Whitehaven Team Preview
During the offseason Whitehaven High School Head Coach Faragi Phillips amassed another sturdy squad.
2016-2017 Review
Losses to their first three Tennessee opponents did not sour the season for WHS. Following a tortuous early December 52-51 loss to MUS the Tigers found their footing, rattling off eight straight wins.
When the calendar flipped over on 2016 Whitehaven already owned four interstate wins (MS, OH, AR, MO) and stood 9-3 heading into a clash with mighty Memphis East.
In their first 12 games Whitehaven yielded just 52.0 ppg, but the East Mustangs plopped 85 points on the Tigers.
From January 12th to January 24th the Tigers put together one of their best stretches of the season. Six teams walked away losers after sustaining mortal wounds by the Tiger’s claw: Overton, Hamilton, Mitchell, Bartlett, White Station, Overton.
Then WHS dropped the return trip at Memphis Central, 76-64. Still they entered the playoffs with just six losses, two by the hands of #1 Memphis East.
2017 Playoffs
MonFeb. 13 7:30 PM Memphis Overton
D16AAA W 68-43
ThuFeb. 16 7:30 PM Memphis Central
D16AAA Semi W 56-52
TueFeb. 21 7:30 PM #1 Memphis East N
D16AAA Campionship at Whitehaven, Memphis, TN L 66-84
SatFeb. 25 7:00 PM Collierville
R8AAA W 58-47
TueFeb. 28 6:00 PM at #6 Southwind
R8AAA Semi L 52-57
Whitehaven concluded 2016-2017 with a strong 21-8 record, bolstered with some impressive wins. WHS defeated Overton three times, White State twice, swept Hamilton, and took two of three against Central. East Mustangs were the one storm cloud that just never broke up. The Mustangs never relented and heading into 2017-2018 Whitehaven certainly will be hunting for revenge.
“It is going to be tough, but Whitehaven is a real gritty team,” said transfer Simmie Jones III. “We play hard and hopefully playing hard will get us where we want to go.”
Key Players:
2018 F Cameron Jones
2018 F Latrell Carter
2018 C Anthony Whitmore
2020 G Matthew Murrell
2019 PG Simmie Jones III
Whitehaven starts with senior forward Cameron Jones (Jacksonville State verbal).
“He should have a really good year for us,” said WHS Head Coach Faragi Phillips.
The front line features two other senior bigs in Latrell Carter and Anthony Whitmore. Carter (PH #66) is a 6-foot-6+ senior.
“(Carter is) probably about 6-foot-7,” said Coach Phillips. “He is a big. He is not necessarily a post.”
Whitmore should be a familiar name for Whitehaven supporters.
“I have another kid who is 6-foot-7 as well,” said Coach Phillips. “His name is Anthony Whitmore. He is the younger brother of Aaron Whitmore, who played for me the last couple years.”
How will the younger Whitmore get his baskets? What skills does he show?
“He is not as athletic as his brother,” said Coach Phillips. “He is more of a post/back-to-the-basket big, but he is about 6-foot-7…kind of a rim-protector. Kind of a guy that moves around and (scores) put-backs, jump-hooks, and things of that nature.”
Sophomore Class
According to Coach Phillips there will be 8-10 Class of 2020 varsity regulars. He thinks his 2020 class can match up with any bunch of sophomores in the state. Considering the headliner Matthew Murrell he might be correct.
It is embarrassing to get this deep in to a Whitehaven preview without addressing future superstar, current sophomore Matthew Murrell.
“Really, really good,” said Coach Phillips.
According to Coach Phillips Ole Miss and Arkansas are already aggressively recruiting the 6-foot-3 guard.
“I have the best 2020 class in Memphis,” said Coach Phillips. “I have some kids every bit as good as (Murrell). “Not as athletic as he is, but every bit as good as him. You will see. You will see. I got some real, real nice young sophomores that can flat-out play and I am saying it with all the humility I can say it with, but they can play. They are going to play varsity and get minutes.”
The WHS junior class is pretty thin, so expect this advanced group to shine in just their second year of high school basketball.
The Whitehaven Tigers feature a deep, very tall team capable of making their roar heard statewide.