Four big headlines heading into the 2019-20 high school basketball season
Today is July 26, which means the first day of school is three weeks away. Right now, everyone is talking about high school football, but once October gets here, people will have an appetite for high school basketball. October isn’t…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingToday is July 26, which means the first day of school is three weeks away.
Right now, everyone is talking about high school football, but once October gets here, people will have an appetite for high school basketball. October isn’t here yet and so much has happened in the state of Tennessee.
And it’s always fun to talk about hoops. I enjoy talking about it to the point that someone has to shut me up.
Anyways, let’s take a dive into a handful of the biggest headlines heading into the upcoming season:
Alden Applewhite to Houston?
After spending two seasons at Lausanne, 2021 combo guard Alden Applewhite will be at a new school. I have been in contact with the 6-foot-6 guard about his options. Through text, he told me his three choices are Houston, White Station and Whitehaven. It seems to look as if Applewhite will end up at Houston after playing with Hoop City 16U – the same AAU team Mason Miller, T.J. Madlock and Zander Yates play on – last weekend in the Adidas Gold Gauntlet Finale in Ladera Ranch, California.
Maybe he was playing with them to see how well they will play together or maybe he was trying to stay sharp. Applewhite has yet to make a decision, and people will not know until August 12th.
Who’s the favorite in 3A?
Knoxville Bearden lost Ques Glover, Drew Pember, Trent Stephney, Kordell Kah, Keiansay Williams, Roman Robinson and Shamarcus Brown to graduation after capturing last season’s Class AAA Championship. People shouldn’t expect the Bulldogs to be in contention for a repeat.
Houston’s pieces of Madlock, Yates, Miller and Faizon Fields look good on paper, and if you add in Applewhite, the Mustangs will be long at every position except point guard, but will it work?
Blackman High School has senior point guard Jalen Page, and an aura of guards that should give opponents trouble every game. The Blaze beat Houston this summer by 30 points.
Memphis East has postseason experience with Isaiah Cathey leading the way. The Mustangs also have transfers Duane Posey and Jelani Willis. Tadarius Jacobs is looking to bounce back from last season, which was filled with injuries.
Whitehaven lost Matthew Murrell to IMG Academy, and Ragi Phillips will be at a new school. The Tigers will have Jesse Payne, Kavion McClain and Devine Owens back. Hopefully, Whitehaven will be able to fill out the rest of the roster with some nice pieces.
Bartlett lost 12 seniors from last season, but brings back Rodney Mason Jr., Jaylin Lucas, Kamrin Jones, Luke Bridges and Will Farris. Panthers head coach Dion Real will have a competitive product on the floor.
Then, there’s Arlington under first year head coach Maurice “Moe” Miller. How will the Tigers look under Miller? Will he have the right pieces to play alongside Phil Dotson III?
Let’s be honest here: Class 3A is wide open, and it will be fun to watch.
Is there a team fully assembled to top Briarcrest in DII-AA?
As of right now, there’s not a team fully assembled to take down Briarcrest Christian, which is led by talented point guard Kennedy Chandler. The Saints also have Michael Malone Jr., Omari Thomas and Rodney Newsom Jr. That’s a lot to deal with.
On paper, the closest team to Briarcrest Christian is Christian Brothers. The Purple Wave are deep with guards, with Chandler Jackson and Reese McMullen leading the way. Christian Brothers lacks the size, but have the guards that will be able to win a lot of games. I’m just not sure if it will be enough to take down the Saints.
Wooddale probably has the best 1-2 punch
Junior combo guard Jalen Brown will not be back at Trezevant this upcoming season. He will be taking his talents to Wooddale to join talented guard/forward Johnathan Lawson. The Cardinals are coming off a Class AA Championship season, losing only Chandler Lawson to graduation. Wooddale added a much-needed addition to its offense. Brown is one of the top scorers in his class and teaming up with Johnathan Lawson gives the Cardinals one of the best 1-2 punches in the state.
Lawson will most likely average a double-double and notch a triple-double on some nights. Brown will probably be a top 10 scorer in Tennessee. Wooddale repeating as Class AA Champions is definitely possible with the addition of Brown. The Cardinals will also have Alvin Miles, Kevin Brown and Johnathan Duncan back next season.