NTBA : Team Gerald 14U
Prep Hoops took in the action yesterday at the NTBA (National Travel Basketball Association) and saw one special team playing with heavy hearts.
Team Gerald 14U is a team based out of the Pee Dee Region of the Palmetto State. Most of the players come from Mullins, Marion and Lake View area. Team Gerald 14U is coached by Head Coach Kevin Hamilton and Assistant Coach Derrick Bethea.
Team Gerald 14U is named after former Mullins Head Coach Mark Gerald who passed away back in September 2014 after a long battle with cancer at age 56. My first interaction was with Coach Gerald back in December 2004 after relocating to South Carolina from the Midwest. Mullins HS was playing Waccamaw HS at that time. I just started my recruiting service Swanny’s Roundball Review here in South Carolina after being in Illinois for 4 years.
Mullins HS had a 7th grader Eric Smith and post player Lenzor “Vic” Williams at that time. Smith would go onto play at Mullins HS before transferring to the The Christ School (Arden,NC). Smith started his college career at the University of South Carolina and finished up at Coastal Carolina University. Williams was a beast in the paint and physically mature at 6’7. Williams played some junior college ball but, honestly could of been one of the most talented kids I had ever seen if he would of just figured it out. I remember to this day “Lenzor is a very special player but he has to want it. The tools are there for him to be one of the best players I’ve ever coached” said Coach Gerald to me back in September 2004.
Coach Gerald was a first class guy in every sense of the word. Coach Gerald oversaw so many kids and helped so many kids in the Mullins area have a chance to move onto college. Coach Gerald was a great man to me and every one he came in touch with.
Team Gerald 14U is keeping his name alive with this young squad of ballers. Here is a look at some these players.
Sheldon Bradley (2021) – D.P. Cooper Charter School (Salters) (pictured on front)
Bradley 6’5 will look to attend C.E. Murray HS next fall he told Prep Hoops. Bradley had 6 blocks in the game we watched yesterday from the NTBA event in Myrtle Beach. Bradley moves well and has good length but tends to leave his feet on everything. Bradley must get stronger with the ball and his hands must improve. Bradley will be a kid you will here about over the next 4 years on the War Eagles roster.
Quinton Tisdale (2021) – Palmetto M.S. (Mullins)
Tisdale will enroll at Mullins HS in the fall as a freshman. Tisdale 5’11 shooting guard has a very high arching shot. Tisdale hits the pull-up jumper or spots up from the corner.
Derrick “DJ” Bethea (2022) – Lake View M.S. (Lake View)
Bethea will be just a 8th grader this fall. Bethea the son of Assistant Coach Bethea. Bethea 5’11 a wing player can really defend the passing lanes well. Bethea hit a few baseline jumpers today. Bethea will eventually play at Lake View HS. Basketball at Lake View HS is usually just a after thought and a filler until spring football starts back up.
Lake View HS is a football powerhouse along with really good baseball. The Wild Gators won the 1A State Championship at 14-0 this season. The Wild Gators have won now won 10 state championships in football.