Missouri high school boys basketball preview: Players to watch

The Star’s high school basketball preview zeroes in on five boys players to watch this season.

Elijah Childs, Lee’s Summit West, senior

While Childs gave football a try in the fall, his future is still on the basketball court. The 6-8 forward is a load in the post. He averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds per game last winter.

Mason Fair, Raytown, junior

The Bluejays and Fair stayed under the radar last season, but that’s unlikely to be the case this winter. Fair is a 6-5 post player who presents a troublesome matchup. He scored 11.3 points per game on 59 percent shooting as a sophomore.

Jacob Gilyard, Barstow, senior

Gilyard may stand only 5-9, but his handles separate him from the pack. He weaved through defenses last year to the tune of 16.5 points and six assists per game. He will play for Richmond.

Jordan Lathon, Grandview, junior

The high-level interest has started to swarm Lathon, a 6-4 guard with undeniable athleticism. The Bulldogs will be looking for a major step forward this year from Lathon, who has racked up nearly a dozen Division I offers.

Jalen Lewis, Liberty, junior

The smooth stroke is the most noticeable piece of Lewis’ deep repertoire. He shot 43.6 percent from distance last season, when he scored 16.3 points per game. Lewis is on pace to break Liberty’s career scoring record

This story was originally published December 2, 2016 at 12:55 PM with the headline "Missouri high school boys basketball preview: Players to watch."