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Leron Black with Team Thad  2012 going 55-5.

 

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  Greg Pryor at Future 150 in Birmingham 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       MEMPHIS HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER BREAKDOWN 2014

 

 Pre Season Predictions will be out September 1, 2014

Week 1 is out (Nov.18, 2014 - Nov.25, 2014)

Live New Preseason Rankings are out, scroll down

 

Mitchell Summer Shootout 2014

       In it's first year, Mitchell Summer Shootout was a tremendous success with some of the top talent in the city and region at display accordingly. Coach Phillips coming off aTSSAA State Championship run and favorites to not only win in Memphis but repeat as state champs went undefeated in summer action. The Mitchell Tigers (No. 1 Preseason Poll) were led by juniors Kylan Phillips, Naba Echols, & Jeremiah Martin as the best three guard set in the state, hands down. Douglass will make some noise in Division AA with Mr. Basketball candidate LaGerald Vick leading the way for the iconic North Memphis high school. Manassas probably has the best sophomore class in the city and deep also plus the senior leadership from Marcus Nesby and will have a great run with that group of young men, TSSAA honors a great possibility in a couple of years. 

    Westwood (No. 10 Preseason Poll) is led by 6'8 Toriano Stokes and this young man is going to be special compadres and not only on the court, this young man has already made a 25 on the ACT. Ridgeway is Ridgeway and Coach Henning coming off to his standard a tough season will rebound with incoming freshman Tyler Harris who is going to be special compadres. Only three years ago Melrose was one of the  top programs in the country but that fortune has changed dramatically and will be many years if ever back at that level, seriously. Think this is a game just sit back and watch. Covington came down and proved they will make some noise in Division AA with Bobby Shanks leading the way and don't no one want to go on the road and play Covington in the postseason. Whitehaven will be ok and will sit in the middle of the pack of 16-AAA with a chance to make a move here and there. You have to give it to Coach Delamar of Sheffield, he does an extremely great job with the kids he gets every year respectively. The Knights will make some noise with some upsets in the works and possibly more as the season progresses.  

MUS Summer Classic 2014

        2014 Summer Classic was another success with some of the best teams in the city and surrounding areas. Since it's inception since 2000 it has made national acclaim as one of the best high school summer events respectively.  Click here for stats. Houston (Number 2 Preseason Poll) came away with a perfect 6-0 mark with good team basketball all weekend long. Senior Marlon Hunter will lead the Mustangs and  Justin Benton will make noise all year long. Memphis Central went also 6-0 but their opponents were not a strong as Houston, but still 6-0 after Hoopers staff had them as a cellar team in 16-AAA. Coach Ricardo Patton and Young have done a great job this summer.  Central's Darius Thompson and Antonio Gillespie will be good. Players that stood out to the Hoopers staff over the 3 day event and the top player at the event was Southwind senior Donte Dorsey, who has elevated his game to another level. His jump shot from all over the court is solid, basketball moves are full of basketball IQ that has grown ten fold. Dorsey is a high major prospect with offers from major universities on deck and is going to be a great player on the college level.

     Carter Sweat  (Center Hill - No.9 MemphisHoopers.com Top Ten) is as fluid as they come with his moves anywhere on the court in cohesion with player defense especially when attacking the goal.. His 6''4 frame with great ball handling at all times but will pull up on a dime anywhere on the court and can nail the shot in high confidence form. Jeremiah Oatsvall of Brentwood Academy played extremely well this week displaying his outside shot from all over the court. BA will be back in form and should have a great season, major hiatus since the Brandon Wright days. White Station Nic Smith is a scoring machine but the Spartans will need more to even break into The Hoopers Top Ten. Dyer County has solid core from last years group that made it to sub state action respectively. Seniors DeAndre Gilton, DeMichael Smith, and Ashton Mitchell and  all these young men are battle tested. ECS (No.5 MemphisHoopers.com Top Ten) enters the poll again with legendary Head Coach Terry Tippett n his final year of his illustrious career that spans 4 decades. Senior Skal Labisierre returns and will be a ESPN Top Ten Ranking 2015. Another TSSAA D-2 Championship is on the horizon for a total of 6 overall respectively. Briarcrest also looked good at the event with junior Micah Thomas displaying his athletic ability with that unorthodox shot but him jumping off the ground so high it and all his offensive moves are explosive.

