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Take a look at this Springfield native this week at the NCAA tournament

The NCAA Division I men's and women's national basketball tournaments begin this week, and several natives in the areas of Springfield are involved.

Here are six locals who can monitor their respective brackets.

Bella Fontleroy, Baylor

Bella Fontleroy drives against Texas Christian in Big 12 at the beginning of this season (Photo by Baylor Athletics)

All-Big 12 defensive team member and Kickapoo graduate Bella Fontleroy on average 9.2 points and 5.6 rebounds for the bears of the fourth seed (27-7), who organize a game in the first round against No. 13 Grand Canyon (32-2) on Friday. The head coach of the Lopes is the Kickapoo graduate from 2004, Molly Miller. BU and GCU have on Espnu at 2:30 p.m.

Trevon Brazile, Arkansas

The 6-foot 10 junior striker and the Kickapoo-Alaun scored an average of 14.5 points and 10.75 rebounds in the last four games for John Calipari's Razorbacks. No. 10 Saatgut Arkansas (20-13) will compete in Providence (21-12) in Providence, Rhode Island at 6:10 a.m. on Thursday.

Zaide Lowery, Marquette

The former Kickapoo Guard has an average of 15.8 minutes from the bank for No. 7 Saatgut Golden Eagles (23-10), which is opposed to No. 10 Seed New Mexico (26-7) on Friday at 6.35 p.m. The game is broadcast on TBS.

Molly Miller, Grand Canyon

The former Drury coach and ex-Kickapoo outstanding outstanding standout has the No. 13 Seed Lopes (32-2) on a 30-game victory in the first round on Friday at No. 4 Saatgut Baylor (27: 7) at 2:30 p.m. at ESPNU. According to reports, several wedding programs have shown interest in making Miller from the Phoenix program, which they have contributed to this since leaving Springfield in 2020. One of Miller's assistant coaches is the former Drury-outstanding Daejah Bernard.

Daniel Abreu and Kael Combs, Drake

Drakes Daniel Abreu, right, here against Missouri State in the Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield on January 25, 2025 (photo of Bruce Stidham) can be seen

Abreu (10.3 points per game), a Willard graduate and Combs (3.5 ppg), a Nixa graduate, are part of the Missouri Valley championship championship and the No. 11 squad from Drake's Kader (30-3), who will take up in Wichita Mizzou (22-11) in Wichita on Thursday. The game will be broadcast on Trutv at 6:35 p.m.


Ryan Collingwood

Sports reporter

Ryan Collingwood includes the college and high school sport in the Springfield Metropolitan area for the daily citizen. Do you have a story or a story? Send an email to rCollingwood@sgfcitizen.org, by phone or 417-837-3660, or follow Ryan on social media at x.com/rwCollingwood. More from Ryan Collingwood