Missouri brings the top talent, takes home the win in All-Star Challenge

With players like Kevin Puryear of Blue Springs South, Landry Shamet of Park Hill and Drew Lock of Lee’s Summit, Missouri definitely brought the star power to the Greater Kansas City Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Challenge on Friday night at Shawnee Mission South.

Kansas didn’t bring a squad to match Missouri in terms of NCAA Division I scholarships, but Kansas played hard in what was a very entertaining first half.

Missouri just had too much talent. Missouri went into halftime with a six-point lead and never trailed in the second half, winning 112-99.

“It was awesome,” said Puryear, who finished with 12 points. “I grew up with a lot of these guys, from the third and fourth grade. It is good to reunite. Some of us play on the same AAU team and some of us don’t. But it is always a pleasure, especially playing on the Missouri side. We take a lot of pride in it.”

It was definitely a challenge for Kansas. Puryear is headed to Missouri, Shamet is going to Wichita State and Lock is headed to Missouri on a football scholarship. In addition, Jared Dixon of Lee’s Summit West is headed to Missouri State.

All four players started and helped Missouri race to a 28-15 lead. Puryear had a couple of dunks, Dixon was active all over the court, Lock knocked down a three-pointer and Shamet showed his athletic ability. Shamet and Dixon each finished with 16 points.

And then there was Raytown forward Jailen Gill, who started and made four of six shots from the field in the first half.

But Kansas fought back and even took a 36-34 lead on a basket by Javion Blake of Olathe East.

A basket by Allen Hyatt of Park Hill South followed by a bucket by Puryear put Missouri back ahead. Missouri never trailed again.

Cooper Cook of Blue Valley North led Kansas with 13 points.

Puryear was impressed with both teams.

“I think the 2015 class is a good class in general,” Puryear said. “Kansas has really talented shooters,” Puryear said. “They are very well-rounded, and I think we are, too.”

Missouri dominated the first seven minutes into the second half, taking a 77-62 lead. When Pierce Moling of Kearney knocked down a three-pointer, he increased Missouri’s lead to 82-63 with 11:50 left.

Shamet wows in the dunk contest

The finals of the dunk contest came down to Landry Shamet of Park Hill and Tyrone Gibbs of Raytown South. Shamet won it on his first dunk in the final round.

He soared high, wrapped the ball through his legs and slammed the ball through. The sensational dunk brought 10s from the judges, fans to their feet and a female friend down from the stands to give him a hug.

“I felt pretty good about it,” Shamet said.

“It was fun. I was a little nervous at first, but once the adrenaline got going, I jumped pretty good. I felt I had it wrapped up.”

The P.A. announcer even joked that Shamet asked the girl who gave him a hug to the prom. Shamet smiled and gave a thumbs up.

Afterwards, it was a true story. Shamet’s girlfriend, Jocelyn Weyer confirmed that Shamet asked her to the prom and she said yes.

“It was fantastic, an incredible dunk,” Weyer said.

Although Gibbs delivered an impressive dunk on his first attempt, it was anti-climatic as was Shamet’s final dunk.

This story was originally published April 10, 2015 at 11:27 PM with the headline "Missouri brings the top talent, takes home the win in All-Star Challenge."