athletes:

“Having the transfer portal means players can explore their options as student-athletes,” Yanders says. “They maintain their option to return to their current school, but also explore other avenues.”

Yanders says that since gaining national momentum over the last two years, the transfer portal has helped AND hurt players' situations.

“College coaches have been able to use transfers to get more experienced players,” Yanders says. “That is a very appealing option for coaches on the ‘chopping block.’ Generally, those hurt the most are high school seniors. Unless you are 6’10 250 or a clear-cut, top-100 player, it is getting tougher. Middling players are having a tougher time getting exposure.”

“For guys like Anton and Trevon, it could be great coming from a power five conference,” Yanders says. “With their experience, they could move up the food change or make a great mid-major splash.” Since discussing with Yanders, Brazile has already committed to Arkansas, who made plenty of noise this year during March Madness.

Yanders says that the scary part of the transfer portal is not always being allowed to return to your current team.

“It has been interesting,” Yanders says. “There could be 2,000 players in the transfer portal this year, and not every player will even make it out. It is all about betting on yourself. Coaches may choose to fill the void you are leaving ‘just in case.’”

Congratulations to Trevon Brazile on finding a fit! Good luck to those players remaining in the portal, as well as all incoming players that are now competing with a larger player pool than ever. College hoops is getting more interesting all the time, and we will always be rooting for our local guys and gals.

Stay tuned to The Basketball Movement Exclusive for continued insight from Yanders and news from around our corner of the world of hoops.