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CENTRAL 2010-2011
Central will boast one of
the tallest teams not only in the city but the state,
at the same time will probably have the biggest skilled
big men and guards overall but not a true point guard in
the fold. Last year players that went on were Tulsa signee Tim Peete,
Maceo Harmon to Columbia St., and Allen
Farmer to East Oklahoma will
definitely be missed. Favorites to win
District 16 - AAA the past couple of years will change
with Melrose's resurgence and White Station's placement
into District 16-AAA. Coach Applewhite (Grambling and
Texas Southern) in his 10th year
of coaching at the historic100 year mid town school boast some
of the best young talent in the city with two players
nationally ranked by rivals and the only other school to
hold that note is Melrose where both ball clubs are in
the same district. Senior
Cameron Clear (6'7 -
255 lbs.,
rivals #142)
not in basketball but football will anchor the middle as
strong as any other player in the nation.
Clear
has offers from all the major
football schools as Alabama, Auburn to name a few.
He also has a lot of summer circuit experience which
will benefit him tremendously. Junior
Jarnell Stokes
(6'8 - 225 lbs.,
rivals #9) ranked in the
top ten by
www.rivals.com is the best big
man not only the city but maybe in the country. Stokes game
has improved ten fold to go along with his ball handling
where he can bring the ball all the way up the court
with regular. He plays like a man amongst kids and his
game resembles a Carlos Boozer type to an extent. Junior
counterpart
Andre Applewhite (6'4 - 195 lbs.,
rivals #)
an academic All American that holds a 4.0 g.p.a. and his
high knowledge of the game to compliment his size.
Applewhite
outside shot, ball handling and
strong inside play are major pluses (is that a word but
sounds good, Lol) where we will hear about all season
long. Derius Sorrell (6'6 -
205 lbs.,
rivals #)
will contribute in many different ways, especially from
the inside that will garner
valuable playing time.
Blake Johnson (5'10 -
185 lbs.,
rivals #)
will play the point guard position and will direct this
very talented team all season long. Guard play will be
very vital to Central success and a tall order to
sustain.
Warriors travel schedule for this year
have them heading toward the east coast and playing in
the prestigious 9th Annual
Chick-Fil-A in Blythewood, South
Carolina. Hamilton won the 4th Annual
Chick-Fil-A (click here
for results) Classic II
when it was in Columbia, South Carolina. To Kentucky
they go with a Battle on the Border matchup in West
Central, Kentucky with a top 3 team from Kentucky on
December 11, 2010. District counterpart White Station
will make the trip to Kentucky also. A showdown with
future regional implications the Warriors play the
Jaguars of Southwind at the Fed Ex Forum in the annual
Martin Luther King Classic. West Memphis High will come
across the bridge and play the Warriors and a great way
for West Memphis to get their program back on track from
the glory days.
Sophomore
Frank Harris (6'6 -
205 lbs.,
rivals #)
and Josh Jones (6'3 - 185 lbs.,
rivals #)
will be asked to play major minutes due to their depth
which other Division AAA schools support as Division AAA
will not be as strong as last year but will still be
very competitive as always.. Freshman
Tim Shaw (6'0 -
165 lbs.,
rivals #)
will play guard and notch major minutes at that
position. Will this be
the year the Warriors advance past the Regional's?
College
Coaches:
Diamond in the Rough Team with legitimate off the
radar prospects,
(college coaches click here).
Recap 11-20-2010
By Staff Writer Harold Rivera
Players:
| Cameron
Clear |
6'6 |
Senior |
| Jarnell
Stokes |
6'8 |
Junior |
| Andre
Applewhite |
6'4 |
Junior |
| Blake
Johnson |
5'10 |
Junior |
| Derius
Sorrell |
6'6 |
Junior |
| Josh Jones |
6'3 |
Sophomore |
| Frank
Harris |
6'6 |
Sophomore |
| Tim Shaw |
6'0 |
Freshman |
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MESSAGE BOARD TOPIC
OF THE DAY
Why does basketball reward being
left back in school?
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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.
Taking 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.
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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