Sports
Chiefs Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Kickapoo High School
From local fields to national fame, these stars got their start in Springfield.
Sports run deep in Springfield, and Kickapoo High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Chiefs uniform. Today, we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Kickapoo High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.
1. Anthony Tolliver – NBA Forward (Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs)
As a proud Chief, Tolliver led Kickapoo High School to the Class 5 state championship, a 30-1 record and a No. 12 national ranking in USA Today. During his time at Creighton University, Tolliver helped his team advance to the 2005 and 2007 NCAA Tournaments. He then began playing for multiple basketball teams, including the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs, before retiring and pursuing a career in investing. (Sources: Creighton.edu, ESPN, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame)
2. Jack Jewsbury – MLS Midfielder/Defender (Kansas City Wizards, Portland Timbers)
Jewsbury proudly donned the brown and gold while playing soccer at Kickapoo High School and scored an astounding 59 goals in his senior year, finishing his high school career with 124 goals. After attending Saint Louis University and continuing to play soccer there, Jewsbury played as a midfielder and eventually as a defender for the Kansas City Wizards and the Portland Timbers. He is retired and currently serves as the Portland Timbers’ Director of Business Development. (Sources: MLSsoccer, Timbers, Springfield News-Leader)3. Trevon Brazile – Collegiate Basketball Forward
Although he didn't become a Chief until his senior year, Brazile helped Kickapoo High School win the Missouri Class 6 state championship and was named a 2021 MNCA All-State selection and first-team All-Ozark Conference. Brazile continued to dominate the basketball court at the University of Missouri by recording 48 blocks in his debut season. He then went on to play for the Arizona Razorbacks, where he still plays today. (Sources: arkensasrazorbacks, mutigers)
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4. Na Tasha Neal Moore – NAIA All-American Basketball Player
A commanding presence on the basketball court, Moore proudly donned the brown and gold colors of the Kickapoo High School Lady Chiefs, leading her team to a remarkable 28-4 record in her senior year. After graduation, Moore went on to play for Evangel University, where she continued to dominate the court, ending her collegiate career with the school record for career three-pointers made with 317. She was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023. (Sources: Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Evangelathletics)
5. Steve Warren – NFL Defensive Tackle (Green Bay Packers)
A proud and notable Chief, Warren excelled at football, and after graduation, went on to play at the University of Nebraska. Eventually, he became a third-round draft pick for the Green Bay Packers, playing defensive tackle from 2000 to 2002. Today, Warren resides in Nebraska, where he created a non-profit organization that helps at-risk youth and always finds time to give back to his old school. (Sources: edgemagazine, pro-football-reference, ozarksfirst)
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