Smith-Cotton graduate Zion Buckner is committed to Kansas City Kansas Community College.
Buckner led the Tigers with 14 points and five assists per game in 2016-17. He was named to the All-West Central Conference and Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Central District teams after his senior campaign.
In Buckner, Blue Devils head coach Kelley Newton wants a vocal, play-making leader.
“(Newton) told me, ‘Even if another player messes up, I’m yelling at you,” Buckner said. “I’m kind of used to it though … I love challenges.”
The KCKCC Blue Devils, finished 11-20 overall and were eliminated from the Region 6 Tournament, 60-59, by Fort Scott Community College. Sophomore made up more than half of its 2016-17 roster.
Smith-Cotton were one-and-done in the Class 5, District 9 Tournament in 2017 with a 12-13 record.
To prepare for the 2017-18 season, Buckner counts on Smith-Cotton coaches Bill Barton and Mike Franklin to open the high school gym for their college-bound Sedalia product.
“They open up the gym as many times as they can, no matter what time of day,” Buckner said. “As many workouts as I can to get in shape.”
Buckner was never one for a postgame gloat, an and-one bark or a team huddle explosion — he was hardly the center of attention. Yet, with the game in the balance, Buckner was often was on the free-throw line or initiating the Tigers’ set.
He plans to command an offense of total strangers at KCKCC the same way he guided his Smith-Cotton classmates.
“Lead by example,” Buckner said. “Try to push them to be the best they can be as a player, spend time with them, team bonding, things like that. They’re not going to listen to anybody they don’t hang out with.”
