Last May, divining Xavier Pinson’s future was a futile task. Inside the gym at Arsenal Tech, a stately brick building on Indianapolis’ Near Eastside, the lean point guards drifted through the Prep Ball Stars Midwest Challenge, a ragtag all-star game that unfolded before sparsely filled bleachers.
When the horn sounded, the future Missouri guard had quietly racked up 16 points and five assists in a game where defense was optional. Asked afterward about the opportunity to claim minutes on a roster needy for ball-handlers, Pinson wiped his brow, bit his lip and remained coy.