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Prepare yourself for an event like SWMO has never seen before. The Prep invitational will serve as one elite tournament just a week before the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions and promises to be just as exciting. Here is what you need to know.
What is it?
This is a basketball tournament featuring some of the top Post-Grad teams in the country. I know what you are thinking. What in the world is Post-Grad? There are instances when players don’t quite get the college offer that they were hoping for, they can go the Post-Grad route. This is a circuit between the high school and college levels where these kids can get college like training, preparation, and competition without losing a year of eligibility. This is extremely popular on both the East and West Coast and now with the likes of Link Year and WE ARE UNITED, is making a presence here in the Midwest.
Who is running it?
Former MSU assistant coach Jake Headrick.
Where is it at?
On the campus of BBC in Springfield.
What teams are coming?
Link Academy (Branson, MO) – Post Grad team, Not HS team
Hargrave Military (Chatham, VA)
The Skill Factory (Atlanta, GA)
Sunrise Christian (Wichita, KS)
We Are United (Springfield, MO)
PRISE Academy (Columbia, MO)
Strength N Motion (San Antonio, Texas)
OnPoint Academy (Oklahoma City, OK)
What top local guys are playing?
Jonathan Dunn – We are United – Previously of Rogersville
Kanon Gipson – We are United – Previously of Rogersville
Logan Applegate – We are United – Previously of Nevada
Cam Liggins – PRISE Academy – Previously of Kickapoo
Who should I look out for?
Link Year Prep (MO)
Omarion Henry – Offers from Chicago State and Arkansas Pine Bluff
Mason Jones – COMMITTED TO RICE
Walker Timme – Brother of Gonzaga star Drew Timme
Jalen Hampton – SIGNED TO MISSOURI STATE
We Are United (MO)
Logan Applegate – local talent from Nevada
Kanon Gipson – Local talent from Rogersville; Offer from UW-Milwaukee
Jonathan Dunn – Local Talent from Rogersville; SIGNED TO MISSOURI STATE
Sincere Malone – COMMITTED TO EASTERN ILLINOIS
John Lovelace – offers from Mizzou, UW-Milwaukee, IUPUI
Hargrave Military (VA)
Christian Moore – offer from FIU
Leland Walker – Offers from Xavier, Little Rock, Providence and more
Justin Taylor – Offers from Elon, USF, SC-Upstate and more
Elijah Gray – Offers from ETSU, Appalachian State, Radford and more
The Skill Factory (GA) – 2021 National Champions
Rodrigo Farias – Offer from Georgetown
Kaleb Walters – COMMITTED TO YOUNGSTOWN STATE
Kaden Cooper – Offer from Elon
Kam Craft – SIGNED WITH XAVIER
Sunrise Christian (KS) – coached by Final 4 Michigan State Guard TumTum Nairn
Jerome Brewer – Offers from Tulsa and Manhattan
PRISE Academy (MO)
Cam Liggins – Local talent from Kickapoo
Link Academy (MO) – Sunday only
Jordan Walsh – COMMITTED TO ARKANSAS
Tarris Reed – COMMITTED TO MICHIGAN
Felix Okpara – COMMITTED TO OHIO STATE
Julian Phillips – COMMITTED TO LSU
Omaha Biliew – offers from Kansas, Iowa, Iowa State, Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, Texas Tech among other
Julian Norris – offers from MTSU and Murray State
Trey Green – offers from Clemson, Cincinnati, Boston College, Boise State, Elon, Nebraska among others
What is the schedule?
Round 1 Thursday January 6th
Link Academy vs On Point Academy 3:00
The Skill Factory vs PRISE Academy 4:45
Hargrave Military Academy vs Strength N Motion 6:30
We are United vs Sunrise Christian 8:15
Round 2 Friday January 7th
Consolation Bracket
Game 1 3:00
Game 2 4:45
Winners Bracket
Game 3 6:30
Game 4 8:15
Day 3 Saturday January 8th
7th place game 3:00
5th place game 4:45
3rd place game 6:30
Championship 8:15
Day 4 Sunday January 9th
Link Academy (HS team) vs Putnam City North (OK) 2:00