State of the Program: Whitehaven Tigers
Whitehaven (12-1) leaves Nashville with two wins and a loss.
Brentwood Academy defeated Whitehaven Wednesday night. Whitehaven crushed Hopkinsville (KY) Thursday. The Tigers dispatched of Discovery (GA) Friday around dinner time.
Where is the program right now?
“Tournaments like this allow you to see several things,” said Whitehaven Head Coach Faragi Phillips. “Most importantly it allows you to see some adverse situations.”
The tournament brought two teams from Georgia, one from Kentucky, and one from Arkansas. Though the event huddled four Tennessee teams together the playing styles across our wide state vary wildly. Memphis tends to be more fast-paced while East Tennessee has some nice spot-up shooters. Nashville teams like to spread the floor and officials call the game pretty tight in the central portion of our state.
“We had to play threw that,” said Coach Phillips. “I think it allows us to see that we can play many different ways. You can face many different opponents that are going to play you different ways. You have to be able to make adjustments and trust your abilities.”
Getting outside your comfort zone can force real growth. Whitehaven’s team features several sophomores. In fact, three sophomores start (Matthew Murrell, Jesse Payne, Alvin Miles). This week displayed how mentally mature these young guys are less than halfway through their high school careers.
“They are really talented sophomores,” said Head Coach Faragi Phillips. “I have so much faith in them in what they do. That is why they are playing as sophomores valuable minutes.”
The state’s #13th ranked player, Cameron Jones (Jacksonville State signee) averaged 13.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg 4.0 topg, 3.7 spg, and 1.3 apg for the NXT LVL Nashville Hoopfest.
Sophomore Alvin Miles averaged 6.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.3 topg, 2.3 spg, 0.3 apg.
Guard Jesse Payne (2020) averaged 7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.3 topg, 1.6 spg, and 2.6 apg.
Class of 2019 guard Simmie Jones III averaged 7.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.0 topg, 1.6 spg, and 0.3 apg.
Breakout star Matthew Murrell averaged 16.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 4.3 topg, 1.6 spg, and 2.0 apg.
Whitehaven-Hopkinsville final box. @PrepHoopsKY pic.twitter.com/ZNB5Fotobw
— Prep Hoops Tennessee (@PrepHoopsTN) December 29, 2017
Attacking the Zone
A couple Whitehaven offensive lapses popped up when the guards stared at a 2-3 zone.
“We played some teams that played us man,” said Coach Phillips. “We played some teams that played us all zone, like the last two teams. It is good because it allows you to focus on some things that you don’t normally have to focus on like creating shots for other guys, penetrating gaps in zones. Things of that nature. Obviously being from Memphis most of the teams down there press and play man. Very few teams play zone. It was a new dynamic for us coming here. I think tonight and last night we did a pretty good job adjusting to it.”
Whitehaven lost opening night largely because they didn’t share the basketball. Nine players played and together they managed a meager two assists. Afterwards Coach Phillips admonished them for “hero ball.”
Lesson learned.
It is the old African proverb: If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.
Tough Schedule
One way to grow up is face adversity early and often.
“That is why we kind of scheduled tough,” said Coach Phillips. “Played Olive Branch who has D.J. Jeffries and has a really good team and is the #1 team in Mississippi right now. We went to their place and beat them by 14.”
That win really calcified Whitehaven as a dominant team in the state.
“Played Forest Hill (MS),” said Coach Philips. “We went to Lighthouse Classic and played them and beat them. Obviously we play the #1 team in the country three or four times this year in (Memphis) East, so we are trying to groom ourselves to be able to play in front of large crowds. But these kids are used to playing in front of large crowds. In Memphis each gym is packed every night. Every game is a rivalry game.”
Whitehaven exits Nashville stronger than they arrived. Could they return to central Tennessee deep in the playoffs? They sure have a punishing defense and several college prospects capable of scoring against elite defenders.
“Overall this has been a great experience for us because it allowed us to adjust to different types of teams and how they play us and how we play them.”