Ahlante Askew - Republic

The Basketball Movement had an exclusive interview with Republic’s Ahlante Askew about his expectations and goals for the season.

A name that could be found on Rob Yanders’ 2021-22 player rankings last season, Republic high’s Ahlante Askew is poised for a big senior year. With another year of work under his belt, Ahlante should be one of the area’s top hoopers once again.

When asked which part of his game has improved the most, Askew noted some intangibles that come with experience. “I’d say I have improved keeping my head in the right place when things go wrong,” Askew says. “I was able to work on handling adversity this summer.”

For the first time since his freshman year, Ahlante also displays his athleticism under the Friday night lights for the Tigers. Of course, playing football is a great way to stay in shape, but how is Askew keeping his skills sharp?

“Luckily, I have a coach who cares,” Askew says. “Coach (Tim) Brown has been making sure I’m able to shoot before school and keep working on my game during football.”

Ahlante says that his expectation for his team is a district title, though he acknowledges that they have Kickapoo standing in the way. However, he is leaning on the preparation he and his teammates have.

“We have had a good summer,” Askew says. “Guys are ready to come in, work, and get better.”

Asked who he is looking forward to playing against, Ahlante had several squads on his mind. “Nixa - that is an exciting matchup always just because it is Republic and Nixa,” he says. “Springfield Central will be good this year and the next few years too. Bolivar is another one - that has been a personal rivalry for me since middle school.”

Ahlante knows he will have a heavy workload ahead with district title aspirations, but he is up for the challenge.

“My personal goal for the season is to do a good job leading the team,” Askew says. “I make us go; they look up to me. I’ll know I’ve done that if our team is having success.”

We look forward to seeing where Ahlante can take the Republic Tigers in his final high school season. Stay tuned to The Basketball Movement Exclusive as hoops finally ramp back up in Southwest Missouri!

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!

Brady Nicholson - Family Tradition

2024 Yanders Law G, Brady Nicholson is living up to the name that put Ash Grove basketball on the map.

6’2 shooting guard Brady Nicholson has become a pivotal piece for Yanders Law’s 16u squad. This is no surprise after the 2024 grad was listed on Rob Yanders’ list of top players in Southwest Missouri.

Basketball fans from the area may recognize the Nicholson name. Ash Grove hoops has been buoyed by Nicholsons often over the last several decades. Brady Nicholson is doing that for his squad as well.

“Oh yeah,” says Nicholson when asked if he draws inspiration from his family. “All my family has been helpers and role models. I try to be as good or better than them. I’m just trying to keep the Nicholson tradition going for Ash Grove and make it to the next level as well.”

All-Conference and All-District as a sophomore, Nicholson is already well on his way to setting an impressive legacy of his own.

Brady Nicholson has Division I basketball aspirations, which is a big part of why he currently plays for the Yanders Law 16u team. The results over the last several years are difficult to ignore, and Nicholson believes that his squad is already looking great.

“We have improved a lot from last year,” Nicholson says. “It’s already been fun and this summer will be too as we keep going and finish it out.”

Yanders Law squads play near and far to ensure local players get to face elite competition. The travel portion is an aspect that could be a nuisance to some, but Nicholson relishes it.

“I’ve been doing it for a long time, usually with a lot of these same guys,” Nicholson says. “It’s been a blast doing it with good friends. Travel is easy when you get used to it… of course, it is better when you’re winning too.”

The 16u squad has been doing some winning. Asked about his takeaways from the new level of competition, Nicholson referenced the phrase “we over me” and applauded his teammates for gelling so willingly.

“We are learning what it takes to play together; we have to to beat these teams,” Nicholson says. “We get good wins when we play together, shoot good shots, and avoid 1-on-1 ball.”

Nicholson and his teammates are getting to play for Coach Rob Yanders this year. This is a transition that seems to separate the toughest players from the pack. Brady seems up for the challenge.

“He’s awesome,” Nicholson says of Yanders. “He’ll get on to you sometimes but it to improve you as a player. His goal is to get us to the next level, and that is what we all love about him. He cares for us.”

With college aspirations, Nicholson has his goals set high. He shares our belief that he is in the right place to make it happen.

“To make it to the next level I have to trust the process and trust Coach Rob,” Nicholson says. “It has worked for past players but, of course, that doesn’t mean it’ll come easy. I have to work hard and do my best.”

