Rockhurst basketball is defined by hard work, talent, and relentless dedication. Fresh off a third place finish at state, which concluded the team’s third straight winning season, head coach Billy Thomas has ascended the Hawklets’ hoops program to another level.
But while the official Rockhurst basketball team grinds to get better in practice and in games, there is a little known group of players battling day-in and day-out. These scrappy athletes play in the shadows, getting opportunities whenever they can. No matter how packed the courts are, how short the lunch periods are, or who they are playing against, the lunchtime ballers ALWAYS SHOW UP.
After a two-year gap from the original Prep News lunch time ballers article, the ranking has returned, with this year’s focus being on the Class of 2026.
Without further ado, our top 5:
5. The Joker (Owen Worley)
Owen Worley, commonly known as “The Joker,” has been perfecting his game over the last few years of lunchtime basketball. The big man, who stands well over 6 feet, can score inside and pull up from deep. Defensively, he is a rim protector that avidly guards the paint.
“He doesn’t really bite on pump fakes, so it makes it difficult to kind of fool him,” senior and experienced lunchtime basketball player Quinn Condon said. “Getting around him is not too easy, because, I mean, he has such elite size and strength. So, you can’t really back him down. You can’t really shoot over him.”
The secret sauce to Worley’s game is his versatility. The joker can move all over the floor with ease, going inside and outside and scoring from all different spots. He plays like a guard but has the size of a big.
NBA Comp: Nikola Jokic
4. Mo Dolla (Mo Abdalla)
The first thing that jumps off the tape when it comes to Mohamed Abdalla is his otherworldly length. This allows Mo to have a presence inside while also staying balanced offensively from outside.
“You can’t really guard his shot,” Condon said. “You just kind of hope he misses.”
Mo can guard any player on the court, no matter the size, and his handles are also surprisingly impressive for an athlete of his stature. This highlights his upside as a potential guard. Abdalla is also a great trash talker, constantly getting in the head of his opponents.
NBA Comp: Mo Bamba… with shades of KD and the trash talking of Kevin Garnett
3. Lang (Langston Humphrey)
Langston Humphrey followed in his older brother’s (BJ) footsteps by becoming an elite Rockhurst hooper. Langston is a savvy player, combining high basketball IQ with intense defense.
“His strength is just stopping you and not letting you go anywhere,” Condon said. “He’s crafty defensively, which you don’t see a lot in the lunchtime league.”
Offensively, Lang isn’t always a threat. He will hit a few mid-ranges every once and a while with his hideous shooting form.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but I think it’s broke,” Condon said when asked about Lang’s shooting form.
Where Lang makes his mark is on the defensive end of the floor: He is relentless. Lang’s high motor will constantly turnover opponents and he can contest almost any shot. Ultimately, Langston is a high quality player on the lunchtime basketball floor, even if he doesn’t add much offensively.
NBA Comp: Jose Alvarado… with Joakim Noah’s jumpshot
2. Da (Davion Yarbrough)
Davion has been a staple throughout lunchtime basketball. The left-handed menace can get buckets, especially with his go-to move: the stepback.
“It’s either blow-by or stepback,” Condon said. “You can stop his drive if you kind of think about that, but then you’ve got to worry about the step back… You kind of just want to force him away from a lefty lay.”
Where Davion can run into trouble is when defenders force him right, away from his dominant hand. When going left, Yarbrough is able to use his physicality to get buckets at the rim. He is rarely stopped once he starts driving left. Overall, Davion is an elite scorer with his left hand and his bag of stepbacks can create space for his lethal 3-point shooting.
NBA Comp: James Harden with his left hand… Ben Simmons with his right hand
1. D Chuzz (Daniel Anderst)
D Chuzz is the pinnacle of Rockhurst lunchtime basketball. Some would call him the Greatest to ever grace the court of the lunchtime ballers.
“He really has a special ability to make people jump on the pump fake,” Condon said. “For a guy his size, his post game is just otherworldly.”
The absolute legend is a threat from anywhere on the court. His stepback and crossover package strikes fear into the heart of opponents.
“You never really know what’s going to happen when D Chuzz has the ball or is on the court,” Condon said. “When he really wants to make a basket, he’s probably going to make it.”
On the defensive end, Anderst destroys his adversaries. D Chuzz’s awe-inspiring vertical and jaw-dropping quickness can shut down any opponent.
Simply put, D Chuzz is the GOAT of lunch basketball because of his well-rounded game, which is elite in all categories.
NBA Comp: A mix of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Lebron James
