Leland Kirkendoll (Memphis WarEagles)

The Memphis WarEagles 2018 are a strong guard oriented team with good shooting from the 2 guard spot in Zach Street, a player who can play on and off the ball, Derrick Craig and Leland Kirkendoll. Craig is a good left hand shooter who loves the corner 3 and provides pretty good ball handling but their best guard and player overall is Kirkendoll. He can get to the basket and finish as well as any in the city playing in the nationals and in the open court, he’s an underrated passer and even stronger finisher. He’s really improved his shooting over the last year as well making him much better offensively. On the inside, John McBride is their size at about 6’1 who can hit the elbow jumper but will need to play really big if they are to advance out of pool play and on into medal contention. I wouldn’t take this team lightly but the competition in 2018 maybe a little too strong for them right now to really make a push into a top 20 finish nationally but don’t sleep on them teams coming in or they could surprise you.

John McBride (Memphis WarEagles)

Chris Chiozza 5'10 PG (White Station/Team Thad)

A few years ago, a young 6th grader walked into my  camp with 8 future Division 1 basketball players as well a few other players who are now playing Junior College ball across the country. Unassuming,small and looking a bit timid, my first thought,he might be a little out of his league here. The names were there, Robert Houston who at the time was maybe the best 8th grader in the city, Cameron Golden,Alex Anderson and host of others who were older and supposedly better. All Chiozza did was outshine some of the best guards in the city with a flair for the game and vision unlike anyone else in the camp. Anyone there camp would tell you, he may have been the best guard there as a 6th grader. He had the swagger and confidence to become a great pg and now, fast forward 5 years later and today at his high school, the 5’10 pg committed to Billy Donovan and the Florida Gators. He’s overcome all the odds, all the nay sayers ”too small for high major”" Doesn’t shoot it well enough to be a high major guard”. All he has done is become the second best player in the city in the 2014 class,not a bad honor considering,his AAU and school ball teammate Leron Black is considered as a top 25 player in the country. Just a few months ago,Chiozza was mid major at best by most and considering some smaller schools hoping for bigger offers but thus far during the AAU/travel ball season,no one in the country’s stock has rose more than Chiozza’s. He’s put together a stretch where he’s dominated his competition and whoever has been put in front of him garnering offers of the past few weeks from Ohio State,UCONN,USC and Memphis just last week however with Florida offering before the hometown Tigers,it was just to much to pass up and a “dream school” according to Norton Hurd,Team Thad’s 17s coach. “Chris is new to this,he’s never been through this before, he loved the idea of going to Ohio State but it was his choice” Hurd said.

With 2014 just around the corner, that’s 1 off the board with maybe Leron Black deciding sooner rather than later and possibly following his friend and teammate as I’ve heard his decision could affect where Black plays collegiately. Don’t hate the young man for a decision that he made to do what was best for himself. Florida has a proven track record with point guards and Billy Donovan gets the most out of his guards. With Kasey Hill in for next year and probably a two year and done player,Chiozza will walk into a chance to play immediately as a freshman and he could play big dividends for the Gators early. Congratulations Chris on your college choice, Florida is getting a great one.

Future Florida PG

Chandler Lawson 6'4 2019 (Memphis Wildcats)

Joe Cooper 5'6 2019 (Memphis WarEagles)

DJ Jeffries 6'0 2019 (Memphis WarEagles)

If projecting some of the top players in 2019 is to early to some, then I don’t want to be right,well at least that’s what they say. It’s at  this time that you kind of start to see some separate themselves a little but of course,some will rise above whether it’s due to sudden growth spurts,development or someone moving into the city and changing the landscape of the class. The Memphis WarEagles have a bright future should everyone stay intact with Joseph Cooper who is a top 2 player in this class locally and probably top 10-15 player in the country nationally,DJ Jeffries a long 2-3 prospect,Shemar Brown,a 6’1 who’s confidence is growing every day along with Antavion “Dude” Collum and Joseph Stevenson. All the above mentioned could be top 5 names but at the top of the list is 6’4 Chandler Lawson. Lawson if the younger brother of 2015 KJ Lawson,a top 20 player in the country according to ESPN and 2016 Dedric Lawson,a top 10 player in the country according to DunkDog.com. Chandler at this stage, maybe further along in his development than both his older brothers,he can get it off the rim and handle it like a guard and if not stopped in the open court,it’s a lay up or foul. He blocks shots,rebounds,shoots the 3 and is versatile as any player in the country in this age group. I have no doubt in my mind that he will be a top 10 to 20 player in the country througout his high school career. This class early looks to be a little top heavy but I’m sure through the years,more will rise and make themselves ones to watch but for now,Lawson,Cooper,Jeffries,Columm and Brown are standouts above the rest in 2019 in Memphis