    Germantown (No.7 MemphisHoopers.com Top Ten) has played good basketball all June long and will make noise all season long and should advance in postseason action. Kipp Academy in Division A looked really good with some early transfers and will battle Mitchell for Division A honors in Memphis. For the second year in a row Waynesville High School from Missouri traveled south to play in event with nationally ranked big man Juwan Morgan and gave Southwind their only loss of the event.  Teams to watch and on the rise with a solid June under their belt were  Craigmont who garners one of the top scorers in the city candidate for this upcoming basketball season in Teverette Cain. Other teams on the rise are Collierville, Kirby, and MUS which all had good weekends but the high school basketball season will tell the tale for these ball clubs who are on the borderline. Remember compadres and let's not get ahead of ourselves where MUS Summer Classic is sometimes for showcase where kids have no intention on going to that school but fiddle faddle. Let's see who enrolls where when school starts August 4, 2014, it's always a story somewhere on who is where and not.

        Dyer County with 2 of the 4 returning starters #12 DeMichael Smith & #24 DeAndre Gilton

 

 

Last Year 2013-2014 Preseason Breakdown

      Memphis high school basketball is always intriguing and this year is no different. This year like past preseason polls is dominated by inner city Division AAA schools but a truly major change is in the works and definitely the hardest to date preseason polls  . With the merger between Memphis City Schools into Shelby County Schools now completed with all schools under one umbrella, the old county schools are making noise claiming three spots in the MemphisHooper.com Top Ten Poll. The poll has changed a little in the last couple of weeks with transfers complete like Ladarius Coleman from Craigmont to White Station, C.J. Anderson from Whitehaven back to Arlington. The emergence of Bolton with the rising of Jalen Fisher (espn #23) respectively and a Team Thad 17's summer circuit player.

     Once mighty powerful (16-AAA) district and arguably the toughest district in the state is presently on a down beat from the last 4 year run garnering 3 of the TSSAA state championships in White Station, Melrose, and Memphis East respectively. Southwind the other Shelby County Schools to win state and defending  their 2013 state championship makes the poll at the No. 7 slot.. Division 16 - AAA still holds that claim but barely with only Memphishoopers.com Preseason Top Ten Number 1 White Station and Preseason Top Ten Number 2 Hamilton are the only true contenders. Memphis Central under second year Ricardo Patton will battle to a point with East and Melrose rebuilding. Whitehaven will falter, maybe winning 17 games this year after their best team last year since the Julius Peppers days, going 24-12 last year. Whitehaven was once a Number 7 fall to 9 in Memphishoopers.com Preseason Top Ten with a probable Top 3 ranking until C.J. Anderson (Team Thad - UMASS)  and other rising sophomores and juniors like Trey Atkins (Catholic) transfer on top of star point guard probable season long hiatus.   

     The emergence of Charter schools/academies have had an adverse effect with the "numbers game" trickling into future athletic aspects conventionally. Division AA will be off this year with numerous schools changing their classifications from historic levels.  to Division A from Memphishoopers.com Preseason Poll Number 4 Mitchell, Hillcrest, Carver on the south side of the city. The north side added tangible Craigmont to Division AA from Division AAA and Kingsbury went up to Division AAA.

     Memphishoopers.com Preseason Top Ten have Arlington coming in at No. 3. Arlington and Houston (another Memphishoopers.com Preseason Top Ten at No. 6)  have legitimate chances of advancing far in postseason action. Especially with once mighty powerful (16-AAA) district the toughest district in the state on a down beat. Don't forget Ridgeway (No. 8) and Southwind (No. 7) to make noise and can beat any of these teams mentioned accordingly. With Jerry JohnsonMarlon Hunter, and rising sophomore Justin Benton coming to his own, Houston will for the first time in school history should make it to the Regionals and more. Arlington last year losing to Munford in the Regionals wouldn't of happened if Jonathan Starks from Munford and now starting point guard at Tulane said otherwise. Munford had a gift last year and better of enjoyed it becuae they will be like years past, district round go homes. Remember two years ago when Brighton had a Top 3 team in the state and lost to Bartlett on a last second shot from Athlon Bell (Arkansas) then all their players went to other schools and the school hasn't won 5 games in two years since then. This winning comes in cycles unless you are the big dogs compadres and keeping the flavor is a test of time!!!!

