Team Preview: John Marshall (4A)
The sky’s the limit for the John Marshall Bears this season, as they will have loads of potential. They will be under the leadership of one of the great basketball minds in Oklahoma in head coach Patrick Cudjoe. The Bears…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe sky’s the limit for the John Marshall Bears this season, as they will have loads of potential. They will be under the leadership of one of the great basketball minds in Oklahoma in head coach Patrick Cudjoe.
The Bears play fast and they aren’t afraid to defend. John Marshall is coming off of an 18-8 season that included wins against six ranked opponents. Playing a tough schedule, the Bears always competed and knew their identity. With talent across the board coming back this season, they plan to pick up where they left off.
Leading John Marshall this season will be three seniors. Three seniors that all play key roles is most definitely a recipe for success as lots of experience returns. Leading the way is 6’4 wing Tavaun Smith. Smith is a fantastic all-around athlete. He scores around the rim and is a luxury to have in transition. He can also make highlight plays with his leaping abilities that lead to monster dunks.
Joining Smith as the other senior leaders on this squad is Blessing Ziegler and Ali Edwards. Ziegler, a 6’0 guard, is one of the team’s best scorers. He can really catch fire and when he’s on he’s on. In addition to being a scorer, Ziegler also can really defend. He has quick feet and quick hands making him a solid on-ball defender. Edwards, another 6’4 athlete, is a fantastic rebounder. He’s strong and tough inside. He also serves as a good rim protector and protects the paint for this Bears team. Edwards is a solid all-around post player and post defender.
Rounding out John Marshall’s five are two more upperclassmen in juniors Daqualynn Mitchell and Elijah Goldsmith. Mitchell is another athletic wing with long arms and a big frame at 6’3. He’s one of the team’s best wing defenders and uses his length to guard any position asked of him. Mitchell finds ways to get near the rim offensively and is a great finisher. Goldsmith, a 5’11 guard, is a pesky defender and a good ball handler. He is a high motor player that does a great job energizing his teammates and always picking up the pace. Goldsmith is a solid defender too.
The Bears will be one of the most athletic teams in 4A this year. They have length across the floor and most of their players can guard any position on the floor making them a matchup nightmare. They have potential to be one of the best defensive teams in the class too, as each player takes pride in their on-ball defensive skills.
Coming off of an ACAC Conference Champion season with experience coming back, it’s going to be an exciting season for the Bears. They will be a team that only gets better as they have time to gel together and the season goes on.