Rockhurst basketball’s historic 23-1 season has happened because of countless reasons. A team-first attitude and play style have led to one of the most balanced teams in the head coach Billy Thomas era. This fact makes it hard to pinpoint just a few players and trends to watch. Regardless, we at Prep News have analyzed the players and patterns that can affect Rockhurst the most in the postseason.
(**Editor’s note: This is the second in our series previewing the Class 6 playoffs and Rockhurst’s place in them. Click here to read the first one, focusing on how the Hawklets got to this point and which teams could pose the biggest threats.)
Players to Watch
Cohen Robinson
For the second straight year, Robinson finds himself on the players to watch list. The senior guard brings veteran leadership and a savvy play style to the Rockhurst starting five.
“He came into school being strictly a defender, maybe a passer, and he’s evolved into being able to score it better. He’s been able to shoot it better. So, the work he’s put in has enabled him to become the player that he is,” Thomas said.
Robinson’s scoring profile starts from beyond the arc. The team’s leading scorer shoots 38.5% from three and averages 12 points per game (PPG). When he’s not shooting, the 6-foot-4 Robinson is a sneaky finisher inside, using his length to get to the rim.
Robinson is the quarterback of the offense, and with a team-leading 3.6 assists per game, he consistently directs traffic. Earlier this year, in Rockhurst’s road matchup versus Rock Bridge on Feb. 6, Robinson set the all-time assists record for basketball Hawklets (308).
Due to Robinson’s offensive proficiency, it is easy to forget his contributions on the defensive end of the court. He uses his length to get steals as evidenced by his team-leading 2 steals per game and school-record 175 career steals. Overall, Robinson brings the energy on defense while providing three-point production and offensive orchestration.
Hueston Saunders
Saunders’ first year with the varsity Hawklets has been a productive one so far. He seamlessly transitioned from the junior varsity squad—which he was on a year ago because of transfer restrictions—to the highest level of Missouri high school basketball.
“His perseverance has been impressive, just… stemming all the way back from last year. I just gotta marvel at how he’s handled it all, being a… kid,” Thomas said. “To handle this unfortunate situation of not being able to play last year, not complain one day. He’s put his head down, had a great summer, worked his tail off, got in great shape, and he’s had the type of season that rewarded all that hard work.”
Saunders is a mid-range dynamo for Rockhurst. The 6-foot-5 forward can score in various ways when inside the arc. From deep, Saunders has only attempted four threes on the season. Coach Thomas typically keeps Saunders working down low, whether that encompasses setting screens or posting up.
Saunders is naturally a big source of rebounding for the Hawklets with all the time he spends in proximity to the rim. He is third on the team with 4.6 rebounds per game. On defense, Saunders’ counterpart, Kevin Sullivan, protects the paint, averaging just shy of one block per game compared to just 0.2 from Saunders. Expect Saunders to provide consistent two-point scoring and a handful of rebounds per game in the playoffs.
Max Moylan
Senior guard Max Moylan has had a roller coaster of a season. His troubles started all the way back in August when he sustained a concussion in the first week of the Rockhurst football season. He never returned to the field after re-jarring his head in a minor vehicle accident.
These issues caused Moylan to miss the first few practices and games of the basketball season. When he finally returned to the court, Moylan was off from deep, starting the year 1-of-11 from beyond the arc. Since then, he has been chasing the same level of 3-point success he had last season.
“I really… think that concussion has played a big part in Max’s overall season,” Thomas said. “And, I think he’s kind of coming along right now to where it’s not showing as many ill effects of it, because he’s settling down, he’s making shots, he’s making better decisions.
“But there’s no doubt in my mind the concussion has played a huge part in some of the things that Max has struggled with early in our season.”
Heading into the playoffs last year, Moylan was third on the team in PPG (8.4). This year, he has dropped to sixth on the team with 5.3 PPG on 27% 3-point shooting. The balance of Rockhurst’s offense this year has covered up Moylan’s drop-off. The team has not needed him to score as much this year.
However, opponents in the playoffs might funnel Rockhurst’s offense towards Moylan. After all, in the Hawklets’ only loss this season, at Creighton Prep, the 6-foot-1 guard had his worst performance of the season, going 0-for-8 from three and 0-for-9 on the day. Look for other teams to make Moylan beat them in the postseason.
Even with the struggles this season, Moylan still has the experience and capacity to be one of the best players on the team. As he gets further and further removed from his concussion, Moylan will have the opportunity to turn it on in the playoffs.
“He’s kind of ironing those [mistakes] out, and what better time to do it [than] in the postseason?” Thomas said.
Trends to Watch
2-3 zone against Rockhurst
At times, Rockhurst has struggled against opponents playing a 2-3 zone. In the team’s loss to Creighton Prep, the Hawklets did not have success against it. Rockhurst struggled mightily from downtown, going 4-for-30 (13.3%) from three.
On the season, Rockhurst is a 32.6% 3-point-shooting team, so their off day from deep against the Bluejays was a bit of an outlier. However, the Hawklets’ struggles with how to attack opposing 2-3 zones have been real. Long possessions have often ended with less-than-desirable 3-point attempts.
The Hawklets have also seemed to have an uptick in turnovers against the 2-3 zone. Guards Robinson and Moylan, usually a sure-handed duo, have made questionable passes against the defensive set on multiple occasions.
3-point shooting vs. 2-3 zone
One of the best ways to force teams out of a 2-3 zone is to shoot the three-ball effectively.
“At the end of the day, I mean, as simple as it sounds, you gotta make shots,” Thomas said.
As evidenced by their team shooting percentage, the Hawklets have shown the ability to shoot 3-pointers this year. Yet, other than Robinson, the guards for Rockhurst have not consistently hit at a productive rate. Moylan’s 3-point shooting this year has been a liability at times, and junior Carson Green and sophomore Elijah Curtis thrive more when driving to the basket versus posting up behind the arc.
Two of Rockhurst’s best shooters from deep this season are Sullivan (41.5%) and junior Kemper Roberts (30.4%). The two 6-foot-6 forwards usually play their role from inside the arc, but Coach Thomas loves to spread the floor and free them up to shoot the three as well.
If opposing teams come out in a 2-3 zone, Rockhurst’s 3-point success will likely determine their offensive potency.
Defensive Relentlessness
Regardless of what happens on the offensive end, Rockhurst’s defense is always a priority. The team uses its guards to create turnovers and bigs to stuff the paint. The man-to-man play style that the Hawklets utilize allows the team to use its athleticism and basketball IQ to create turnovers while maintaining discipline.
Rockhurst possesses the best scoring defense in the state. Their 41.58 opponent PPG is the lowest mark of any Class 6 team.
Senior Savviness in the clutch
Rockhurst’s core of six seniors has led to consistent success in close games. The team is 7-1 in games decided by seven points or less.
“From the moment they got here, I was the only [Rockhurst] coach that they… ever had, so we’ve been able to grow together,” Thomas said. “They’ve been able to understand what it is that we’re asking.”
Four senior starters and two senior rotational players help bolster an experienced and talented Rockhurst squad. That experience should be crucial in upcoming high-stakes matchups.
