BECK TO SHOWCASE SKILLS AT HALL OF FAME GAMES

There wasn't a player in the area last season who could keep Scott City High basketball standout Jon Beck from putting up his points.

Even in the North vs. South All-Star game at Richland High School, the 5-foot-11 guard scored 32 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter.

Now, Beck will take his act to an even bigger stage.

Beck will get a chance to test his skills against some of the best players from around the state on July 9 at the Hall of Fame Games in Springfield.

Beck, who will be playing for Arkansas State next year, was one of 24 players selected by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association.

The games, which are sponsored by the MBCA, will be held at the Hammons Student Center, located on the Southwest Missouri State University campus. The girls game will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the boys game to immediately follow.

"I think this will be the gathering of the state's best talents," said Scott City coach Derek McCord. "The larger schools will be represented well. This will be the best that Missouri has to offer."

Beck said he considers being selected for this game a bigger honor than being named all-state.

"There's only 24 from all four classes," Beck said. "This was a huge honor."

Beck is one of just four male players from Class 2A schools to compete in the state All-Star game -- another 2A player is USA Today All-American Kareem Rush.

Beck is also the only male representative from Southeast Missouri.

With 12 players on each team, playing time could be a concern for Beck, who won't demand time because of his height. But McCord is confident that Beck is -- figuratively and literally -- in good shape.

"Jon really never gets out of shape," McCord said. "I know for sure he'll report in good condition. He runs and works out every day. A lot of times, the kids who are in better shape get more playing time. He's constantly working on his game.

"I look for Jon to do well. He's really looking forward to it."

"I'm not nervous at all," Beck said. "I just want to go play with the guys. It should be a lot of fun. I'll hold my own. I'm definitely going to get in the 3-point contest. Hopefully I'll shoot well. I'll just go down there and play my game."

And although Beck is going down there to have fun, on the court he'll be all business.

"They're supposed to be fun," Beck said of all-star games. "But you definitely want to compete with these guys. You want to beat them. I haven't got to play competitively for a while, so it'll be fun."

As the only local player to have signed with an NCAA Division I school this past year, Beck averaged 25.3 points per game, hitting 54 percent of his field goals and 44 percent of his 3-point shots.

* Shayla Day of New Madrid County Central was selected on the girls side. Day has signed with Mississippi.

* Also competing in the games will be Lori Chase (Rosary), Tim Scheer (New Haven) and Mike Sutherland (Lutheran North) -- three Southeast Missouri State University signees.

* Ron Cook, Jackson's girls coach, will help coach one of the girls teams.