Rockhurst basketball kicks off their state postseason journey Friday night. The Hawklets are looking to hoist the state championship trophy for the first time since 2013. In advance of their state quarterfinal matchup against the fourth-ranked Nixa Eagles, we break down how they got to this point, their strengths and weaknesses, players to watch as well as look ahead to potential matchups.
Season Summary
For the first time since the 2018-2019 season, Rockhurst basketball reached the 20-win threshold, finishing the regular season 20-4. The team outscored their opponents by 14.96 points per game (PPG).
The Hawklets started the season strong, running out to a 10-1 mark, with their only blemish being an unsightly 52-47 loss to Lee’s Summit.
However, Rockhurst’s early momentum was stunted when they traveled to Oak Park on Jan. 14 to take on the highest-ranked team in Missouri Class 6. Rockhurst, ranked fifth by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) in their own right at the time, lost the marquee matchup by 30. The early-season test provided trouble for the Hawklets, sewing potential doubts about their ultimate ceiling.
Rockhurst responded to the loss with a four-game win streak, including a one-point win over rival St. Thomas Aquinas.
The team’s third loss of the season came Jan. 25 versus North Kansas City. The Hawklets put up a meager 42 points in the team’s worst offensive showing of the season.
As the year transitioned to February, Rockhurst dominated in back-to-back games versus rival teams Shawnee Mission East and Bishop Miege. With the pair of wins, the Hawklets extended their win streak versus East to three years, and beat Miege at home for the first time since 2018.
The team’s winning ways were halted again, though, in a hard fought overtime loss at six-time state champions Blue Valley Northwest on Feb. 8. The loss was their last of the season, as the team closed out the remainder of the regular season with four consecutive wins.
Brandishing the No. 1 seed in the Class 6 District 6 playoffs, Rockhurst easily won their first round matchup against 3-24 William Chrisman. In addition, No. 2 seed Lee’s Summit North, No. 3 seed Lee’s Summit, and No. 4 seed Carthage all lost, despite being the higher seed in their opening round games. This paved the way for Rockhurst to win the district semifinal versus Lee’s Summit West and district final versus Ray-Pec, earning Rockhurst’s basketball program their first back-to-back district titles in more 20 years.
Rockhurst’s Strengths
Rockhurst prides itself on being a defensive-minded team first. With the exception of 25-4 Kickapoo, who lost to Nixa in the District 5 championship game, the Hawklets gave up the least amount of points in Missouri, averaging 47.2 PPG allowed. Defensively, the team is ferocious on the ball and physical inside. In Missouri Class 6, guards Max Moylan and Cohen Robinson are both top 25 in steals per game, with the latter slotting in at fifth in the state. In the paint, Rockhurst brings towering size, constantly making shots hard for teams near the rim. Forwards Callen Eskew and Kevin Sullivan both stand above 6-foot-6.
Offensively, the team’s PPG jumped 5.1 from last year. Their 63.2 PPG is the highest for a Rockhurst team since 2018. Their offense runs through their big men. Eskew leads the team with 15.7 PPG and Sullivan is second with 11.4. Off the bench, sophomore Kemper Roberts provides 7.3 PPG, good for fifth on the team.
Junior guards Robinson and Moylan funnel the scoring inside. Their primary job in the offense is to allow Sullivan and Eskew to work in the post. Usually, Robinson takes point over Moylan, but when Robinson gets a breather, Moylan can run the offense as well.
Both players shoot well from three, providing another layer to the offense. Moylan and Robinson average 8.4 and 7.8 PPG, respectively. Both players are also high-level passers.
Rockhurst’s Weaknesses
Rockhurst’s balanced roster leaves few holes to attack. However, in the games the Hawklets have lost, their offense has struggled. The team’s two lowest point totals in regular season games resulted in losses to Lee’s Summit (47 points) and North Kansas City (42). In their other two losses Rockhurst scored 54 (vs. Oak Park) and 59 points (vs. Blue Valley Northwest in overtime).
One key focus head coach Billy Thomas pointed out during the season was the team’s need for more confidence.
“Some guys… [aren’t] allowing themselves to be themselves because of… self-doubt,” he told Prep News earlier in the season.
Thomas emphasized “gaining more confidence shooting the basketball” as a way for these players to overcome this uncertainty.
Now, with a full season to build chemistry and a district championship under the team’s belt, the group’s confidence should be at a season high.
Players to Watch
The Hawklets’ historic season has been, by all measure, a team effort. Nevertheless, the team’s success in the playoffs will likely hinge on a few key players.
Cohen Robinson
With Robinson on the floor, Rockhurst is a different basketball team. The 6-foot-4 guard is a problem on the defensive end, constantly disrupting opposing teams with his lanky wingspan. He averaged 2.0 steals per game during the regular season.
Offensively, Robinson is a glue guy for the Hawklets. Robinson ranks fourth on the team in PPG (7.8) and can shoot the ball well from beyond the arc. His value often resides in his ability to run the floor. In districts, Robinson didn’t score much. However, in three games, he racked up eight steals and a block. Robinson also consistently found his teammates when they were in position to score, helping Rockhurst find a rhythm on the offensive end.