Top ladies in Southwest Missouri

The Basketball Movement has its final ranking for the top girl hoopers in Southwest Missouri for 2021-22.

This has been one of the strongest crops of talent for ladies’ basketball that our area has had in a long time. Multiple D1 athletes popped up around the Ozarks, with one being a coveted recruit on a national scale.

All of the talent made ranking players difficult, but certainly, the most challenging part was having to leave off so many young ladies that are still deserving of shoutouts. The work that goes into being one of the best cannot be understated. So, we commend the below on doing what it took to stand out in a crowded season for strong girl hoopers.

Here we go:

  1. Bella Fontleroy (Kickapoo)

  2. Ashton Judd (West Plains)

  3. Kaemyn Bekemeier (Republic)

  4. Reagan McCowan (Lebanon)

  5. Breona Hurd (Waynesville)

  6. Destiny Buerge (Carl Junction)

  7. Reese Schaaf (El Dorado Springs)

  8. Riley Arnold (Blue Eye)

  9. Avery Arnold (Blue Eye)

  10. Macie Conway (Nixa)

Honorable mentions: Emma Compton (Strafford), Khloe Moad (Ash Grove), Alyssa Joyner (West Plains), Ali Kamies (Nixa), Claudia Hadlock (Miller), Tara Masten (Parkview)

Congratulations to all of the above for their fantastic seasons. We will continue watching with interest and are excited for the future of girls basketball in Southwest Missouri!

2021-22 Final player rankings

With state championships wrapped up for all boys teams in Southwest MO, Rob Yanders’ definitive top player list is here.

Winning matters. Now that all the games have been played and the dust has settled, Rob Yanders is ready to reveal his final rankings for the top boy players in Southwest, Missouri.

Over the last several installments of The Basketball Movement rankings, the names have remained largely the same, with some jockeying for position taking place. The same stays true in the final ranking, though Yanders has opted to also include some honorable mentions.

The honorable mentions range from players that just barely missed the top 10 to a few good players that may not have faced competition at the level of some of the other players (i.e., smaller schools/talent pools).

Below are Rob Yanders’ final player rankings for 2021-22:

  1. Zach Howell - Springfield Catholic

  2. Kyle Pock - Bolivar

  3. Zaide Lowery - Kickapoo

  4. Colin Ruffin - Nixa

  5. Brayden Shorter - Kickapoo

  6. Elijah Whitley - Parkview

  7. Kael Combs - Nixa

  8. Liam O’Reilly - Springfield Catholic

  9. Andrew Dalton - Ava

  10. Ahlante Askew - Republic

Honorable mentions: AK Rael (Strafford), Gaige Pitts (Thayer), Jordyn Turner (Nixa), Garrett Davault (Norwood), Tanner Jones (Greenwood), Jaret Nelson (Nixa), K’Dyn Waters (Carl Junction), Jaiden Carrasquillo (Verona), Brady Nicholson (Ash Grove), Peyton McDaris (Norwood).

That’s a wrap on the 2021-22 school seasons. We have our full rankings for girls complete as well, so stay tuned to The Basketball Movement Exclusive to see which area ladies get the nod!

Fab Five Freshmen

Rob Yanders announces his list for the Fab Five Freshmen for boys basketball in our area.

Much like our list of the Top Players in Southwest Missouri, Rob Yanders has put together a group of young men that have caught his eye this season.

Freshmen play various roles depending on school size but also based on their potential to be impact players now or in the future. Yanders is a proven talent evaluator and selected his picks based on not only current impact but potential to grow into headline names for their respective schools down the line.

These top five freshmen have been selected for their talent and potential and will be big pieces in the future of the Southwest Missouri hoop landscape:

Collin Clark - Greenwood

Brenley Hagewood - Republic

Tegan Curley - Marshfield

Peyton McDaris - Norwood

Dehrio McCaskill - Central

Getting recognized is nice, but the grind does not stop. We hope being selected means that these guys push to not only outdo each other but to become the next best player in our neck of the basketball world.

Those players NOT selected are encouraged to use this as a chip on their shoulder. Make us, and everyone else, know your name. It is up to you to put in the work required to impact varsity hoops and become a standout.

We look forward to the competition!

Keep it locked to The Basketball Movement Exclusive as teams make their state pushes, and Yanders concludes his list of the top girl players in SW MO.