14 Intriguing Teams for Next Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before we head off to grassroots we want to take a quick look ahead to the next high school basketball season. Here are 14 Intriguing Teams for Next Season at this stage! We have broken them down into different categories.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defending Champs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Incarnate Word</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Incarnate loses a number of 2024 players who were key starters and reloads with a number of 2026s who have been waiting to step into a bigger role. Underclassmen who emerge + transfers will be something to watch as they continue building upon their elite success.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>John Burroughs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burroughs will play through their frontcourt a little more moving forward. They graduate two senior guards and still have a number of top prospects. That's a testament to their depth last season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lift for Life</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most exciting teams in the state. Lift for Life has outstanding guard play, speed, and physical defense. They force teams to play their style. Manuel and Harris are a dynamic duo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Elite 2027s Lead the Way</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Principia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='791650' first='Dasia' last='Scott'] is one of the top players in the state regardless of class and put together a dominant freshman season. She and the role players on Principia have earned them a spot on this list.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Centralia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='803053' first='Ryenn' last='Gordon'] is a top-tier 2027 prospect and helped lead Centralia to a 3rd place finish in 2024. They're a team to watch in Class 3 over the next few seasons with her leading the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marshfield&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marshfield is a great program who will be led by a 2027 in this next season. [player_tooltip player_id='803072' first='Peyton' last='Ward'] is a 6'2 prospect that will garner a ton of attention at the next level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Host of Prospects</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lutheran St. Charles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most talented teams in the state. They should be back at state next season. Speiser, Reed, and Stowers are a great trio that will help win a ton of games once again.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Staley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's very few, if any, programs who have a better 2026/2027 class than Staley. Their championship window will begin to open starting this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kickapoo</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 6 runner-ups. They have a number of top players in their respective classes and are well coached each year. Pilley and Salazar are two of the top names that come to mind.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Central Missouri</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hickman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morgan Scott is doing an excellent job with the Hickman program and they'll be ready to compete once again next season. She has a handful of really talented seniors ready to make their mark and earn college scholarships.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rock Bridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bruins will once again have as much talent as anybody in the region. They're a complete team with great players at all the spots on the floor.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Senior Led</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Smithville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A team built around the skills of [player_tooltip player_id='421821' first='Peyton' last='Wohlford']. She makes everybody around her better and will be a top player on the west side of the state.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nixa</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='665439' first='Laila' last='Grant'] is a skilled 6'2 forward that's really impressive on the floor. The college prospect will be a leader for Nixa in Class 6.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pattonville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Pirates are senior led and have experience as a group. This should bode well for potential success. [player_tooltip player_id='509644' first='Kennedy' last='Horton'], [player_tooltip player_id='424774' first='Hannah' last='Fenton'], and [player_tooltip player_id='302377' first='Brooke' last='Boyce'] are just three to name a few.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->