Monett enters season with 5 new starters

By Jared Lankford Special to the Monett Monthly

The 2025-2026 basketball season for the Monett boys basketball team will be one of growth and intrigue.

Although that can be said of nearly every hoops season, this year, the Cubs’ lineup will feature five new starters after graduation hit the squad hard.

“I am extremely excited for this year’s team,” said Andrew Ballock, Monett coach. “Although we graduated four starters from last year’s team, there are a few players returning that have done a great job since the end of last year.”

Gone from the Cubs are All-Conference performers Logan Kutz and Landyn Brandt, along with Jayden Apostol and Landyn Thrasher.

The Cubs averaged 53.3 points per game last year and shot 45% from the field.

Monett returns four lettermen from a season ago and will count upon 6-3 senior Alex Meeks and 6-4 junior Jack Stephens to lead this year’s crop.

Meeks saw action in 23 games last year and averaged 8.6 points per game with 5 rebounds.

“Alex brings versatility with his size and athletic ability,” Ballock said. “He can finish around the rim against smaller players, and can use his speed to get around bigger defenders. His shot has continued to get better as well. He is relentless on the boards often giving us extra possessions. On the other end, he can guard opponents 1-5.”

Stephens played in 19 games last years and average 2 points and 1 rebound per contest.

“Jack has a great skill set mixed with his length,” Ballock said. “He’s a true three-level scorer using his craftiness around the rim and great mid-range touch. He has worked a lot on his jump shot to make him harder to guard.”

Monett will also look for major minutes from juniors Carson Nestleroad, Bryce Hoyt and Camden Towles. Additionally, sophomores Brady Rhea and Justin Arias will be tasked with providing depth.

“We have many others who are doing a great job, like Carson, Brady, Justin and Bryce Hoyt, as well as others looking to increase their role this season with the varsity group,” Ballock said. “We have some inexperience at the varsity level with only a few players returning from last year, but the names mentioned above have done a great job filling those roles. 

“This group is really close with one another and very coachable, so it makes the day to day grind of becoming connected that much more fun for myself and the rest of the coaching staff. I think there are a few teams up at the top, such as Nevada and East Newton, but outside of them, I believe that the conference will be very competitive and open for anyone to have a good showing on any given night. We were able to win our first district game last year, and we are looking to build upon that and hopefully put ourselves in position to make a run at the district when that time comes. Until then, I look forward to coaching this team every day until hopefully the middle of March.”

Monett opens the season on Nov. 24 at Billings. The Cubs’ home opener is slated for Dec. 5 against Carthage.