Team Preview: John Marshall

<div><em><strong>Classification</strong>: VHSL 3A</em></div><div><em><strong>Conference</strong>: 26</em></div> <div><em><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Ty White</em></div> <div><em><strong>Last Season</strong>: 18-5; Lost in Conference Semifinals to George Wythe</em></div> <div><em><strong>Key Games</strong>: </em></div> <div><em>12/8 - Fork Union Academy</em></div> <div><em>12/29 - @ LC Bird</em></div> <div><em>1/9 - Blue Ridge (VA Preps Invitational)</em></div> <div><em>2/1 - @ Deep Run</em></div> <div><em>2/6 - @ Norcom</em></div> <div> <div><em><strong>Key Losses</strong>: Taqqui Muhammed (UNC Greensboro), Tre Patterson (Virginia Union), Nate Jones, Jay Broaddus</em></div> <div><em><strong>Key Returners</strong>: Jeremy Sheppard, Greg Jones, Isaiah Anderson, Xavier Trent</em></div> <div><em><strong>Key Newcomers</strong>: Lavar Allen, DeMarr McCrae, JaQuan Newton</em></div> </div> <div><em><strong>Projected Starters</strong>: </em></div> <div><em>PG Jeremy Sheppard</em></div> <div><em>PG Lavar Allen</em></div> <div><em>SF Xavier Trent</em></div> <div><em>PF Greg Jones</em></div> <div><em>PF Isaiah Anderson</em></div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">After winning a state championship two seasons ago, John Marshall came out scorching last season winning eight of their first nine games, including victories over eventual state champions Norcom and Colonial Forge. However, the Justices didn’t close the season as well as they began it. </span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Despite being the favorites on paper to repeat as 3A State Champions, they sputtered down the stretch, losing regular season games to conference rival George Wythe and to a surprisingly successful St. Christopher&#39;s team, before losing to Wythe in the conference semifinals. It was a great season, but not as memorable as their preseason expectations.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">“We don’t want to play our best basketball in December, we want to play it in February,” Assistant Coach Michael Blackwell said.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Marshall has to replace four of their top six players from last season, but the coaches are expecting a lot from their two returning captains. Senior point guard Jeremy Sheppard, who recently signed his National Letter of Intent to Central Florida, will be looked at to lead a young back-court and help the team grow early in the season. Junior forward Greg Jones will be leaned on to produce at high levels, much like his sophomore season where he averaged a double-double and was perhaps the most consistent player for the Justices.</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">“Expecting great leadership from Greg and Jeremy,” Head Coach Ty White said. “They’ve come a long way in that department, and it will be important for them to lead by example.”</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Joining the two returners are a front court pair in junior Isaiah Anderson and senior Xavier Trent who will be looked at for stability in an otherwise young team. A pair of freshmen round out the top six, and the two have shown flashes of brilliance. Lavar Allen, a point guard who will start in the backcourt with Sheppard, and DeMarr McRae, an athletic wing who will likely be thrust into the sixth man role.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Having two untested pieces as a major role in their rotation, Coach White knows it’s important for them to gel throughout the early part of the season.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">“Building chemistry every day is our biggest goal,” White said. "We want to take it one game at a time, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves this season.”</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">John Marshall has all of the talent to compete with many of the schools in the state, regardless of classification or size. They open their season with a matchup on a neutral court against Park View at Meadowbrook December 5 in the ASSIST Tip Off Classic.</span></div>