2022-2023 Team Preview: Midfield Patriots

Midfield Patriots   Class 3A Area 8   Head Coach: Courtney Jones   Last Season Record: 27-7   Instagram: Midfieldhoops   Twitter: @Midfieldhoops   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/PH-Shannon-Jones-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/PH-Shannon-Jones-C-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1632037" width="256" height="256"/></a><figcaption>Photo: Knight Eady, Knight Eady</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1565977' first='Shannon' last='Jones'] (5'11/PG/'23)   Instagram: Glee.shannon   Twitter: @3Gleeshannon   Shannon enters his senior year with a lot of expectations surrounding him. If Midfield is going to get back to their championship-winning ways, then Shanon must fill the production gap that the Patriots lost with the departure of Anthony Johnson. He will also need to tap into his veteran experience and be a leader on and off the court. Elevating his game in the area of scoring, playmaking, and orchestrating, Shannon can be the primary force that can drive the Patriots back to the BJCC. Even though the Patriots fell short last year, expectations are still high, and Shannon will be relied on heavily to keep the bus on the road as the Patriots once again have a very competitive schedule early on.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color">He will also need to tap into his veteran experience and be a leader on and off the court.<cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/PH-DeMarreon-Baldwin-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/PH-DeMarreon-Baldwin-C-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1632039" width="256" height="256"/></a></figure>   DeMarreon Baldwin (6'4/PG/'23)   Instagram: Beezy2_   Twitter: @DemarreonB   DeMarreon has brought his talents over to the Patriots squad from Shades Valley, and many look at this addition as the piece that will elevate Midfield to their ultimate goal of winning the state championship. If the lengthy and athletic guard can merge his shotmaking and playmaking skills into the already talented backcourt of the Patriots, look for the Patriots backcourt to be the fuel of this team. DeMarreon's ability to score in iso situations will be a well-welcomed addition to the dribble drive attack for which the Patriots are known. Look for DB to get more opportunities off the ball on offense, given the playmaking that will come from his backcourt companions. He is now in a position where all 10 eyes will not be on him during each possession, freeing him to operate in more space, a luxury he did not have at Shades Valley.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color">Look for DB to get more opportunities off the ball on offense, given the playmaking that will come from his backcourt companions.<cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/PH-Dalvin-Dawson-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/10/PH-Dalvin-Dawson-C-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1632040" width="256" height="256"/></a><figcaption>Photo: Knight Eady, Knight Eady</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1564927' first='Dalvin' last='Dawson'] (5'11/SG/'23)   Instagram: Dj_dawson316   Twitter: @Dalvin15Dawson   Dalvin enters his senior campaign, having logged a lot of time playing at high levels. He brings experience and a confidence that will be vitally needed for the upcoming journey the Patriots must embark upon. Many may look at Dalvin as one-dimensional because of the level of production that he provides from behind the arc. What makes Dalvin such a threat is that he can make the perimeter shot in different ways, whether in c&s opportunities or off the bounce. He is playing alongside some really good creators off the bounce, so Dalvin should have some very good looks from deep this year.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-primary-color has-text-color">Dalvin enters his senior campaign, having logged a lot of time playing at high levels.<cite>Terry J. Drake</cite></blockquote>   When asked about two players that will be key pieces of the puzzle for his team this season that was not listed in the top 3 above, he quickly mentioned the following two players:   [player_tooltip player_id='1600038' first='Armonie' last='Franklin'] (G/'25) and [player_tooltip player_id='1959252' first='Aaron' last='Adams-Martin'] (G/'26). Coach Jones spoke very highly of both the young guys and said they both can flat-out play. According to what Coach Jones shared, look for Franklin and Adams-Martin to surprise a lot of people with their play. They will bring youthfulness and toughness, and on top of that, they can fill up the stat sheet in many ways, which is just an added luxury to come alongside the powerhouse trio mentioned above.   Coach Jones enters the 2022-2023 season having something that he has never had before, and that is a team that can just flat-out stroke the rock. Coach shared that 10 out of 12 guys on the roster can really get it done from behind the arc, which is why he is looking to embrace a new philosophy, and that is allowing his squad to shoot a high volume of threes. He is not deviating from his foundational dribble drive attack, but he is looking to add another dimension and style of play for which teams will have to gameplan.    I asked Coach what the keys are for his squad to win the state championship, and his response was, "We are the key. I think we can only control us and our play. We have to focus on us and take it game by game." The Patriots lost to eventual state champions Section last year in the Elite 8, and they are hungry to get back on the hardwood and be on the hunt. The off-season has shown Coach Jones that the hunger and leadership are there, and he believes, at this point, his team just needs to stay the course and get better every day, and if they can do that, then look for the Patriots to be in the hunt when it matters the most.

Midfield Patriots