Outlook

Zion Buckner is left-handed point guard with good quickness … Solid leader and organizer on the floor … Can knock down open 3-point shots ... Gained valuable experince last year ... Brings good enegy and does a good job of organzing the team.

Sophomore Season 2021-22

Played in 31 games, 12 as a starter … Averaged 2.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game … Scored in double figures in two games … Was fourth on the team in assists with 40 … Was the team’s leader in assists in five games, third-most on the squad … Opened the season going 4-for-4 with two 3-pointers for a career high 10 points in a 104-28 victory over Washburn JV … Grabbed a career high five rebounds along with two points in a 76-66 win over Iowa Lakes (11-12-21) … Had a solid line off the bench of five points, a career high five assists and three rebound in a 66-59 win over Southeast ( 11-28-21) … Followed with five point, four assists, two boards and two steals in a 110-52 win over Bethany JV (12-1-21) … Hit a 3-pointer and made 5-of-6 free throw attempts for eight points, along with four rebounds and an assist in a 63-61 win over Kansas City Kansas (2-14-22) … Matched his career high with 10 points in a 71-70 comeback win over Highland (2-16-22).

Sophomore Year 2020-21

Played in 15 games … Averaging 1.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game … Came on late in the season … Scored a season-high nine points hitting three 3-point buckets in a 69-45 win over Hesston (3-24-21) … Has six points, four rebounds and two assists in an 84-76 win over Fort Scott in the Region VI semifinals (4-7-21) … Contributed seven points and three boards to help JCCC down Labette 77-68 to win the Region VI Championship and advance to the NJCAA D-II National Tournament (4-10-21) … Grabbed four rebounds in JCCC’s 57-47 loss to Mott in the first round of the NJCAA D-II National Tournament (4-20-21).

Freshman Year 2017-18

Played his freshman season for coach Kelley Newton at Kansas City Kansas Community College … Played in 17 games and averaged 7.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.7 steals … Shot 37.2 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from 3-point range and 88.0 from the free throw line … Twenty-four of his made 38 field goals were from 3-point range … Was 22-of-25 at the line … Scored in double figures five times on the season … Began his collegiate career with 14 point, hitting 5-of-18 shots, including four treys, in an 89-63 win at Missouri Southern State JV (11-1-17) … Also had a season-high six rebounds in the victory … Followed with 16 points going 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and 6-of-9 overall, along with five boards and a season-high four assists in a 100-61 win over Ottawa JV (11-4-17) … Established season highs for points with 17, made free throws with seven and steals with five in an 84-52 win over Saint Mary’s JV (11-17-17) … Matched his season highs for points with 17 and a rebounds with six in a narrow 83-81 loss to North Arkansas (12-1-17) … Was a perfect 5-for-5 at the line … Again was 5-for-5 at the charity stripe to finish with 12 points in an 82-74 setback at Iowa Western (12-12-17). 

High School

Was a two-year starter for coaches Brennan Scanlon and Bill Barton at Smith-Cotton High School, Sedalia, Mo. … Graduated 2017 … Was a Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Central District Class 5 performer as a senior … Also named to the All-West Central Conference first-team his junior and senior seasons …  Averaged 10.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game as a junior … As a senior averaged 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game … Played club basketball for the Yellowjackets coach by his father, Damon Buckner. 

Personal

Born Zion Surah Buckner on July 3, 1999, in Columbia, Mo. … Nicknames are Z and Z-buck … Son of Damon Buckner and Erica Aganyi …  His uncle, Thomas Buckner, played for JCCC and earned all-conference honors in 2002 … Majoring in business … Favorite food is Chinese … Favorite fast food restaurants are Hawaiian Bros Island Grill and Five Guys … Favorite restaurant is El Espolon … Favorite TV show is That 70’s Show … Favorite movies are any Harry Potter movie, Boys in the Hood and Menace to Society … Favorite sports movie is 42 … Favorite actress is Scarlett Johansson … Favorite cartoon characters are Rick & Morty … Favorite athlete is Kyle Lowry … Favorite sports team is the Toronto Raptors … Best player he has played against is former Indiana Hoosier and current Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby … A notable alumnus from his school is former Missouri Tiger All-American and current Pittsburg State men’s basketball coach Kim Anderson.