Early in his freshman year, it didn't take Missouri long to realize that Chase Branham was gearing up to take over the state at some point. What no one realized was how quickly it would happen.
That time might already be here.
After two seasons as the best player on one of the state's best teams, Branham has already made himself known as a high-level recruit and someone who can lead his team to championships.
It's why we have no problem naming the sophomore star as the News-Leader's 2025 Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Branham put the finishing touches on a second-consecutive Class 4 third-place finish in which he averaged 19.2 points while shooting a ridiculous 61.9% from the field. This improved upon his First-Team All-Ozarks season as a freshman when he averaged 17.9 points.
His best performance might have come in the state quarterfinals, when he led the Wildcats to a win over a loaded Father Tolton roster for the second year in a row in the same game. Against power-conference-bound recruits headed to Mizzou and Kansas State, Branham outscored the two of them combined by dropping 30 and advancing his team to Columbia.
Anyone who has watched him knows why he'll go down as one of the top prospects to come out of the area over the last decade, which has included highly touted players like Aminu Mohammed, Trevon Brazile, and Zaide Lowery. He's already ranked as 247Sports' No. 62 overall player in the 2027 class. He holds offers from Indiana, Kansas State, Mizzou, and others.
He was the best player in a talented area that featured other worthy player-of-the-year candidates. He edged out fellow Dominant Dozen recipients, including Chadwick's Clayton Garrison, Republic's Brenley Hagewood, Nixa's Jaise Combs, or Kickapoo's Jackson Shorter.
Branham, a 6-foot-4 point guard, has been described as an "alien" because of his processing of the game. His jump shot is smooth, and he can create a supporting cast that will keep the Wildcats as a championship contender until he graduates and beyond.
The scary part for everyone else is that Branham is only getting better and will continue to improve.
Previous News-Leader Players of the Year
- 2025 - Chase Branham, Logan-Rogersville
- 2024 - Keion Epps, Central
- 2023 - Kael ...
