Ensworth Head Coach Bradley Pierson Discusses the Tigers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='1476075' first='Nic' last='Hyche'] (@Ensworth_Hoops)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ensworth School did not have a good season last winter by their lofty standards. They opened the 2023 portion with six straight losses, which really spoiled their season. In his third year at the helm, <strong>Bradley Pierson</strong> is introducing a strong team in 2023-2024. In September he discussed the forthcoming season and elaborated on the skills and potential of several key players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ensworth Boys' Basketball - TSSAA Division 2-AA State Champions: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PrepHoopsTN:</strong> Could you talk about some of the players you expect a lot from this year?<br><strong>Head Coach Pierson:</strong> Our returning scorer is going to be a senior for us, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1476075' first='Nic' last='Hyche']</strong>. He had a good year last year for us, averaged about 16 a game. Expecting him to be impactful again. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have got a junior <strong>Rodger Grant</strong>, who came on well for us down the stretch last year as a sophomore. Played well for us about the last 6-7 games of the season last year and I think he continued to make strides this summer. He is a long guy, pretty athletic. Impactful.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have another senior <strong>Mason Curtis</strong>. He played for us as a sophomore. He is a pretty good football...he is committed to Vandy for football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PrepHoopsTN:</strong> Oh, wow.<br><strong>Head Coach Pierson:</strong> So, he is a football / basketball guy. Played for us, started for us some as a sophomore. And he turn the labrum in his shoulder during the football season last year, so he didn't play for us last year as a junior. But knock on wood, he is back and he is healthy. He is about 6-foot-6. Really long. A good athlete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As far as new guys go <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1660040' first='Louis' last='O'Keefe']</strong>, who we talked about before, has a chance to step in right away as a sophomore and be an immediate contributor. We have another sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1744371' first='Justin' last='Hopkins']</strong>, who was our only freshman on the varsity last year and was started a handful of games for us as a guard last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have a pretty good freshman class, but we have one guy that stands out is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2133808' first='Malachi' last='Jordan']</strong>. Very far along for a freshman. He is about 6'5".</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PrepHoopsTN:</strong> The last player I would like to know about is [player_tooltip player_id='1744371' first='Justin' last='Hopkins']. I only know his name. What does he do, is he a traditional point guard?<br><strong>Head Coach Pierson:</strong> Yes, traditional point guard. More of a pass-first guy. Really good last year, even as a freshman, as an on-ball defender. He can get up and guard 94'. Get up underneath and guard guys. At a really high level. He is already getting some looks at D1 at defensive back. So, that kind of athlete. Just raw athleticism. He has grown a couple of inches in the last year, gotten a little taller. He was able to play at the varsity level. You know sometimes at the varsity level, freshman are just outmanned physically. But he was able to play and start a handful of games when our started was out injured. He was able to play about 15 mpg. For a freshman, very few mistakes. I mean this in a very positive way, a very simple game. Takes care of the ball. He has all of the winning characteristic. Not trying to make a highlight film. Just kind of has an old-school game in that regard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PrepHoopsTN:</strong> You know what you get from [player_tooltip player_id='1476075' first='Nic' last='Hyche'] every game? Consistently at this point?<br><strong>Head Coach Pierson:</strong> Yeah. You know what you are going to get at this point from him. Last year he gave us about 16 ppg for us. He shot really well from three. He made about 70 makes from three last year. So, really good shooter. He led us. We had a really good shooter last year and Nic actually shot better from 3 last year than DeVaki [Garr] did. He shot it really well. He is about 6'2". I think he is fitting nicely around Louis, Malachi, and Justin. They kind of fit and there is not a lot of positional overlap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PrepHoopsTN:</strong> I really appreciate your time and keep in touch.<br><strong>Head Coach Pierson:</strong> Alright. Thank you.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>4</td><td></td><td>Robert Koehner Sr.</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td></td><td>Zaidyn Moore PG • Sr. • 6' 0" • 175 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1476075' first='Nic' last='Hyche'] SG • Sr. • 6' 2" • 175 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td></td><td>Rodger Grant • Jr. • 6' 5" • 185 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td></td><td>Duncan Coppeans Sr.</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td></td><td>Landon Sullivan SG, SF • Jr. • 6' 5" • 190 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td></td><td>Micah Smith SF • Jr. • 6' 2" • 205 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>32</td><td></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1352800' first='Ethan' last='Utley'] Jr. • 6' 4" • 250 lbs</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1660040' first='Louis' last='O'Keefe'] • So.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Mason Curtis • Sr. 6'5".</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1744371' first='Justin' last='Hopkins'] • So.</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2133808' first='Malachi' last='Jordan'] • Fr.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table -->