SEASON OUTLOOK
An immediate crowd favorite in Columbia who will look to assume the point guard duties with the departure of longtime floor leader Brian Grawer ... After a typical adjustment period, showed last season that he’s got the ability to lead the Tiger offense ... Is a dynamic play-maker who can find the open teammate, but also, despite his size, can routinely get to the hole himself ... An effective three-point threat who also is deadly from the foul line in late-game situations ... A lefty who has a nice running floater, an effective weapon he used in key times last season.
2000-01 SEASON
**Big 12 All-Freshman Team**
A dynamic play-maker who emerged as one of MU’s most valuable players late in season ... Became a crowd favorite for his flashy play and well-known stylish hair ... Named to Big 12 All-Freshman Team by league media after averaging 6.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in 33 outings ... Numbers increased during Big 12 play, as he averaged 8.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in league games ... Ended season with strong 9-point performance vs. #1 Duke in NCAA 2nd round, with all of his points coming in second half ... Stepped in admirably in 7-game stretch without Kareem Rush and added nice scoring punch to Tiger lineup ... Averaged 12.6 ppg in those 7 games after averaging 4.7 ppg in first 21 games ... Scored in double figures in 5 of last 12 games, after doing so once in first 21 games ... Started six of those contests, and averaged 3.8 assists in that stretch ... Ranked 8th in Big 12 Conference play in 3-pt. shooting (41.9%) and 12th in league play in free throw shooting (79.0%) ... Came off the bench at #10 Kansas, and had 8 pts. and 1 assist in 23 minutes ... Led MU w/17 pts. at Texas (Feb. 26) and added 3 steals in 28 minutes ... Hit 6-of-10 FGs at UT, incl. 2-of-2 3-pt. FGs ... Had 6 assists & career-high 6 rebs. Feb. 24 vs. Baylor in home finale ... Was one of three Tigers to have a positive assist-to-turnover ratio (67 assists, 62 turnovers) ... Had 12 pts. and career-high 7 assists w/just 1 turnover in 30 minutes at Texas A&M ... Hit 5-of-6 FTs in final four minutes at A&M as MU held on for win ... Tied career high w19 pts. vs. CU (Feb. 14), on the strength of 14-of-16 FTs ... Had a 4-game stretch (Jan. 27-Feb. 7) where he sank 9-of-12 3-pt. FGs (75.0%), and made 19 of last 40 3-pt. FGs (47.5%) after making 3-of-17 (17.7%) to begin the year ... Had a solid 12-point game at #12 Iowa State in first career start ... Added career-highs in rebounds (6) and assists (5) at ISU ... Previous time out vs. K-State (Feb. 7) scored career-high 19 pts. ... Hit a career-best 5-of-8 from 3-pt. land ... Had 7 pts. at Nebraska (Jan. 24), incl. 5-of-6 FTs in game’s final minutes ... Had 6 pts. at #13 Virginia, and added a career-high 3 assists and 2 steals with zero turnovers in 22 minutes of play ... Hit 2-of-3 FGs in 4-OT thriller vs. ISU, and ended w/5 pts. & 2 steals on the day ... Had 9 pts. at CU, including clutch performance from foul line, where he sank 7-of-8 FTs in final 4 minutes of game to help secure Tiger road win ... Emerged in Dec. three-game Big Ten stretch, averaging 9.3 pts., 2.3 rebs. and 2.0 assists in those games, after averaging 2.3 pts. in first 7 games ... Had 9 pts. and 4 rebs. vs. #5 Illinois, with all pts. coming after halftime, including 7 in late stretch that helped Tigers force overtime ... Had a stellar performance at Indiana, where he had a career-high 11 points, 1 assist and 1 steal in 15 minutes ... Hit a gutsy floater in the lane with 1:06 left in the game to give MU a 62-61 lead ... Had 8 pts. at Iowa, all coming in overtime ... Hit 6-of-7 FTs after regulation, including 2-of-2 w/29 seconds left in 1st overtime to force another extra period ... Also had 3 assists & 3 rebs. in 11 minutes of play.
IN HIGH SCHOOL
Averaged 17.5 points, 10 assists, five steals and four rebounds per game as a senior, and was named an honorable mention all-USA pick by USA Today (also earned that designation as a junior, as well) ... Led Long Beach Poly (31-3 and #8 in the West by USA Today) to the championship of the Reebok Las Vegas Holiday Classic (named tourney MVP) and to the CIF I-AA title ... All-tournament pick at the “Battle of Central Cal” Tourney (Fresno) and Best in the West Tourney (Long Beach) ... All-State pick was invited to Nike All-American Camp last July and was co-MVP of the Long Beach Fall Hoop Classic ... Named 2000 Moore League Most Valuable Player ... Averaged 16 points, eight assists and four steals a game as a junior, leading Poly to a 24-7 record and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the Southern California Regionals ... Poly won four straight CIF Division I-AA championships under his direction ... An honor roll student ... Played in Dada Classic over the summer along with fellow Tiger teammates Rickey Paulding and Arthur Johnson.
PERSONAL
Full name - Wesley Dewayne Stokes ... Parents - James and Dorothea Stokes of Long Beach, Calif. ... Chose MU over USC, San Diego State, Texas, and Massachusetts, among others ... High school coach - Ronald Palmer ... Born Jan. 8, 1982 in Long Beach, Calif. ... Lists hobbies as basketball, football and playing video games ... Stressed when filling out his questionnaire that everything he accomplishes is for his family and loved ones.
