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!

Kanon Gipson - Missouri State University

From Logan-Rogersville to We Are United to Missouri State University… Kanon Gipson is keeping the local hoop scene strong.

Yanders Law alumni, Kanon Gipson, is living out his childhood dream of becoming a Missouri State Bear. We have had the privilege of watching and aiding Kanon along his journey. Through Yanders Law, Logan-Rogersville, and We Are United, Kanon has transformed from a kid with a good-looking outside stroke to a leader, facilitator, and Division I collegiate talent.

“I’ve always wanted to be a Bear,” Gipson says. “So many kids around here want to do that - to play for the hometown team.” Staying local has always been ideal for Kanon, but he was close to choosing a different path.

“I was close to committing to another school,” says Gipson, who played for Rob Yanders’ We Are United prep last season. “Really (Missouri State) just fell in my lap at the right time. It was too big, too good to pass up.”

When asked about his biggest takeaways from his time with We Are United, Kanon could not help but gush a bit about his Coach, Rob Yanders.

“Where do I start with that guy,” Gipson says. “I used to think that I knew what hard work was. He showed me what hard work was and drilled it into me. With We Are United, things were really focused on teamwork and leadership. So I would say leadership and work ethic are the biggest pieces I’m taking away from Rob and The Basketball Movement.”

Currently, Kanon says he is working on his strength ahead of his first NCAA season. “We are practicing, and I’m going up against these guys and getting stronger,” Gipson says. “We are learning roles, and since we have some older players, I am able to pick their brains as well.”

Gipson, who would like to coach someday, aims to be the hardest working player on the court and one of the loudest. He knows he has his work cut out for him to be a leader as a freshman. But, he says that he is ready.

With so many players moving around through the transfer portal, Gipson has a chance to shine for a MSU squad that will need to find its identity in a hurry. He is thrilled to be a part of the Missouri State family.

“It is what I’ve dreamed of,” Gipson says. “I’m excited for my parents. (Staying local) also means that Rob and guys like Coach Craig that have helped me get to watch me. Younger kids from the area can as well and see what they can do.”

We wish Kanon luck as he continues his journey in basketball, but as he knows, skill trumps luck more often than not. He will undoubtedly keep grinding and make our area proud!

The Basketball Movement Exclusive pipeline

We are looking ahead to the very near future at what you can expect from The Basketball Movement Exclusive.

It has been a wild few weeks around The Basketball Movement. Good things have been happening, but we have also experienced an unfortunate tragedy, learning of the loss of We Are United’s Jeremiah Dotson.

The loss of Jeremiah shook The Basketball Movement family to the core, and we appreciate your patience as we have been dealing with things as we go.

As always, the basketball court has been a safe space for us, as it has been for so many of our athletes. The Yanders Law AAU program has had multiple squads traveling and competing, giving local talent the opportunity to face fierce competition from around the country.

We have been posting some Yanders Law pictures to our social sites but are getting ready to unload multiple albums worth right here on The Basketball Movement Exclusive.

Also in The Basketball Movement Exclusive pipeline are several exclusive interviews with some of the top prep players in Southwest Missouri. The hoops scene in our area is growing, and we are so excited to be able to contribute and cover it in as many ways as we can.

So, we thank you for your patience and want to remind you to check back in with us very soon as we navigate a new normal. See you on the hardwood.