Fayetteville Tigers Preview

<p>December is here. Fans are back in the bleachers and expectations are appropriately high for the Fayetteville High Tigers.</p> <p>"I really think we could have the 5 best players in the district this year," said FHS Head Coach Chris Murdock.  "They were all here last year."</p> <p style="text-align: left;">November Cornerstones</p> <p>#0 <strong>Camaurionn "Bam" Taylor*</strong> (2023)</p> <p>#3 <strong>Teondre Love</strong> (2024) 5'9"</p> <p>#1 <strong>Brayden Hockett*</strong> (2022) 6'3"</p> <p>#2  <strong>Phillip Bonner</strong> (2023)</p> <p>#20 <strong>Wyatt Gross </strong>(2023)</p> <p>"FOOTBALL GUYS"</p> <p><strong>Isaiah Thomison, Corian Cash, Aljarea Johnson, and Bryson Johnson</strong></p> <h2>New Blood</h2> <p>Beyond just developing the talent within your program, these days it seems acquiring external talent seems to be a priority.  Most top programs in middle Tennessee run out a player or several that began their high school career elsewhere.  Look at rosters for Blackman, Webb-Bell Buckle, Beech, Franklin, Ensworth.  Fayetteville also gained a transfer capable of making an instant impact.</p> <p><a href="https://www.hudl.com/team/v2/118814/Boys-Varsity-Basketball">FHS Game highlights on hudl.</a></p> <p>"Bryson Johnson joined Fayetteville High after attending Huntland last winter," said Coach Murdock.  He sees Johnson really helping his Tigers.  In fact, Coach Murdock predicts Johnson will be All-District.</p> <h4><strong>District Outlook</strong></h4> <p>In 9A, the new 9A, there are five teams: Fayetteville, Moore County, Cornersville, Huntland, Eagleville.  As good as Eagleville has been during the last five years they seem to be down this season. Moore County graduated a fantastic senior class and "only has two returning players," said Coach Murdock. In fact, Coach Murdock thinks most of the district is down from their standard, largely due to roster turnover and lack of experience.</p> <p>Cascade moved "up" to AA.  Fayetteville has the talent and depth to bury the rest of the district.</p> <p>"Everybody is returning that was here last year." </p> <p>Coach Murdock and his staff at Fayetteville High began their season quite early, at least for a team awaiting the return of numerous key players from football.  In the Tigers first game they had "8 players available, only 4 of them varsity" basketball players.</p> <p>Seven of the team's varsity players finished the long football season first. </p> <p>Top contributors from the "football group" will certainly <strong>Isaiah Thomison</strong>, <strong>Corian Cash</strong>, <strong>Aljarea Johnson</strong>, and <strong>Bryson Johnson</strong>.</p> <p>Fayetteville's Fighting Football Tigers finished 11-2, losing ultimately to McKenzie November 19th.  Now, entering December those players are all dressing though they need to regain basketball fitness.  Football and basketball are different animals requiring different attributes.  </p> <p>"We are just acclimating the football guys back into conditioning shape but everybody's ready to go," shared Coach Murdock via Twitter DM Tuesday afternoon.  "We will play our first game Thursday with our whole team back."</p> <h4><strong>Record Hunt</strong></h4> <p>Within the next couple of months senior Brayden Hockett should surpass 1,000 career points  "He was our District Tournament MVP last year. He really turned it on late."</p> <p>Brayden Hockett is a college-level player.  The athleticism and ability to put on needed "good weight" is there.  Hockett can run the floor, finish around the rim, defend, compete.  He really checks all of the boxes even though it will be challenging for college scouts to evaluate him during his district campaign as the rest of the league truly lacks much, if any other college talent in 2022.</p> <p>Former Fayetteville stars who played college basketball under Coach Murdock include: Julius Dixon (Morehead State), Nick Hopkins (Siena), Floyd Williams (Roane State).</p> <p>"Brayden (Hockett) could be District MVP," said Coach Murdock.  "Isaiah Thomason made Nashville area Top 40.  He is a [6-foot-2] football player."</p> <p>Fayetteville is 2-2 with the goal of playing in the state tournament.  It can be realized.</p>