October 2018 Newsletter: SHHS Basketball Standout Christian Guess Will Play for Missouri

Christian Guess ('18), a Shaker Heights High School standout basketball player who set our high school single-game scoring record last winter with 57 points against Mentor, has announced that he will attend and play basketball this year for the University of Missouri. Last season, Guess averaged 26.2 points.

Christian arrived at Shaker Heights High School after his sophomore year at Glenville High School—according to Woodbury principal and High School basketball coach Danny Young, Christian wanted to transfer to a school that would enable him to improve academically, emotionally and athletically. Mr. Young says that despite Christian’s intentions, his transition year was challenging. “It was a major adjustment for him academically so much that he had to sit the first half of the season, but I believe that was one of the best things that could have happened to him,” Mr. Young says. 

Mr. Young spoke to High School counselor Elizabeth Vokes, who suggested that Christian attend the Innovative Center (IC). Within two years, Christian’s GPA improved to a B average and he earned a qualifying ACT score for the NCAA. All along, Christian remained committed to being accountable for his grades, telling Mr. Young that the work he was putting in would be better for him in the long run.

“Mrs. Vokes and Mrs. Sizemore at the IC worked closely with Chris to make sure that he had all the right courses, even after graduation,” explains Mr. Young. In the end, West Virginia, Kent State, Ohio University, TCU and the University of Tennessee at Martin were interested in Christian. Then last month, Missouri called to give Christian an opportunity to attend school and play basketball. 

Best of luck to Christian at the University of Missouri!