Sumter District 9 Tourney: Youngsters, Balance and Family

<p>Prep Hoops took in day of action here recently at Manning HS for the Sumter District 9 Tourney. The event featured 8 boys teams. Let’s take a look at some of the tidbits we picked up on the day we were in the building over in Clarendon County. </p> <p><em><strong>Freshmen Taking Notice: </strong></em></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/BAD3963E-739D-4116-A512-72CB97AB5B74.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1357359" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/BAD3963E-739D-4116-A512-72CB97AB5B74-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1356854" first="Jeffrey" last="Ceasar"] - Manning HS </strong></p> <p>This was the first time watching this young lad for the Monarchs. Ceasar a left-handed guard finished the night with 20 points in a win over Lee Central HS. Jeffrey was able to connect on some floaters to the basket and along the baseline. Ceasar is nicknamed "Snoop" according to several members in the crowd. Ceasar came into the contest averaging 9.1 ppg on the young season for Head Coach Shawn Johnson. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/7217941D-1385-427A-AEC1-A00A58B03C8F.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1357362" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/7217941D-1385-427A-AEC1-A00A58B03C8F-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1356855" first="Landon" last="Cloninger"] - North Myrtle Beach HS </strong></p> <p>Cloninger looks to be the next quarterback in line for the Chiefs come next fall. In the meantime, Landon plays on the hardwood and especially out on the perimeter. Landon is more of a spot shooter with good range on his stroke. Cloninger is just one of the freshmen on the Chiefs roster including [player_tooltip player_id="1158878" first="<strong>Jamie" last="Brooks</strong>"] (missed the tourney due to being on vacation a bit early). </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/C78D56B0-FEB7-4AFA-B1A1-B93D3FF2CE27.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1357361" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/C78D56B0-FEB7-4AFA-B1A1-B93D3FF2CE27-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1356853" first="Nasir" last="Void"] - Clarendon Hall (Summerton) </strong></p> <p>Void might be the future of Saints basketball when <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="594050" first="Kylic" last="Horton"]</strong> leaves after this season. Nasir really lacks a true position on the floor at the current time. Void plays the game extremely hard and remains active around the ball at all times. Nasir did most of his work around the basket on just activity and picking up some loose change along the way. </p> <p><em><strong>Very Balanced Across the Way</strong></em></p> <p>The Kingstree HS Jaguars went (2-1) at the tourney and escaped with a victory over Clarendon Hall on the final day. The foursome of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1149785" first="Hakeem" last="Barr"]</strong> (20 points), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1357343" first="Deon" last="Elmore"]</strong> 17 points, <strong>Demarion Elmore</strong> 13 points and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1357344" first="Khamis" last="Wilson"]</strong> added 10 points. The Jaguars didn't make a three-pointer all day long and maybe attempted 2 shots from downtown. The Jaguars live at ALL-OUT ATTACKING the cup. Several slashers deluxe on this team. Good length and a lot of same size all throughout the roster. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/BBF408F8-CAFB-4436-A307-123EAB24D752.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1357364" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/BBF408F8-CAFB-4436-A307-123EAB24D752-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Barr rebounds the ball well for his size and was able to finish at the cup on a regular basis. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1357343" first="Deon" last="Elmore"]</strong> is a Junkyard Dog (JYD) that does all of his damage from 2 feet in from the basket. Great competitive with this young man. </p> <p>Wilson was able to stalk the baseline with his good length. Khamis did manufacture a short elbow jumper at one for the Jaguars. Could the Jaguars make some noise this season in Class 2A in the Lower State? Head Coach John Adkins has a lot of bodies to put on the floor and a very balanced squad and a lot of players who can take over at any time. </p> <p><em><strong>Blood Lines </strong></em></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/3DFF256C-604C-4437-B636-B2B661C63126.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1357363" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/3DFF256C-604C-4437-B636-B2B661C63126-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>Michael Holmes Jr.</strong> sound familiar with basketball fans in the Palmetto State? It should Michael Holmes Sr played at Lee Central HS back in the day and was named South Carolina Mr. Basketball back in 2007. Holmes would later play at the University of South Carolina and Coastal Carolina University. </p> <p>Holmes Jr. not as tall as dad plays the game with a blue-collar mentality. Michael does his best around the cup to manufacture on put-backs and effort. Last season the Lee Central HS Stallions didn't have a basketball season during the Pandemic. Holmes Jr (2023) finished the night with 14 points in an overtime loss to Manning HS 73-67. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>