     Division AA is also off a tidbit this year with No. 4 Mitchell no longer in that field, going down to Division A. No. 5 Manassas resides in the north division and will have a tougher road with upcoming Douglass High School who might just have the leading scorer in SCIAA in LeGerald Vick. Raleigh Egypt will battle with big men Fattod Lewis and Junior McGee respectively. Trezevant had their best team in years last year but is in rebuilding mode, that group is gone.  went up in classification to Division AAA, Trezevant had their best chance in years last year and might go thru the last cycle to get in, 6 years hiatus. Manassas will be led by Rayford Albright, Courtney Smith and a host of newcomers from one of the best incoming freshmen class in the city

  

 

HAMILTON 2013-2014 Team Bio,

click here

 

     Hoopers staff have for the Number 1 preseason slot selection the Spartans of   White Station high school bask

 

Recap 8-15-2012

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2013-2014 Hoopers Top Ten Seventh Week Breakdown

 

 

  

    MemphisHoopers.com Top Ten Poll (Week 7 ) & Penny Hardaway Classic results have the White Station Spartans holding on to the Number 1 spot for all seven weeks respectively. TheSpartans participated in the No. 1 Attended High School Basketball Tournament in America in Springfield, Missouri at the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions. White Station in the first game defeatedWesleyan Christian of High Point, North Carolina 64-50 with Nic Smith and Ladarius Coleman at 16 points apiece, Leron Black at 12 pts. In the second game Ladarius Coleman had a game high 24 points to lead the Spartans 65-50 over the defending 2013 Bass Pro Champions Fairfax Paul Vl Panthers. White Station ranked thenNumber 3 in USA Todays high school rankings lost in the championship game to Number 1 in USA Today's poll Montverde Academy from Florida. They beat Sunrise Christian Academyranked Number 25 on a buzzer beater by Leron Black 56-55 on Thursday night (Jan. 23). Hamilton moves up to the Number 2 slotwith wins 3 wins over District 16-AAA opponents East, Melrose, andOverton. The Wildcats fall to Oak Hill Academy Friday night (Jan.24) 79-66 heading into a matchup Saturday night (Jan.25) against district counterat White Station, three times in 2 weeks will be a test for both ball clubs respectively at Dyer County on ESPNU. Arlingtonmoves up to Number 3 with solid wins over then Number 5 Bolton,Kingsbury and Germantown accordingly. UMASS signee C.J. Anderson of Arlington has been on a tear averaging 21 points, and 8 rebounds during the stretch.

 

 

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

 

 

   Chris Crawford & Markell Crawford (Memphis) watch their old high schools play each other at Sheffield as they beat Melrose handily.

 

 

Defending TSSAA Division AAA state champions Southwind creep into the Number 4 spot with large margin wins over Craigmont and Wooddale. The Jaguars slip with a lost to Ridgeway 85-84 on a last second three by Terrance Smith who scored a game high 31 points to compliment new transfer Khalil Spencer who added 25 point and are positioning theirselves for a post season run. Manassas had a strong week with a 86-68 victory over Raleigh Egypt and Rayford Albright notching 40 points and averaging 28 pts a game since his return and move into the Number 5 position. Houston falls to Number 6 after losing to upcoming Germantown with Jake Miller at 25 pts, and Tim Shaw at 21 pts., but in return thump Kirby, then the next night demolish Wooddale by 27 points 87-55 with Marlon Hunterhitting 31 points in the win. 

 

 

 

          

Clarence Quinn & Randy Porterfield have Sheffield in first place in 16-AA  and the surprise team in all of Memphis

 

 

BTW keeps rolling thru district play undefeated with solid double digit wins that averaged 31 points over CarverMiddle College & Kipp Academy. Seniors JaMarcus Franklin & Angelo Smith, with sophomore Chance Blakely are making noise in Division A. In theNumber 8 slot Douglass improves their record to 18-3 with district wins over Number 5 Manassas and Trezevant and are tied for first place in District 16-AA at 7-1. LaGerald Vick and Freddie Williamsof Douglass are the best 6'5 overall combos in the city hands down.  

 

 

 

   LaGerald Vick & Freddie Williams at Douglass

are the best 6'5 overall combo sets in the city!   

 

 

 

   Onle private school in the Hoopers Top Ten and overcoming a six year hiatus from the Top Ten from the Elliott Williams & Lawrecne Bowers days. For the second week in a row, the Gryphons have moved up a slot to the Number 9 position and St. George's also holdis the best overall record in the city at 19-1 respectively. They handled Sacred Heart of Jesus and Fayette Academy handily. Then in a tough battle with CBHS they beat the Purple Wave 74-65 with Justin Wertner scoring 25 points on accurate shooting from all over the court. Coach Jeff Ruffin has done a great job early in the season with this squad. 

