The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame honored former Tiger standout Nick Yocum with one of its annual “Filbert Five” awards during its annual basketball luncheon in Springfield Tuesday. Yocum was recognized for his positive impact on the game of basketball in the area, not only for his accomplishments in Republic, but also in college, where he made his mark at Drury and Evangel.
During high school, Yocum was a part of Republic’s Final Four team as a sophomore in 2010. He helped the Tigers win a Blue & Gold Tournament championship, and earned all-state honors in 2011 and 2012.
From his time at Republic said he remembers “all the hard work we put in. It wasn’t just me. Coach (Gary) Stanfield had a big part in that, getting our players to work together,” Yocum said. “I have lifelong friends from that (time).”
Yocum scored 1,047 points in his career at Republic, and he earned all-district honors twice, as well.
Yocum said he counts the Blue & Gold championship run among his best memories – especially his semifinal buzzer-beater against Marshfield. In that game, Marshfield stole the ball and missed a potential game-winning fast-break layup with seconds remaining – only to see Payton Looney throw a baseball pass to Yocum for a game-winning Republic layup before time expired.
“It went from, ‘Oh no, it’s over,’ to ‘Here we go. We’re going to the championship game.’ That really sticks out,” he said. “And obviously the run to Columbia my sophomore year. That was exciting.”
Yocum and the rest of the Tigers finished fourth in the state 2010, setting up the run of success that would continue to take shape over the next several seasons.
After graduation, an injury prevented Yocum playing his freshman season at Southwest Baptist. He helped Drury win the 2013 conference title and reach the Elite Eight. Then at Evangel, Yocum scored 1,082 points (No. 29 all-time) and ranks third all-time in 3-pointers made (225). He helped the team win a conference title and reach the NAIA Sweet Sixteen. A three-time All-Heart of America Athletic Association selection, his 77 3-pointers in 2016 are fourth-most in a single Evangel season, and he also had 74 in both his sophomore and junior seasons – good for fifth on that list. He also had 100 assists in 2015.