Pre-Season Preview: Minor Tigers

Terry Drake October 26, 2021 @ 07:00 AM

Team: Minor Tigers (Adamsville AL) Classification: 6A (Area 10) Head Coach: Torrance Beard Instagram ID: N/A Twitter ID: @minorhighbb 2020-2021 Record: 24-10 (Lost 56-55 in Elite 8)   Key Returning Players:   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/PH-Dresean-Knight.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1316095 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/PH-Dresean-Knight-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="890743" first="Dresean" last="Knight"] (6’11/Center/2022) Instagram: Dresean_knight Twitter: @knightdresean Key Characteristics: Skilled big who protects the rim. Rebounds at a high rate A great passer. Becoming more offensive minded Nice jump hook Good defesively Developing offensively Offers: Alabama State   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/PH-Nehemiah-Streeter.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1316096 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/PH-Nehemiah-Streeter-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Nehemiah Streeter (6’3/Point Guard/2022) Instagram: _3_flavorz_ Twitter: N/A Key Characteristics: Transferred from Thompson High School Very shifty PG with great handles Attacks the rim with a purpose Rebounds well Great passer Quick with the ball in his hands   <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/PH-Darrien-Jackson.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1316097 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/PH-Darrien-Jackson-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>Darrian Jackson (6’4/Combo Guard/2023) Instagram: N/A Twitter: @darrianjackson7 Key Characteristics: Great shooter and slasher Rebounds extremely well at the guard spot Lock down defender Good size Has improved his scoring ability off the bounce   Coach Beard has built a culture of winning at Minor and is excited about the upcoming season. Despite graduating six seniors, Coach believes his team is primed to make a run for the Final Four. To get so close last year and to lose by one point in the Elite Eight has developed a burning desire in Coach Beard and his players to take the next step and get beyond the Elite Eight this year. The loss, even though disappointing, taught coach a lot about his kids. He knows without a shadow of a doubt that his players have NO QUIT in them, they will fight to the end night in and night out, and that he can rely on them and trust them in tough situations.   Well, it all starts for the Tigers with the big man in the middle, 6’11 [player_tooltip player_id="890743" first="Dresean" last="Knight"]. Why do I say that? It is simple, Coach believes that everything for his squad begins on the defensive end of the court, and with 6’11 DK locking down the paint; everyone else can be more aggressive out front. Coach sincerely believes that if his team can defend as a unit, they will have a chance in every game and ultimately a chance to accomplish their ultimate goal.   All coaches have something they hold to, and one thing with Coach Beard is that he never schedules home games early. If there are some things he needs to find out about his team, it will be on the road. The Tigers will be tested early and often:   Key Early Season Match-Ups:   Nov. 22-24 Heritage Tournament (Fairfield High School) Dec. 3 vs Southside Selma (Home) Dec. 10 at Shades Valley   If the Tigers are going to get pass the Elite Eight, they will have to play together as a team and believe in each other. Now that is easy to say, and most teams say it, but chemistry is key, and Coach Beard believes the camaraderie between his players is something that his team has developed during the off-season, and now they stand poised to make a run.