In the state playoffs, the Hawklets will need Robinson to keep the offense flowing. After all, the team’s losses have often correlated with low-scoring affairs. If Robinson can distribute the ball well, Rockhurst could avoid offensive absences in their biggest games of the season.
Callen Eskew
Rockhurst basketball fans won’t be surprised to see Eskew on any “players to watch” list. The 6-foot-7 forward anchors the Hawklets by providing relentless rim protection and consistent post scoring.
Eskew leads the team and tied for fourth in District 6 with 15.7 PPG. His ability to finish around the rim and polished post play have made him a dangerous threat in the paint. In the district championship game, Eskew scored 23 of the team’s 60 points, one shy of his career high. When watching the Hawklets, it’s clear Eskew is the focal point of the team’s offensive attack.
“We feel like most games we have an advantage from a size standpoint, and so we want to play to that,” Thomas said in a prior interview with Prep News, “[while also] understanding that we have guys that can really shoot it as well. So, if the attention starts to get focused on the inside, we can kick it out to guys that can make shots.”
Eskew is also a persistent lob threat. Expect to see some alley-oops in the playoffs.
Defensively, Eskew can be a nightmare for teams inside. His pairing with Sullivan makes points in the paint hard to come by for opponents.
Overall, teams will likely key in on shutting down the 2nd-team All-State player. If Eskew can continue to put up solid numbers offensively and protect the paint defensively, he will be key in helping Rockhurst return to glory.
Up Next
vs. Nixa (State Quarterfinal)
Rockhurst will travel to Nixa for their Class 6 quarterfinal game. The Eagles finished the regular season 24-2, with their only losses being by three points to Bolivar and four points to Oak Park in overtime. As the No. 1 seed in the District 5 playoffs, Nixa took care of business, knocking off Kickapoo in the finals.
The Eagles are as much of a state title contender as any other team in Missouri, and are considered by some as the second favorite. However, Nixa has one obvious weakness Rockhurst will attack: their size. The Eagles don’t have a single player standing above 6-foot-5. This will give Rockhurst big men Eskew, Sullivan and Roberts the chance to have a big impact on the game. Rockhurst will most likely attack Nixa in the paint, as they have so many other teams this season, with Eskew and Sullivan looking to do most of the damage Friday night.
Potential Matchups
vs. Oak Park (State Semifinal)
Barring a massive upset, Rockhurst would face Oak Park in a potential semifinal matchup. The District 8 champs are the unquestioned favorite to take home the Class 6 state championship. They beat the Hawklets once already this season, 84-54 back on Jan. 14. The Northmen’s only loss came in their second game of the year against North Crowley, a team out of Dallas.
Oak Park brings an explosive level of scoring that makes it hard for other teams to keep up. They average 74.48 PPG, which is easily the most of any team in the playoffs and more than ten points higher than the Hawklets averaged during the season. According to MaxPreps, the team has four players in the top 12 PPG in Missouri Class 6. Their balanced attack is spearheaded by 6-foot-4 senior shooting guard, and three-star San Diego commit, Corbin Allen. Allen is third in the state with 16.1 PPG.
In prior interviews with Prep News, it was clear the Hawklets wanted another shot at Oak Park.
“They’re a really good team,” Eskew said, “but… we’re good enough to beat anybody.”
“We started slow [against Oak Park]… and they were hitting shots,” Moylan said. “Coach will… have a good game plan for us… so as long as we execute and do our thing, we should be good.”
A matchup with Oak Park would likely be the climax of Rockhurst’s season. A win versus the Northmen would be a program-defining moment for Thomas. If Rockhurst can slow down Oak Park’s balanced attack, the team could reach the state championship for the first time since the 2012-2013 season.
vs. Chaminade (State Final)
The other side of the Missouri playoff bracket looks to be weaker in comparison to Districts 5 through 8.
Chaminade College Prep is the likely favorite to make the final. The Red Devils are 18-10, but have played a stronger schedule than the three teams on their side of the bracket. St. Louis University High (SLUH), Ft. Zumwalt North and Lafayette (Wildwood) all have losses against teams with lesser records. On Monday, Chaminade upset 25-4 De Smet Jesuit in the District 3 final, 82-76 in double overtime.
The team has a significant size advantage over everyone else still in the state playoffs, with four players 6-foot-8 or taller. Three of these big men are ranked as 3-star prospects by 247 Sports: Ben Winker, Jahadi White Jr., and Jamison White. The latter two have offers from Iowa and SLU.
If Rockhurst and Chaminade meet in the state championship, the Hawklets will have to shoot the ball well from deep. Chaminade’s considerable size could counter Rockhurst’s usual gameplan to work inside out.
Can Rockhurst Make History?
The last time Rockhurst won a basketball state championship was the 2012-2013 season. This year, Rockhurst has already broken the program’s back-to-back district championship drought. A follow-up state title has eluded Rockhurst for more than a decade.
Now, with a balanced offense, an aggressive defense, and a confident team, Rockhurst has the tools to go the distance. That effort to hang a fifth basketball state championship banner begins at 6 p.m. Friday night.
