5 3A teams that could take steps forward in 2020

News finally came out on <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/04/15/coronavirus-tssaa-sports-canceled-school-year-amid-covid-19-concerns/2972669001/">April 15</a> that the TSSAA canceled the boys and girls basketball state tournaments. Teams that were supposed to compete for state championships in Murfreesboro, Tennessee have officially went into the offseason. What’s next? Not much of anything right now due to the coronavirus pandemic, but coaches do have, somewhat, of an idea of what their rosters will look like in 2020. Class AAA should be competitive next season as it was in 2019. A good deal of teams will have key players back, and there’s no telling who will enter the transfer portal. But, before players start to transfer, let’s dive into teams in 3A that should take a step forward in 2020. Arlington Key losses: Chris McKnight Key returnees: EJ Smith, Javar Daniel, Madison Peaster, Anthony Medlock and Phil Dotson III The Tigers were one game away from a berth into the Class AAA Boys State Tournament. First-year head coach Maurice Miller had to rely on freshmen to get the program within reach of Murfreesboro. Losing McKnight will hurt but not too much. Youngsters Smith, Daniel and Medlock grew up as the season went along. With a full year of varsity experience, all three freshmen should show improvements on the court. Dotson, once again, will probably be the team’s best 3-point shooter. He still has two more years. Peaster, who had ups and downs, should use the offseason to work on small things, such as taking care of the basketball. His senior leadership will be very important for a team that will be relatively young in 2020. Coach Miller will have one of the most talented rosters in the state of Tennessee next season. Cordova Key losses: K’Juan Banks and Justin Borders Key returnees: RJ Seals, Markelion Hines, Jordan Hamilton, Calvin Jennings and Rashad Watkins The Wolfpack dealt with injuries all season long. Cordova never had a healthy backcourt, so there’s no telling just how good a backcourt of Borders, Banks, Seals, Watkins and Hines would have been. Losing Borders and Banks will hurt, but bringing back Seals, Hines, Watkins, Jennings, Hamilton and Watkins make Cordova a team that could over 20 wins. But this team will have to stay healthy. Hamilton was a force on the offensive end as he was the Wolfpack’s best sniper from 3-point range. He averaged 11.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Jennings’ toughness and upper body strength alone will make him a force. He’s coming off a junior season averaging 10 points and 5.2 rebounds. Jennings loves to drive into the lane. He just needs to make his free throws when he’s at the charity stripe. Kingsbury Key losses: Caleb Jackson and PJ Hillman Key returnees: Devin Jackson, Ahmed Abdulahi, Chauncey Holmes, Terri Stingley, Demario Brooks and Demarkus Moss Via text, head coach Erik Buggs told me that sophomore guards Caleb Jackson (14.8 PPG) and PJ Hillman will not be returning to the team in 2020. Yet, the Falcons will have a nice nucleus back. Abdulah (17.6 PPG)) and Holmes, the team’s leading scorer at 18.9 points per game, can score the basketball with ease. Both will be juniors next season. Stingley (11.3 PPG) proved in 2019 that he’s capable of knocking down an occasional shot from deep. Stingley and Brooks will be seniors next season, so their leadership will be very important. Moss, who’s 6-foot-9, has continued to drop weight and eventually could become a force on the offensive end. He made 46 percent of his shots from 3-point range in 2019. Overton Key losses: Jason Coleman, Eli Sandridge and Anterrio Jeffries Key returnees: Jordan Frison, Marquon Dean, and Kam’ron Crump First-year head coach Shelvie Rose put a competitive product on the floor in 2019 at Overton High School, something that was unusual. The Wolverines finished the 2019 season with double digit wins (12-13), up from 2018’s total of seven. Frison, a freshman, averaged 11.4 points. Coleman led the team with 13.1, and his presence will be missed. Dean averaged eight points per game and had spurts of potentially being a solid wing player. Crump’s defensive intensity and toughness made strides under Rose. He will need to show more in 2020. Junior wing Johnathan Burns left the team midway through the season and went to Olive Branch. As long as Dean is intact, Rose’s team should be fine. Rose is looking for 6-3 sophomore wing Marreco Warren to take Sandridge’s place. He’s expecting big things from him. Collierville Key losses: Jaylon Sanders Key returnees: Jordan Jenkins and Danny Perry First-year head coach Scottie Robinson started things off right with the Dragons in 2019, leading the program to a 20-12 record. Sanders had to lead the way on the offensive end, and he did his part, averaging 16.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game at the midway of the season. Jenkins emerged as Collierville No. 2 scoring option, averaging 10.8 points, 2.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. Perry is coming off a junior campaign averaging eight points per game. With Sanders gone, his shot selections will increase. Perry and Jenkins have a chance to be a dangerous backcourt in 2020 under Robinson.