Missouri State University-West Plains didn’t go far to sign its first recruits for the 2015-’16 season.
Yancey Walker, head coach of the Grizzlies signed Licking High School’s Lane Duncan and Justin David of West Plains during ceremonies at their respective schools on Wednesday.
Duncan averaged 28.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists with the Wildcats this season and helped guide his team to a 24-5 overall record and its first district win in 18 years. He earned numerous individual accolades this season, including MVP honors in the Cabool and St. James tournaments, as well as the Frisco Conference. He also earned several all-district and all-state honors during his high school career and was the KJEL Player of the Year during his junior season.
“Lane takes good shots and really attacks well by using angles,” Walker said. “He can score, but he also plays well in a system. On his high school team, he averaged almost half of their points, but he also was third in assists and first in rebounds. Lane is a young man who does what it takes to win, whether there is a stat for it or not.”
Licking coach Ben Glasgow said Duncan’s decision to join the Grizzlies is a good one. “He’s going to a program that has the promise of developing him into the player he needs to be,” he said. “His upside is very good. If he develops the things he needs to develop, he will be a great contributor to the team, and after being around him for four years, I know he’s going to be willing to do what it takes to make those adjustments.”
Duncan is the first Wildcat to join the Grizzlies’ ranks.