 

Penny Hardaway Classic Breakdown from actual games Hoopers staff watched in person. White Station defeated Hamilton 76-71 on national TV (ESPNU) and play them Monday night (Jan.27) again - 2 times in the next 2 weeks. A preview of state tournament bound teams from District 16-AAA with the regular high school basketball season coming around third heading into district play. Leron Black notched a game high 25 points in an outstanding shooting performance at 11-16 (69%). Mitchell is one of those teams that you can't never forget and won't go away. After a rough start to the season, the Tigers have won 11 games in a row in strong fashion. With 5 seconds left on the clock against Jackson South Side (who will also battle for Division AAhonors), junior Naba Echols nails a three pointer and is fouled to make it a four point play and the Tigers win 64-60. Junior Jaremiah Martin led all scorers at 22 points a clip. South Side had two players at 20 apiece and are definitely great ball players in senior Jalen Braford & Chris McNeal. Oak Hill Academy clobbers Houston 84-51 behind senior Cody Martin's (N.C. State) 17 points and 11 rebounds. Also MVP of the game, junior Terrance Phillips (Brandon Jennings little brother) adds 12 points and 12 assists. With the score at the half 30-25 Oak Hill up, a 5 point third quarter by Houston and two ESPN thunderous dunks kill the Mustangs demeanor & hope immediately as the season goes into a tailspin. 

 

   

    

 

 

 

2013-2014 Hoopers Top Ten First Week Rankings

Week 1 (Nov.16)

Week  1 Results (Nov. 18 - Nov. 25, 2013)

1. Hamilton (0-0)

A solid December with victories over Arlington, Mitchell, and Corinth, Mississippi without an injured Leron Black.      Last Week 2

2. Mitchell (0-0)

Definitely the surprise team of the early season with a 13-2 clip. Jumped 6 spots to land at Number 2 with district action starting this week.                                                                                       Last Week 8

3. Houston (0-0)

Only loss to nationally ranked Mentor, Ohio but a solid win over Christ School out of North Carolina in Arby's Classic.    Last Week 4

4. ECS (0-0)

Losses to Number 1 nationally ranked Highland Lone Peak and Long Beach California but a sounding win over Hamilton stops the fall accordingly.     Last Week 1

5. Southwind (0-0)

Capture the Martin Lions Club Tournament at Martin Westview High School.      Last Week 7

6. Overton (0-0)

Host school only played one game but was very impressive in win.          Last Week 8

7. Germantown (0-0)

Two losses at City of Palms drop the Jaguars from the Number 1 slot. All three losses are to Top 10 teams in the country but you still need to beat one of them.                                                           Last Week 1

8. Westwood (0-0)

Good wins over Mitchell and ECS but a tough last second shot to  Marist, Georgia to lose 50-49.                                  Last Week 5

9. Haywood County (0-0)

Capture the The Mater Dei Christmas Tournament. go 6-0 during that stretch.                    Not Ranked

10. Douglass (0-0)

Idle over the holidays but a good start ot the early season. These are the games you are suppose to win to be the best.  Not Ranked

   
   
   
Dropped Out:       Sheffield (7-3), Memphis East (2-5), Trezevant (5-5), Whitehaven (7-3),  
   

Poll Archives (click here)

Updated 12-18-10

 

 

 

Others receiving votes:    Ridgeway (15-3), Briarcrest (19-4), Trezevant  (13-5), Southwind (15-5),  Covington (16-3, Dyer County (18-2), West Mem. Ark. (14-3), Central (19-5), Brighton (18-5),  BTW (-0),  , Kingsbury (14-6), , Oakhaven (10-4),  Southaven, MS. (23-6),  Bartlett (13-3,  Memphis East (9-7), Desoto Central (0-0), Kirby (0-5),  Germantown (8-8),   Olive Branch, MS. (13-6),  Wooddale (5-3), City University (0-0), Overton (2-4), Carver (3-5),  Horn Lake, MS. (0-0), Bolton (5-5),  Raleigh Egypt (19-11),  St. George's (6-4),  Hernando, Ms. (0-0), Mitchell (1-7),  MUS (4-4),  St. Benedict (4-4), Haywood County (7-6), Union City (2-6), Fayette Ware (4-4), Millington (0-0), Harding Academy (0-0), Desoto Central (0-0), F.A.C.S. (0-0), Covington (16-6),

Message Board (click here)

Other Teams of Interest: Catholic (0-10), Fairley (0-6), Frayser  (0-0), Hamilton (2-6),

    

