2023-2024 Team Preview: Murphy Panthers

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Murphy Panthers</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Class 6A Area 1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Head Coach: Andre Epps</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Last Season Record: 11-19&nbsp;<em>(According to maxpreps.com)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>X/Twitter</strong>: @MurphyPanthers2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Kinley Simmons</strong>&nbsp;(6'0/Wing/'26)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: K1nl3y._</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X/Twitter: @Goatkinly3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Kinley Simmons is a combo guard who can score on all three levels and get a bucket at any time of the game. He's an energy and effort guy who shows his ability to be a two-way player as he can pick up 94-feet and still be very effective on offense. Kinley will be Coach Epps' go-to guy when he needs to slow down a high-scoring opponent or when he needs a stop or turnover at a crucial point in a game. He is embarking upon his sophomore campaign, and his coaches are already looking to him for leadership, as he has shown his ability to lead early in the program.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Deangelon (DJ) Johnson</strong>&nbsp;(6'1/CG/'24)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: 23problems_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X/Twitter: @Djjohnson2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">[player_tooltip player_id='2257731' first='Deangelon' last='Johnson'] II is poised to have a huge senior season, as his experience and leadership will be counted on for stability and direction. He is a guard who can play on and off the ball. When the ball is in his hands, he is a reliable ball-handler and facilitator, as he has a good IQ and makes the right reads. He is a shooter who can keep the floor spaced as he is a pure shooter and probably the best on the team from behind the arc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2294703' first='Bryan' last='Jackson']&nbsp;</strong>(5'5/PG/'25)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Instagram: bryankeithlll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X/Twitter: @bryankeithlll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Bryan has made his path in the program by being a player who brings it daily. He is one that Coach Epps can count on to do whatever it takes to win. His success is seen in how he approaches practice when the lights are off, as he is an extremely hard worker and always does the extra things to get better. He is the floor general of the squad, and everything goes through him. Bryan is Coach Epps on the floor. Even though he is small in stature, he is extremely aggressive and will not back down from anyone. He has a good middle game and can score off the bounce when needed. He is the player on the team that all his teammates love to go to war with at any moment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">When asked about two players who will be key pieces of the puzzle for his team this season that were not listed in the top three above, Coach Epps quickly mentioned the following two players:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jabari's Jackson and Cordairus Dixon. Neither played a lot last year, but they stay locked in, and both have had tremendous off-seasons. Coach Epps envisions both players being able to make significant contributions in the upcoming season. With Coach Epps believing that both players are underrated, he is looking for both to have breakout seasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">It is simple when it comes to Murphy's style of play this year. Coach Epps wants his team to play fast, aggressive, and physical. He believes that he has the athletes to get up and down the court and the athletes with a level of toughness in which they can oppose their will on teams. There is a lot of excitement from the coaching staff about the outlook of this year's team.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">When asked what it would take for his team to make a deep playoff run, make it to the Final Four, or even win the State Championship, he told me that his guys must play and stay together as one, on and off the court. Look for Murphy to shock some people this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->