#1 South Side and the Three Challengers

<p>Though the AA Champion frequently heads west on I-40 out of Murfreesboro with their trophy, the final stop is usually Memphis.  Consistent juggernaut Jackson South Side boasts a team capable of defeating all of the talented Memphis teams and possibly winning their own 1st place trophy.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsTN/status/1234005584174878720?s=19</p> <p>The bigger the stage, the brighter the spotlight. Here are some players certain to concoct postseason runs, ranging from established household names to those you might not have heard as much about.  All games will be played at Lexington High School.</p> <h4>South Gibson vs. North Side</h4> <h4>South Side vs. Dyersburg</h4> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Class 7AA</h2> <p><strong>2020 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/nate-spivey/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/nate-spivey/">Nate Spivey</a></a>– Dyersburg</strong> (<a href="https://prephoops.com/tennessee/rankings/2020-rankings/">PrepHoopsTN #67</a>)</p> <p>Is there a AA team with a taller task than Dyersburg?  To advance, Spivey's DHS team must defeat Jackson South Side.  Jackson South Side is the only undefeated team in the state and only Defending State Champion Wooddale deserves mention in the same sentence.  Dyersburg power guard Nathen Spivey surpassed the 1,000 point plateau in January.  His m.o. is to create off the dribble, preferring to attack to his right while fending off the defender with hulking shoulders.  Spivey is capable of excelling as a catch-and-shoot guy too, but Dyersburg requires him to be much more.</p> [caption id="attachment_941921" align="alignright" width="150"] <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brandon-maclin/">Brandon Maclin</a> (#11) makes plays for South Side.[/caption] <p><strong>2020 JJ Johnson – South Side</strong></p> <p>The unsigned senior routinely scores in double figures for his incredibly-balanced Hawk team.</p> <p><strong>2021 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brandon-maclin/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brandon-maclin/">Brandon Maclin</a></a> – South Side</strong> (<a href="https://prephoops.com/tennessee/rankings/2021-rankings/">PrepHoopsTN #16</a>)</p> <p>Exceptional toughness.  Acrobatic in the air.  Physical guard.  Needs to hit the outside shot with more consistency.  Defends two positions at an elite level.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/KVC40/status/1233940072321486849?s=19</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2021 G <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/landon-lambert/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/landon-lambert/">Landon Lambert</a></a> – South Gibson</strong> (<a href="https://prephoops.com/tennessee/rankings/2021-rankings/">PrepHoopsTN #106</a>)</p> <p>At 6-foot-0, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/landon-lambert/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/landon-lambert/">Landon Lambert</a></a> is one of the best guards in District 13AA.  Better than average shooter.  Nice court awareness.</p> <p><strong>2020 F <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jon-turner/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jon-turner/">Jon Turner</a></a>– South Gibson </strong>(<a href="https://prephoops.com/tennessee/rankings/2020-rankings/">PrepHoopsTN #65</a>)</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jon-turner/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jon-turner/">Jon Turner</a></a> recently recorded his 1,000th point. Fewer than 10 teams statewide send a player like Turner out to jump center.  Though he is hardly the only challenge the Hornets of SGHS present, Turner  is absolutely a unique challenge.  Named both All-District Co-MVP and All-Tournament MVP.   Three weeks ago, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jon-turner/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jon-turner/">Jon Turner</a></a> shared his stats with @PrepHoopsTN: - 21.4 PPG 10.7 RPG 69% 2FG 70% FT.</p> <p><strong>2020 PG Camaryon Jones – North Side</strong></p> <p>The ball-handling capabilities of Camaryon Jones helps gives North Side stability.  Guard pressure can be effective, especially if the opponent throws multiple defenders at the ball.  Jones is quite steady with the pill and yet his teammates need him to be exceptional against South Gibson.  The Indians lost 7 games this season and judging by their past successes and failures this regional semifinal appears incredibly daunting.  Five of the seven Indian losses occurred to teams in this quartet (3 - South Side, 2 - South Gibson).  Jones is consistently mentally engaged in the game.  With or without the ball in his hands he is attuned to the team needs.  Wonderful leader.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/SGCBBK/status/1232316447982080000?s=19</p> <p><strong>2020  G <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/janias-parram/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/janias-parram/">Janias Parram</a></a>– South Side </strong>(<a href="https://prephoops.com/tennessee/rankings/2020-rankings/">PrepHoopsTN #25</a>)</p> <p>Bouncy.  Clever.  Parram is a handful to defend.  If he was the only scoring option, then he would still be very challenging to stop.  Alas, Parram is one of about seven Hawk players that can muster 10+ points any given night.</p> <p>South Side won their only State Championship in 2014 with Malik Hicks, Chris McNeal, and Jaylen Barford.  Can they give that lonely title trophy a brother this month?</p> <p><em>Follow @PrepHoopsTN.</em></p>