Five Themes: MUS vs. Memphis Overton

Memphis Overton captured a program-defining win Saturday, knocking off two Top 10 players and their MUS Owls, 85-76. Starters* <h4>Memphis Overton</h4> #0 Grady #1 Jaden Taylor* #2 Jones* #3 Jackson #4 Bailey #5 [player_tooltip player_id="1043216" first="Jordan" last="Frison"]* #10 [player_tooltip player_id="1297418" first="Isaiah" last="Regular"]* #11 Freeman* #13 Crawford #15 Greer #23 Taylor #24 Weeden #25 Hardaway - Sometimes he wears the #12 jersey. #35 Watson <h4>MUS</h4> #0 SF James Barton* (2022) #1 Jackson Ransom (2024) #2 PG Coy Stiles* (2022) #3 PG Kevin Milan Jr. (2022) #4 PG Hays Prather (2024) #5 PG [player_tooltip player_id="1213156" first="Curtis" last="Givens III"]* (2024) #10 [player_tooltip player_id="1215389" first="Brandon" last="Nicholson"]* (2024) #11 Wesley Street (2023) #12 Barrett Summers (2023) #13 Loro Lado (2022) #15 SG [player_tooltip player_id="1318569" first="Joakim" last="Dodson"] (2025) #23 PF [player_tooltip player_id="1211913" first="R’Chaun" last="King"]* (2024) #24 Max Painter (2023) #31 SG Makhi Shaw (2024) #32 PF Kyler Herring (2022) #35 SF Clarence Chapman (2023) <h3>The Slashing Taylor</h3> Jaden Taylor obliterated the MUS Owl defense in the decisive second half. Taylor, and teammate [player_tooltip player_id="1043216" first="Jordan" last="Frison"], carved up the Owls perhaps forgetting Thanksgiving is turkey time. The result was ugly, for the hosting MUS team. Taylor’s penetration collapsed the invested yet slower-than-desired defense. Taylor is not without flaws, alas. Leading by 10 points with under 3 to play, he tried a knucklehead of a halfcourt overhead "lob" to the post over three players. The Owls intercepted and instantly turned it into two points with [player_tooltip player_id="1213156" first="Curtis" last="Givens III"] utilizing the Euro expertly. <blockquote> Taylor is cooking dudes!!! He is doing everything right, better yet, Frison is making every teammate better. 69-57 Overton now leads mid 4Q. - @PrepHoopsTN </blockquote> <h3>The Mission</h3> Exiting the locker room tied, both MUS and Overton rightfully believed they would win. Overton hopped out to open the third quarter and used two particular rallies to put away MUS. Overton came out of halftime with the following lineup: Second Half Starters G Coy Stiles PG [player_tooltip player_id="1213156" first="Curtis" last="Givens III"] F [player_tooltip player_id="1211913" first="R’Chaun" last="King"] F James Barton G [player_tooltip player_id="1215389" first="Brandon" last="Nicholson"] F [player_tooltip player_id="1297418" first="Isaiah" last="Regular"] G Jaden Taylor G [player_tooltip player_id="1043216" first="Jordan" last="Frison"] G Jones F Freeman <h3>The Hype</h3> MUS is a team to follow closely as they start both [player_tooltip player_id="1211913" first="R’Chaun" last="King"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1213156" first="Curtis" last="Givens III"], top players in the Class of 2024. How did the two young stars play? First, King. R’chaun rebounded well around the rim and established his position down low, when he chose to. Overall, King is still raw with amazing strength and solid toughness and strength around the rim. His weakness right now is likely low post technique. [player_tooltip player_id="1213156" first="Curtis" last="Givens III"] is absurdly well-refined for a high school sophomore. The dominant lead guard handles like a college starter. He frequently burst by shorter guards in the open floor and occasionally did the same in the halfcourt. His finishing in the lane is wonderful and was wonderful. Givens III is a pretty good shooter, but he did not take many three-pointers in the Overton loss. Honestly, Givens III did not have much help offensively in the second half and Overton was able to help on him from the weakside and strongside repeatedly. https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsTN/status/1464722739072225290?s=20 <h3>Not so Regular</h3> [player_tooltip player_id="1297418" first="Isaiah" last="Regular"] was tantalizingly athletic. He completed a gorgeous drop-step, only to miss the layup he earned. Still thin, Regular was too easily boxed out by a 6-foot-2 guard after his miss. This must be an area to address long-term. [player_tooltip player_id="1211913" first="R’Chaun" last="King"] missed a 4’ baby hook early in the fourth. Can he perfect that? https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsTN/status/1464725658307895300?s=20 <h3>Consider This</h3> Who will be better by high school graduation at scoring away from the basket, [player_tooltip player_id="1211913" first="R’Chaun" last="King"] or [player_tooltip player_id="1125607" first="Xavier" last="Shegog"]? Two pair of forwards began their high school careers abnormally strong for their age and also approximately 6-foot-5. The height of 6-foot-5 is very tricky. Will the player become a power forward with more growth? Will they ultimately play an undersized "4" at the next level? Can they defend the perimeter and thus thrive as a powerful yet nimble small forward or wing? Xavier looks to have the softer touch right now. Unlike King, Shegog slimmed out a little in the last 8 months. King is absurdly strong and not at all hefty. The strength and size is toned for both, but R’chaun must be heavier midway through their sophomore academic years. The comparison is fun as they both look like surefire college prospects. Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsTN">@PrepHoopsTN</a>.