Jared Phay, head coach of the Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) Grizzly Basketball team, today announced the signing of several players for the 2024-2025 season. They are:
- Jake Sage, a 6-foot, 1-inch guard from Kickapoo High School in Springfield
- Blayne Harris, a 6-foot, 4-inch guard from Jackson High School in Jackson, Missouri
- Quamareous Farmer, a 6-foot, 2-inch guard from Malden High School in Malden, Missouri
- Jayden Roach, a 6-foot, 7-inch forward from Level Up Prep in Sunrise, Florida
- Jaylon Hyson, a 6-foot, 6-inch forward from Impact Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada
More about Jake Sage
Sage helped lead the Kickapoo Chiefs, one of the top high school programs in Missouri, to a 24-5 record this past season and co-champions of the Ozark Conference. He averaged 9.5 points per game and shot just under 40% from 3-point range this past season. He also played AAU ball for Yanders Law, which was coached by former Grizzly legend Robert Yanders.
“Jake is a sharpshooter who can play multiple guard spots, and he brings a strong work ethic to our program,” Phay said.
More about Blayne Harris
Harris helped lead the Jackson Indians to a 19-10 overall record this past season. He was a two-sport star and received offers from several collegiate football programs. He is a member of the 1,000 Point Scoring Club for Jackson and was named to the Missouri Class 6A All-State team. He also was a three time all-district and four-time all-conference honoree during his four seasons playing varsity basketball at Jackson.
“Blayne has a very high upside. For as good as he was at Jackson, I think he hasn’t come close to where his ceiling will be as a student-athlete for the Grizzlies,” Phay said. “We’re excited for what he brings to our program.”
More about Quamareous Farmer
Farmer helped lead his Malden Green Waves to a 21-6 record this past season. He averaged 16 points, five rebounds and three assists per game and is a member of the 1,000 Point Club for his career at Malden. He was named the Bootheel Conference Player of the Year this past season and is a three-time all-conference and all-district honoree. Farmer also received scholarship offers to play collegiate football.
“Quamareous is a very strong guard who can score in multiple ways,” Phay said. “He brings a lot of energy when he plays, and we are excited to add him to our program.”
More about Jayden Roach
Originally from Miramar, Florida, Roach was a standout at McArthur High School. He spent this past season at Level Up Prep to prepare for college, Phay said. Roach will bring a strong, athletic inside presence to the Grizzly lineup this season, the coach added.
“Jayden was a good high school player and spent this past season getting bigger and stronger at Level Up Prep. He is a high flyer and has the strength to be a really good player for us. I think Grizzly fans will really enjoy watching him play,” Phay said.
More about Jaylon Hyson
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Hyson played for and graduated from Mineral Wells High School in Texas before spending the past season training and playing for Impact Academy. He is a very athletic forward and possesses a seven-foot wingspan. He originally was a soccer player and swimmer before turning to basketball as his main sport a couple of years ago, Phay said, adding he will be able to play multiple positions on the court
“Jaylon has come a long way in basketball in a short amount of time. His upside is ridiculously high,” Phay said.
Several players returning
Phay also announced several Grizzlies will be returning to the team this coming season. They include Lionel Kumwimba, Ergie Kougnami, Javian Downey and Riley Whiteaker, all of whom have signed letters of intent for 2024-2025.
Zaheem Jackson also will be returning to the team after coming in January to recover from injury, the coach added.
“We are excited about the experience we have coming back, as well as our new additions,” Phay said. “We still have a few spots to fill, but we’re very happy with where we’re at.”
For more information about the Grizzly Basketball team, visit the team’s website at MSUWPGrizzlies.com.
