6 players who will need to be leaders next season

<p>Every high school basketball team needs a leader who’s vocal and energetic whether he’s in the game or on the bench.</p> <p>A leader doesn’t always have to be the team’s leading scorer, but he has to contribute and be productive every night. A leader, at times, can be someone who keeps the crew together through the ups and downs. I was able to come up with six players who will need to show leadership next season.</p> <p>Now, this list may expand once the 2019-20 season gets here, but as of now, this list is short.</p> <p>Here are the six players who will need to be leaders next season:</p> <p><strong>Alden Applewhite, Lausanne</strong>: The sophomore combo guard missed most of this past season with a wrist injury. The Lynx weren’t as good as they could have been because of injuries. Applewhite, at 6-foot-6, was an important piece to what Lausanne was trying to accomplish. Applewhite is very effective with the basketball in his hands because of his athleticism. He can see over the defense and can create his own offense. The Lynx are losing Sky Forest, and the spot is there for Applewhite to be one of the leaders next season if Lausanne wants any chance at competing for a state title. The combination of Applewhite, Jalen Bo Montgomery, and Johnathan DeJurnett could be dangerous, if all three are healthy.</p> <p><strong>Cameron Matthews, Olive Branch</strong>: Matthews was part of the ‘Quistors’ 5A state title run in the 2017-18 season. He was also part of Olive Branch’s 5A state runner-up finish to the 2018-19 season. The ‘Quistors are losing D.J. Jeffries, Joe Cooper, C.J. Owens, and Josh Stephenson. Matthews along with Wes Taylor and Kyron Pleas will be back next season to lead Olive Branch. I’m not sure if Matthews, 6-5, will lead the state of Mississippi in scoring next season, even though he has the capabilities to do so, but he will have to be out front, leading the ‘Quistors if they want any chance of hoisting another gold ball.</p> <p><strong>Chandler Jackson, Christian Brothers</strong>: The freshman point guard was given the keys to the Mustang this past season, and he went 200 miles per hour. Jackson was the Purple Wave’s offensive horse and will have be that same horse next season as a sophomore. Jackson is already a difficult matchup at 6-3. He just needs to improve on his outside shooting. That’s his true weakness as of right now.</p> <p><strong>Alex Anderson, Tipton-Rosemark Academy</strong>: Anderson is a high-major Division 1 basketball player. He proved that time and time again this past season when he had to score a bulk of the Rebels’ points. At 6-6, Anderson can play positions 1-3. He’s an efficient free throw shooter and can get hot from 3-point range. TRA is losing Tysen Banks, Kam Collier, Ryan Knight, Jaylen Mansfield, Nathan Bradley, Howard Gray, and Andrew Anderson, so Alex has to be the guy from here on out.</p> <p><strong>Jelani Willis, FACS</strong>: I had a chance to see Willis during the postseason, and he has the potential to be a special guard. With Koby Jeffries playing a lot of minutes at the point guard position, Willis was mainly off the ball. He’s good at slashing to the basket, and isn’t afraid of contact. He can shoot from 17-feet out and knock down 3s in spurts. With Jeffries gone, Willis will be in line to take a leadership role for the Crusaders. To be honest, FACS will need him to do so.</p> <p><strong>Kaeden Laws, Center Hill</strong>: I said before this past season started that Laws will have to have a solid sophomore season. He simply wrote his own book. Laws hit a game winner in the 5A District Championship game with 0.3 seconds left to give the Mustangs a win over Olive Branch. He hit another one in the 5A state championship game to give Center Hill the win over the ‘Quistors to capture its first-ever state championship. I’m pretty sure Laws learned a lot this season and will need to carry his experience over to his junior year. Calvin Temple, Kevin Henry, Kenneth Lewis, and Cameron Goodwin will not be on the floor with Laws once the 2019 season starts, but Decorian Payton and Braxton Morris will be by his side. Laws should be one of the top players in the state of Mississippi next season.</p>