Part 1 of 5 Things to Watch This Season
After a great summer including being mentioned as a probable McDonald’s All-American, Mr. Williams’s senior season is here. After stumbling last year in Mufreesboro, the Gryphons are looking to get back and win the state. They have the best player in the area but also return 6’7 Missouri signee, Lawrence Bowers. The small forward/ power forward is one of the top 5 most versatile players in the areas and should have a great year if he stays healthy. St George also added one of if not the best freshmen in the city, Bobby Parks Jr. If he’s able to adjust well to the high school level, that makes the Gryphons even more dangerous. Their role players will definitely have to step up as well if they are to make a run to the state. The road will not be easy as Briarcrest has added big man Johnny Williams for an entire season and CBHS will also have a say in who goes. The challenge is there for St. Georges but we will find out if Elliott “Email” Williams can deliver
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Gone are Deandre Bynum, Jordan Miller and tranferred Eric Buggs and enter in now in some people's opinion the best player in Memphis, Joe Jackson. The 5'11 sophmore guard had arguably the best summer of any player in the area playing very well at various camps including the Super 64 in Vegas and the Reebok camp earning him a number seven ranking in the sophmore class in the country by Rivals. As the season starts and referee whistles start to blow, the question is, can Joe Jackson lead his team as a sophmore ? Obviously, he's a great player with extraordinary offensive talent but can he not only lead in scoring but lead by example to a team with two seniors in the starting lineup ? Last year he didn't feel pressure and that has to be contributed to the play of Jordan Miller and a little to now Mitchell guard, Eric Buggs. Jackson never really had to handle the ball a lot, his main job was to score and that he did well averaging 13 a game but when the game was on the line, in most situations, Coach Patino went to Miller or even Deandre Bynum for a bucket. Will he be able to take the criticism that star players have to take when his team loses ? The blame jacket is a hard thing to wear around this incredible basketball city. I'm not taking anything away from Joe, he's great young player but the key word in this is young. He's only a sophmore and it will be sometimes hard for him to realize if I don't play well then my team loses. Only time will tell if he's able to carry the Spartans but if any one can do it, its Mr. Joe Jackson.
Part 2 of 5 Things to Watch This Season
PARITY
For years you've had, your White Station's or your Rideway's, Hamilton's and Raleigh Egypt's, that have dominated the areas hoop scene. However this year, you really don't have that team that just sticks out as the best team in the city. Some may question this notion of parity among the highschool but hear me out. Every team mentioned above has flaws. White Station will be young but you might say well they have Joe Jackson. He's a phenomenal player but he can't do it by himself. Ridgeway lost Martino Brock to a prep school. You would probably say, well they got Sampson Carter who may be better. They will miss Brock's toughness and defense and their guard play may questionable with the exception of Jason Jones and Chris Downey. Hamilton lost 3 division basketball last year. Enough said. Raleigh Egypt added Arnette Moultrie who will have a great impact on the Pharaohs teams but they to lost two divison players in Maurice Miller and Caleb Brown and two other guys to junior collges. It may be hard for them to replace Miller's value. Then you have a couple of teams that could be just as good as the ones I've mentioned already. Manassas has a very exciting team that could compete with any of those teams. Briarcrest could also be mentonied among those teams as well. Mitchell has been one of those powerhouse type teams in the past couple of years but they've already lost 2 this season.
Don't get me wrong, all of those teams at the top are pretty good teams. Raleigh Egypt has the talent to be better than last years team and quite possibly go undefeated in the regular season. Ridgeway could also been thrown in there to. Carter will definitely help his new team with scoring at 15 to 20 a game. Mitchell could very easily get to Mufreesboro again because of their sky high talent level. Will there be a team that will just stand out among the rest. As the season gets started, 901prepscoop and you the fans will find out soon.
For years you've had, your White Station's or your Rideway's, Hamilton's and Raleigh Egypt's, that have dominated the areas hoop scene. However this year, you really don't have that team that just sticks out as the best team in the city. Some may question this notion of parity among the highschool but hear me out. Every team mentioned above has flaws. White Station will be young but you might say well they have Joe Jackson. He's a phenomenal player but he can't do it by himself. Ridgeway lost Martino Brock to a prep school. You would probably say, well they got Sampson Carter who may be better. They will miss Brock's toughness and defense and their guard play may questionable with the exception of Jason Jones and Chris Downey. Hamilton lost 3 division basketball last year. Enough said. Raleigh Egypt added Arnette Moultrie who will have a great impact on the Pharaohs teams but they to lost two divison players in Maurice Miller and Caleb Brown and two other guys to junior collges. It may be hard for them to replace Miller's value. Then you have a couple of teams that could be just as good as the ones I've mentioned already. Manassas has a very exciting team that could compete with any of those teams. Briarcrest could also be mentonied among those teams as well. Mitchell has been one of those powerhouse type teams in the past couple of years but they've already lost 2 this season.
Don't get me wrong, all of those teams at the top are pretty good teams. Raleigh Egypt has the talent to be better than last years team and quite possibly go undefeated in the regular season. Ridgeway could also been thrown in there to. Carter will definitely help his new team with scoring at 15 to 20 a game. Mitchell could very easily get to Mufreesboro again because of their sky high talent level. Will there be a team that will just stand out among the rest. As the season gets started, 901prepscoop and you the fans will find out soon.
Part 3 of 5 Things to Watch This Season
Part 4 of 5 Things to Watch This Season
2006, Thaddeus Young, a lottery pick in the 2007 draft was on Mitchell's team. The results, a loss in the championship game of the state and a bad taste in the Tiger fans mouths. 2007, a suppossed rebuilding year right ? After a slow start the Tigers would win over 10 games straight to make it to the state tournament for the second year in a row. The results, another loss to Liberty in what truely was a great coaching job by Coach Johnson and great play down the stretch from the young Tigers. This year the expectations are there and they are big. Its state championship or bust for seniors, Jarvis Jones, Ken Torry, Lewis Mccaster and Armani Burdett. Sophmore future D-1 point guard, Madracus Wade played well down the stretch but this year he will be off the ball due to the tranfered in Eric Buggs. Buggs has been okay so far but he must become better over the season. Jones is playing pretty well and Torry is doing his normal slashing and scoring but he must keep his cool in close game particularly at the end of the year. Double A has a few teams that could make some noise mainly Btw, Treadwell with Tony Smith and Oakhaven when they get Chucky Tunstall in a month. Mitchell on some nights will look like the best team in the city and some other nights, a team with ego issues. A lot of talent usually means a lot of attitudes but can Coach Johnson grip this talented group and guide them back to Mufreesboro. It will not be easy as BTW found out last year at the hands of Mitchell. Certainly they have the team to do it but will the drive still be there. Keep an eye on Mitchell, things could get interesting.