The Kiddos at the Final Four
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Last weekend’s Class 4-6 State Championships in Springfield featured several talented young prospects from the Class of 2025 and 2026. These youngsters turned in some impact performances during the weekend. Prep Hoops Missouri takes a look at some of those…
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Continue ReadingLast weekend’s Class 4-6 State Championships in Springfield featured several talented young prospects from the Class of 2025 and 2026. These youngsters turned in some impact performances during the weekend. Prep Hoops Missouri takes a look at some of those top kiddos.
Kyrii Franklin Kyrii Franklin 5'6" | PG Lutheran St. Charles | 2026 State MO (Lutheran-St. Charles): A 5’4″ 2026 point guard who was a central figure in the Cougars victory over Carl Junction in the Class 5 state championship game. With her team trailing by seven points in the third quarter and struggling, she took over the game with a 10-point run to help turn the game around. She also finished the game with eight rebounds. Her quickness and tenacity on the defensive end was also huge in her team’s championship run. She displayed tremendous poise and savvy on the biggest stage.
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Neveah Caffey (Incarnate Word): The 5’9″2025 point guard was a two-way standout for the dominant Red Knights Class 6 state championship game. She had a big performance in the semifinals with a team high 18 points in the victory over Rock Bridge. She is a lock down defender with excellent instincts. When she has the ball in her hands, she is difficult to stop when she gets down hill off the dribble.
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Eliana Arumbula (Benton): The 5’6″ point guard was very impressive for the Class 4 state runners-up. In the state championship game against Vashon, she played with excellent poise and more than held her own against Vashon’s talented guards, who are future Division I players. She hit a big 3-pointer to put her team ahead to start a rally in the third quarter. She was making good decisions with the ball and handling the Wolverines intense pressure, while finishing with 19 points.
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Mari Miller Mari Miller 5'10" | SG Rock Bridge | 2025 State MO (Rock Bridge): The 5’11” 2025 wing had a very solid weekend in leading the Bruins to a runner-up finish in Class 6. She is a nice perimeter shooter from 3-point range, but over the weekend, she was able to get buckets while attacking in the lane and moving without the basketball. She scored on the drive and was able to get to the free throw line.
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Jayda Porter Jayda Porter 6'4" | C Rock Bridge | 2026 State MO (Rock Bridge): The 6’4″ 2026 forward had her best game of the weekend in the Class 6 semifinals against Eureka when she had 14 points and 10 rebounds. When she establishes her position inside, she cannot be moved off her spot. She has great hands to catch and a soft touch off the glass. She can hit perimeter shots and pass out of double teams.
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Andrea Simmons (Benton): The 5’11” 2025 displayed her versatility and overall skill set throughout the weekend as she posted double-doubles in helping her team to the Class 4 runner-up finish. She was a good secondary ball handler on the perimeter and she can also go outside and get buckets against smaller defenders. Her height and skill level made her matchup problem level throughout the weekend.
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Dezi Williams (Carl Junction): The 5’9″ 2025 is a high-energy player who was very productive on the stat sheet while making good hustle plays with her high motor. She has the size the defend taller players and rebound along with the athleticism to guard on the perimeter. She can get a bucket on the drive and on offensive putbacks. She had a nice double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the Class 5 semifinal victory over Carl Junction.
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Kennedy Stowers Kennedy Stowers 6'2" | PF Lutheran St. Charles | 2026 State MO (Lutheran-St. Charles): The 6’1″ 2026 forward had eight points and six rebounds in the Cougars victory over Carl Junction in the Class 5 state championship game. She scored what turned out to be the game winner on a layup to give Lutheran a 41-39 lead with just under a minute to play. She has good athleticism and she plays with a lot of bounce in her step on the defensive end and on the boards. She also makes good use of her length.
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Brie Rubel Brie Rubel 5'9" | PG Cape Notre Dame | 2026 State MO (Cape Notre Dame): A 5’8″ 2026 point guard who did a solid job as a playmaker and offensive player. She handled the ball well and make good decisions with the ball and she is a capable perimeter shooter from 3-point range. She did a good job of penetrating and kicking out to the open shooter.
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Chloe Reed Chloe Reed 6'0" | SG Lutheran St Charles | 2025 State MO (Lutheran St. Charles): The 5’11” 2025 wing is a true Swiss Army Knife player who played several different roles that helped her team win a state title. She is an excellent secondary ball handler who can make decisions with the ball. She was defending the opposing team’s top scorer and rebounding the ball. She also hit a big 3-pointer in the fourth quarter of the state final in the Cougars victory over Carl Junction.
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Neveah Lucious (Cape Notre Dame): A 6’2″ 2026 forward who was very impressive in the state semifinals while matched up against a talented 6’3″ player in Kylie Scott Kylie Scott 6'3" | PF Carl Junction | 2024 State MO of Carl Junction. She has good hands to catch the ball and some impressive footwork in the lane. She has a nice up and under move and she can score with either hand inside. She also stepped outside and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers.