Team Preview: Tuttle (4A)

<p>Tuttle coach Bryan Merritt is ready for Tuttle to make a run for the State Tournament in 2021.</p> <p>The deadly junior duo of [player_tooltip player_id="958061" first="Kaden" last="Vande"] and [player_tooltip player_id="955386" first="Isaac" last="McDoulett"], who started in 2020, will return as a focal point to the Tigers’ scoring attack. Vande and McDoulett were among the top sophomores in the state in 2020.</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Isaac-McDoulett.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1085288 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Isaac-McDoulett-300x183.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="183" /></a>McDoulett, whose rebounding talents were cited by Merritt, is an explosive athlete with vision for the floor, while Vande is a lanky shooter with collegiate range and defensive talents.</p> <p>"With [McDoulett and Vande], they should have good years, they’ve gotta do same things they did last year," Merritt said, "get out in transition, score in transition. . . that’s a good combination.</p> <p>"We’ve just gotta get our other guys," Merritt said.</p> <p>A good problem the Tigers have, Merritt said, is the success of their football program. Mason Stokes and [player_tooltip player_id="967402" first="Tylor" last="McCarthey"], both returning starters for the Tigers on the hardwood, are currently occupied with a state title run on the gridiron. Merritt will not be able to utilize their talents until the conclusion of the Tigers’ football season.</p> <p>"We’re not very deep in Tuttle while football season is going on," Merritt said. "[Stokes and McCarthey] will add a lot of experience, they’re both big, over 6-5, a lot of rebounding, a lot of toughness.</p> [caption id="attachment_1085290" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Kaden-Vande-Ijai-Johnson.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1085290" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/11/Kaden-Vande-Ijai-Johnson-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="958061" first="Kaden" last="Vande"] (left) and Booker T. Washington’s [player_tooltip player_id="955394" first="Ijai" last="Johnson"] (Joshua Cleary/Prep Hoops).[/caption] <p>Merritt also credited McCarthey’s mind for the game.</p> <p>"Tylor is just really basketball-smart," Merritt said, "so he really helps the team be organized, and when he’s not there we’re not near as organized, so that will help a lot."</p> <p>Rounding out the returning corps is [player_tooltip player_id="1068567" first="Garrett" last="Redwine"], a sophomore sharpshooter who received significant minutes as a freshman.</p> <p>"Last year as a freshman, [Redwine] would come in and spot-play," Merritt said, "but this year, he’ll have to start."</p> <p>A newcomer into the Tigers’ rotation is a transfer, Mason Dennis, is playing football but will provide vital bench minutes for Tuttle, Merritt said.</p> <p>Kendon Reed has also helped the short-handed Tigers and should expect to see important minutes, Merritt said.</p> <p>Merritt said leadership will be an important factor in Tuttle’s success.</p> <p>"If the older guys now that have been our younger guys like Kaden, Isaac and Tylor can lead well, then we’ll have a good chance," Merritt said.</p>