District 7-4A Notebook
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June was enlightening. The District 7-4A quintet played often within the sight of PrepHoopsTN, whether it be as a team or as individuals. Notes for this notebook are largely from watching either or both BCAT Team Camps and the PrepHoopsTN…
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Continue ReadingJune was enlightening. The District 7-4A quintet played often within the sight of PrepHoopsTN, whether it be as a team or as individuals. Notes for this notebook are largely from watching either or both BCAT Team Camps and the PrepHoopsTN Combine.
Participating Teams
Siegel
Blackman
Riverdale
Rockvale
Oakland
Rockvale players attended the PrepHoopsTN Combine en masse. Six Rockvale High School athletes attended, so this afforded me an extended look at their roster. Three of the campers were sophomores and three were seniors. The number inside the parentheses indicates their “camp ranking” determined after the end of the day.
’24
Antonio Ward
Antonio
Ward
6'2" | PG
Rockvale | 2024
State
TN
(#1)
’26
Darian Cotton
Darian
Cotton
5'6" | PG
Rockvale | 2026
TN
(#31)
’24 Darryl Cotton (#4)
’26
Kaleb Lewis
Kaleb
Lewis
6'1" | SG
Rockvale | 2026
State
TN
(#9)
’24
Maxwell Blake
Maxwell
Blake
5'11" | PG
Rockvale | 2024
TN
(#21)
’26
Alijah France
Alijah
France
5'11" | PG
Rockvale | 2026
TN
(#27)
Antonio Ward Antonio Ward 6'2" | PG Rockvale | 2024 State TN earned Camp MVP thanks to a stellar display of effort and dynamism. His game is ready to go for Rockvale, and he probably will start this season. Darryl Cotton is another senior. He looks like a starter, maybe full-time starter? During the event, Cotton was the fourth best in attendance.
Facing Fayette Ware mid-June, Rockvale started Alijah France Alijah France 5'11" | PG Rockvale | 2026 TN , Darryl Cotton, Maxwell Blake Maxwell Blake 5'11" | PG Rockvale | 2024 TN , Imari Dewberry, and Antonio Ward Antonio Ward 6'2" | PG Rockvale | 2024 State TN . The lineup is essentially five guards together. While Ward is a stronger player, he can’t really be confused for a forward. The team will need to play fast and hit outside shots in order to exploit opposing bigs. It is not clear whether this will be a good perimeter shooting team. Facing Fayette Ware, the team struggled to get into the lane frequently. While FW is a frenetic defensive team, Rockvale’s district is hardly a breeze. Blackman defends as well as any team in the state. Riverdale is short, but quick. Rockvale’s guards understand spacing rather well, specifically Antonio Ward Antonio Ward 6'2" | PG Rockvale | 2024 State TN and Darryl Cotton. But, when the team earns open or semi-open looks they MUST hit shots.
Rockvale is deep at guard, but they did unequivocally lose high-end athleticism (Jakobe Tharp, Markell Sibert) and rebounding.
Darryl Cotton is the lone returning captain.
Riverdale is small by 4A standards and they lost their best player to transfer ( Maddux Bodenhamer Maddux Bodenhamer 6'1" | PG Antioch | 2024 State TN to Antioch). They intend to play fast and frisky, if their late June BCAT appearance is any indication.
Rashad Mitchell Rashad Mitchell 5'9" | PG Riverdale | 2024 TN and EJ Turner are really the engine to the Warriors in 2023. Both seniors dominate the ball. They are quick first-step guys though not overly tall. The team will lean on them on offense and defense. Ideally, the Warriors will slow penetration with those two at the arc.