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2012 Recap below

   from might be the hardest preseason poll to compile with so many regulars on the rebuild. e 2012-2013 high school basketball season will have some teams that have not been in the rankings for 5 - 6 years accordingly. At the same time the rankings willyears is dominated by Division AAA schools  miss some teams that are regulars such as Craigmont and Memphis Central. The first one is Hamilton coming in at number 6 respectively and there has only been two teams in state history to go undefeated and Hamilton did that feat in 2006 at a 39-0 mark. The same coach (Coach Keelon Lawson) that accomplished the sensational act in 2006 is back and with some great reinforcements in his awesome children with three on the Hamilton roster starting with K.J. Lawson (6'7 - 190 lbs., rivals #14)., Dedric Lawson (6'7 - 190 lbs., rivals #), and Conner Anderson, a transfer from Germantown supposedly.

      Hoopers staff debated extensively on who to put at the Number 1 slot with two teams with players ranked in the Top 20 nationally. After careful consideration Hoopers staff gave it to Southwind and with a lot of seniors on that ball club and their best chance for a state title run from last couple of years mishaps, a TSSAA state championship tournament appearance will definitely be a major disappointment and a state title a major gaffe. Leading Southwind will be lefty Jonathan Williams (6'9 - 210 lbs., rivals #27) in the middle and Jujuan Johnson (6'4 - 180 lbs., rivals #82) with his sharpshooting abilities. A young man that will surprise mucho personas will be Payton Hulsey (6'4 - 190 lbs., rivals #) and will be a strong combo/no.2 guard in the state. At Number 2 comes in White Station and with a relatively young team at hand, Coach Patino one of the better coaches in the state knows how to handle the situation with no problem. The addition of Chris Chiozza (6'0 - 160 lbs., rivals #15) from Bartlett solidifies a very strong team with all the correct parts at all positions and could easily win state themselves. They already have a Top Ten player in the country in the Hoopers staff eyes in Leron Black (6'8 - 215 lbs., rivals #18) who is one the most nicest young man you could ever meet but when he gets on that court he is a beast in basketball terms hands down!!! At Number 3 we have Briarcrest who garners the best player in the state and region in Austin Nichols (6'8 - 215 lbs., rivals #43), this kid can do it all and will dunk on you with his aggressiveness  at any time, just love this young man.

     Number 4 we have Memphis East the reigning Division AAA TSSAA State Champions who return Nic King (6'8 - 200 lbs., rivals #23) and sharpshooter Matthew Butler (6'3 - 180 lbs., rivals #). If Jalen Thompson (6'0 - 210 lbs., rivals #) can handle the guard spot in facilitating the team they will go along way in postseason action. Number 5 slot has probably the team you will have to watch all season long that will make some serious noise in Sheffield. The Knights boast a very solid core from last years group that made sub state and have one of the sharpest basketball minds in the city in Coach Delamar. He will have these young men very disciplined like no other! At the same time he has major sleepers in Jaylon Smith (6'2 - 185 lbs., rivals #) and one of the better left hand shooters in the city. You can't forget the twins who are all around ball players.

     16-AAA which is the toughest district in the state year in and year out will produce another state contender and winner. Hamilton will try to answer that call and comes in at Number 6 and just might advance far in postseason action. Question is will they have they have the guard position nailed down accordingly.

    Hoopers staff had Ridgeway in a rebuilding mode to a sense but with the development of Greg Pryor (6'2 - 185 lbs., rivals #) over the summer plus another strong in Jonathan Burroughs (6'1 - 170 lbs., rivals #) who had a legitimate summer the Road Runners come in at Number 7. Hoopers staff had Melrose at the Number 1 slot during summer high school action which in the Hoopers eyes never really means nada. Kids go here and there  for bettering themselves for the game. You have to give it to Coach J.J. he does it better than anyone in the city. After major defections and serious injuries they come in at Number 8. Dyer County comes in at Number 9 and has highest ranking player in the state in Robert Hubbs (6'2 - 185 lbs., rivals #11) but major question is about that supporting cast and will this be the last time the Choctaws in rankings for years to come.

    Rounding out the Top Ten is Trezevant at Number 10 and the last time they made the Hoopers Top Ten was in 2006 when Arnette Moultrie was present, see how long it can be when a school has great success.

