RAMS' BECK TO SIGN WITH ARKANSAS STATE

One of the state's top basketball guards will sign a Division I letter of intent today when the early signing period for high school seniors begins.

Scott City senior Jon Beck plans to put his name on the dotted line with Arkansas State this morning.

Beck, a 5-foot-11, 167-pounder, averaged 22.1 points per game and earned first-team Class 2A all-state honors as he helped lead the Rams to a 27-3 record last season.

In one of the area's top individual performances in recent years, Beck hit a state-record 16 3-pointers and scored 59 points during a win over Egyptian, Ill. The 16 3-pointers rank fifth nationally on the all-time high school list.

Beck averaged 13.3 points per game as a sophomore as Scott City went 25-5. He was the sixth man as a freshman on the Rams' team that went 27-4.

"We're really proud of Jon," said Scott City coach Derek McCord. "He's the seventh player we've had here to sign since 1994 but he's the first Division I player.

"It just goes to show that you don't have to be a 6-8 or 6-9 kid to play major-college basketball. He's a product of hard work and dedication. He just loves the game. He's got a passion for it."

Arkansas State went 20-9 last year, including a 14-4 record in the Sun Belt Conference that saw them win the league's regular-season championship.

Beck had narrowed his choices to Arkansas State and Southeast Missouri State.

"Jon really liked both places a lot, including the coaching staffs of both schools," McCord said. "I'm sure it was a tough decision."