The Big Interview: Tyner Academy Head Coach E’Jay Ward

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='1259390' first='Rodney' last='Henderson'] III.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyner Academy is ranked #2 in Tennessee for the 2A division. Monday lunchtime Tyner Academy Head Coach E'Jay Ward talked about his team and players at length.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>@<strong>PrepHoopsTN: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2207470' first='Kohl' last='Ward'] was a player on our Watch List, but I really didn't know anything about him until last month. <br><strong>Head Coach Ward:</strong> That is my nephew. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN:</strong> He seems very advanced at a young age.<br><strong>Head Coach Ward:</strong> He is advanced. He has a high-IQ. He is what you would call a true point guard. He played with AOT 17u with Ace Bailey.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN:</strong> How is he playing for you so far?<br><strong>Head Coach Ward: </strong>He is playing real well. He sets the tone for us. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KohlWard27/status/1731479834285453601?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KohlWard27/status/1731479834285453601?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN:</strong> When did you know that [Kohl] would be able to play varsity?<br><strong>Head Coach Ward:</strong> It is a difference from 8th to 9th grade. This summer during team camp he opened my eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN:</strong> What are some skills he already has?<br><strong>Head Coach Ward: </strong>Vision. IQ. Knack for finding people. He has a point guard eye. His on-ball pressure is very, very good. His vision is what sticks out a lot. We have a pretty good team and he is able to distribute the ball to multiple guys. He has been good for Rodney giving him another ball-handler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN:</strong> How is [player_tooltip player_id='1259390' first='Rodney' last='Henderson'] III playing?<br><strong>Head Coach Ward:</strong> He has been playing really, really well. You can tell he has something to prove. He is averaging about 22 ppg, 7 rpg, 5 apg. He has been carrying us this year. He is leading. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":2295910,"width":"246px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/KohlWard.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/KohlWard.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-2295910" style="width:246px;height:auto" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'27 PG [player_tooltip player_id='2207470' first='Kohl' last='Ward']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN:</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2295221' first='Zion' last='Pinkerton']</strong>. Can you tell me about him?<br><strong>Head Coach Ward:</strong> He is about 6'2"/6'2" combo guard. He played with [program_tooltip program_id='2088713' first='Chattanooga' last='Elite'] 15u. He has caught a lot of people's eyes the past six games. He is a high-flyer. A defender. I think he has a lot of upside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN:</strong> He is tall. He is a guard?<br><strong>Head Coach Ward:</strong> He is a guard. He has a lot of upside. The main thing for him is he fouling a lot. He needs to be able to stay on the floor more. He guarded <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1273550' first='Shane' last='Cherry']</strong> at first when we played them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN:</strong> Shane is probably the fastest, quickest in the state.<br><strong>Head Coach Ward:</strong> He is very, very fast. Super fast. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN:</strong> Yeah. He is really good.<br><strong>Head Coach Ward:</strong> We threw a lot of guys at him. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1500690' first='Adarius' last='Brewster']</strong>. He did a great job of guarding him. He is really fast. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN: </strong>I knew Adarius about 1.5 ago. He was about 6'1" then tops.<br><strong>Head Coach Ward:</strong> He is about 6'3"/6'4". </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN:</strong> What does he need to work on? <br><strong>Head Coach Ward:</strong> He just needs to be a little more aggressive. He has good vision. Good size. Can score it. He is just not aggressive enough.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN:</strong> Who are your starters?<br><strong>Head Coach Ward:</strong> Kohl, Rodney, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1944939' first='Biship' last='Smith']</strong>, Zion, and we have a junior <strong>Ricky Harper</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyner Academy resumes play Tuesday night at Bledsoe County (PrepHoopsTN #4). A week later the Rams face host 4A Walker Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->