HILLCREST 2010-2011                                                      

     It has been since the 2006 season the last time the Vikings made the Hoopers Top Ten and with second year Coach Shelvie Rose leading he program, the Vikings are headed in the right direction. Last years ball club went 16-11 but had many bright spots for this years ball club. Texes Southern signee Kerrell Davis (5'10 - 170 lbs., rivals #) one of the fastest guards to come thru Memphis has remarkable speed like local legends Andre Allen and Tony Harris. His strong overall game has the whole package from great court vision, good outside shooting, super quick first step, just the whole package compadres and a shame that this young man is not nationally ranked. An senior oriented team that starts 4 seniors will make serious noise this year with postseason advancement a very much reality. Senior Charlie Waters (6'6 - 190 lbs., rivals #) will play the middle and is one of the best players under the radar and many schools would love to have this kids services. Another senior to keep an very close eye on is Darius McGoughy (6'4 - 190 lbs., rivals #) who plays as one of the shooting guards (shoots pretty good also) likes to bang down low for stick backs, blocks shots way above average than regular guards but with his height and long reach it makes a nice task to master. 

     Senior transfer from BTW Cordarius Lewis (5'10 - 160 lbs., rivals #) will start and his aggressive play will help an already strong guard up tempo team, "that can run with anyone in the state", as Coach Rose stated. Senior James Howell (6'4 - 210 lbs., rivals #) strong and aggressive inside play will help bolster the line in crucial situations when rebounds need to be secured and also has a soft left handed touch for put backs.

     Junior Jermell Abrams (5'8 - 155 lbs., rivals #) solid playmaking skills will help the guard rotation  econd year Coach Thompson will field a young team with unlimited potential if they stay focused.  

College Coaches: Diamond in the Rough Team with legitimate off the radar prospects, (college coaches click here).

Recap 10-24-2006

By Staff Writer Harold Rivera

Players:

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