Top-40 sophomore Scottie Adkinson drops 30 points, updates recruitment
By SAM LANCE
O’FALLON, IL — Every time Webster Groves (MO) needed a big bucket against Whitney Young (IL), four-star sophomore guard Scottie Adkinson was there to provide it.
In the overtime frame, Adkinson chopped a 3-pointer and followed that with an and-1 conversion to push Webster Groves past Chicago’s finest, 71-68. He finished with 30 points, dished out several assists and was able to play smart down the stretch after picking up his fourth foul with over seven minutes left in regulation.
“He had it going offensively early,” Webster Groves head coach Justin Mathes told ZAGSBLOG. “And then they did what I would do, which is make him give it up. What I was most proud of is he made the right basketball play a couple times late. He found a great shooter in the corner at the end of regulation, and then hit Miles [Simpson] when they trapped and he went and made a play. So he has a lot of trust in his teammates, and I think that shows really good maturity for a sophomore. Obviously, when he was in space, he got a lot done at the rim and got his shot over 40% from three. But that trust and maturity late, I think that’s him continuing to evolve as a point guard.”
At this stage in his career, Adkinson is one of the best sophomore point guards in the country. He ranks No. 38 overall in 247Sports’ class of 2027 composite rankings, and he showed why on Saturday.
Recruitment wise, Adkinson has five offers: Illinois, Missouri, SLU, SEMO and West Virginia. He’s taken just one unofficial visit to Missouri back in September. Here’s his breakdown of some of the schools involved:
Missouri: “The atmosphere. The coaches I’m really close with. They come in town all the time and they’re really good guys. We try to play like them and run a lot of their stuff in our games.”
Illinois: “I love Illinois. That’s my home state. They’ll be one of my top options.”
SLU: “They are close to home. I’m going up there soon, so I can’t wait to visit.”
West Virginia: “Their coach [Chester Frazier] was at Illinois first and then he went out to West Virginia. That’s one of my guys. I talk to him a lot.”
Adkinson has a long way to go in his recruitment, so right now he’s focused on this high school season.
“We definitely want to win a state championship,” Adkinson said. “That’s been the tradition here. We want to come through. And my role, I’m the point guard. So I just want to be the best I can be.”
The sophomore plays point for Webster, but he said he can see himself playing a combo role at the next level. He’ll do whatever is needed out of him and adapt to the role he is given. But what exactly separates Adkinson from other prospects?
“I bring energy,” Adkinson said. “I’m a big energy guy. Before the game even starts, I’m making sure all the guys are riled up and ready to play. I feel like that’s a big thing teams need.”
Pregame, you could see Adkinson firing up his team — and when someone made a big play — he was the first one to show them some love. That’s testament of a true leader.
Mathes said Adkinson is similar to Courtney Ramey, who he coached at Webster Groves. Ramey went on to have a successful career at Arizona and Texas and is now playing professionally overseas.
“I think he’s just best when you get him in space,” Mathes said of Adkinson. “He’s just explosive. He’s almost impossible to guard 1-on-1, especially now that you have to play him tight with the way he’s shooting it. That’s a credit to him. He’s worked really hard in the offseason to improve his three point shot. It was his goal to raise it by 10% and he’s done that. For him, I just think continuing to understand the x’s and o’s and running an offense, not just being a part of it, but being the one to direct traffic. He’s taken steps.”
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