      Division 2 had a nice run from 2003-2007 that ranks as mediocre compared to Memphis standards. The private school sector is definitely back on the rise after some dismal years, with Briarcrest, CBHS and ECS will contend with state honors and maybe Coach Tippett's end to an illustrious career after Skal Lebiesierre (6'10 - 185 lbs., rivals #6) leaves. Both of those ball clubs will lead the pack for ball clubs, St. George's, MUS, and Lausanne will field decent overall teams but this will not be their year. As for Mississippi schools who knows who will run the Northern section of Mississippi because they stumble when it comes to playing the southern section of the state in postseason action every year since Hoopers have been doing this. This part of the story is easy because the same thing happens every year and they seem fine with the results. Simple answer to that question is play more stronger  teams from Memphis but then they get intimidated that players will bolt for Memphis. Therefore when they play Lanier, Provine, Murrah and the other city teams from down south they always lose, CATCH 22 isn't it.

       Hold up before anyone says anything, BCS, AP, ESPN all have their rankings formulas depending on many variables and strength of schedule is right at the top. That being the point, can anyone blame the Hoopers staff. If not, then everyone that reads this article what about the Memphis Tigers. Do you think they would of been ranked that high playing Southwest, Northwest. Okay done deal!!!!

    Transitional periods are always hard and conforming into policies take time relating to basketball measures.

By Staff Writer Harold Rivera

    

 

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Recap 8-25-2005

BY : ANDRE WHITEHEAD OF TENNESSEE PREP HOOPS

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I think there is a book that starts off that way, but I digress.

The anticipation of the upcoming AAU or summer campaign was alive and kicking all over the country in May of 2005, especially in Memphis.

The expectations seemed enormous, having finished second in the 17 and under nationals last season as 16's the Memphis YOMCA seemed primed for the ultimate run.

Something happened on the way to the gym.

It was apparent the Bluff City faithful were not the only parties interested in getting a piece of the star studded squad.

Adidas wanted to get a foothold in the ever burgeoning Memphis hoop scene and this seemed to be the initial move to start this particular ball
rolling.

So the YOMCA was no longer in the loop and the Memphis Pump-N-Run were officially born.

TTaking a peek at the roster one could not blame Adidas for their bold move. Thaddeus Young, Willie Kemp, Wayne Chism, Pierre Niles and Brandon Powell made up a nucleus that would surely lead Team Memphis to the promised land.

The summer campaign started with a most interesting scenario as the "PNR" lost a game to the Mid-State Ballerz, who ironically had Willie Kemp running the show. This was an illusion that would soon change, as Kemp
shortly thereafter joined the PNR.

With all their ducks in a row, the PNR set out to establish themselves and put a benchmark on the national attention that would follow.

The Real Deal on the Hill, the first major tournament of the summer that coaches could attend. The pundits pined for the impending matchup between Team Memphis and the defending mythical goliath The Indy Spiece Heat. The Heat were led by the consensus top player in the class Greg Oden and numerous other high level prospects who could actually match the
PNR with name recognition.br>
The reputation was established and the aura of the PNR was created as the boys from Memphis soundly defeated the Heat and made a huge cry across the land as the best summer squad in existence.

Another funny thing happened on the way to their future endeavors, nothing.

For some inexplicable reason the PNR did not suit up for any of the Memorial Day festivities and was sparsely seen until the Adidas Super 64 in Atlanta, following the shoe camps.

The aforementioned players participated in various high level exposure camps and the three major shoe camps and kept their names on the tongues of coaches nationwide.

After achieving individual success at these various camps, the boys got back together with the purpose of putting the finishing touches on a grand and final run through the top programs the country had to offer. They added Ridgeway jumping jack Ernest Fields and ECS powerhouse Tim Johnson to the fold and things looked bright.

Once again a funny thing happened on the way to the gym.

The time off and the lack of continuity played havoc on the chemistry of the PNR and they bowed out early in Atlanta.

Heading to Las Vegas for the final big time event of the summer, the PNR seemed poised and ready to achieve. After dominating pool play the lack of chemistry once again reared it's ugly head and some resentment among the players seemed to end this summer campaign on a sour note.

This team had the potential to be one of the best of all time. It is truly unclear what precipitated these events that grounded this team for much of the latter portion of May and June, but it truly had it's effect on their success.

None the less these kids are part of the best class of seniors to dot the Tennessee landscape in many years.

The decision to completely disassociate themselves with the
organization that they grew up playing for in retrospect now seems like a mistake. The YOMCA will continue on with quality younger teams and what to make of the Adidas affiliation with the Bluff City at this juncture is
unclear.

BY : ANDRE WHITEHEAD OF TENNESSEE PREP HOOPS

 

 
 

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