West Region Preview (DII-2A)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The mighty Memphis private schools are gunning for another State Championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Briarcrest Christian (25-5 last season): </strong>The undefeated Saints (5-0) nearly lost Fred and his father to transfer. After deliberation both decided to come back and finish what they started years ago. In 2024, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1760996' first='Fred' last='Smith Jr'].</strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2283268' first='Greg' last='Spight']</strong>, with star guard Cooper Haynes, delivered Briarcrest Christian's third basketball State Championship. That team featured a Dabbs, and this squad does too, only different model. Wesley Dabbs played and graduated, but now <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3150194' first='Sam' last='Dabbs']</strong> competes as a junior. Newcomer<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2194485' first='Joshua' last='Huggins']</strong> will shock Memphis-area fans unfamiliar with the Nashville-area hooper. Huggins runs with [program_tooltip program_id='2078772' first='Team' last='Thad'], so he is not wholly alien to the city and this newish Memphian might just earn District MVP...he is that good. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1658056' first='Parker' last='Pounds']</strong> improved the most of any returning Saint and earned a full ride from the Air Force Academy. The Saints are good enough to provide Fred with his second State Championship in his final season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Christian Brothers (20-7 last season): </strong>Sophomore guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3150727' first='Connor' last='Hewitt'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2694838' first='Jamarion' last='Chapman'] </strong>could dominate the region with their mix of grit and speed, but it will have to wait a year because Briarcrest Christian is too big and too talented this winter. <strong>DJ Rainey</strong> imposes his will on some bigs, but lacks the height to tower over the taller post players statewide. Regardless, the Brothers desperately need him on the floor to win rebounding battles and protect the paint. Chapman and Hewitt do help rebound defensively too. If left alone around the rim Rainey can only do so much. Battling Humboldt High in the Jerry Peters Classic Christian Brothers was sloppy and predictable with their passes. This trait is nightmarish for a guard-heavy team. Young guards do make mistakes. They usually lessen as the player(s) mature and gain experience. CBHS gets back senior<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1763152' first='BJ' last='Brown']</strong> from injury mid-season and that will help greatly. Brown exceled as a track star the last three years too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Memphis University School (14-14 last season):</strong> <strong>Bo Echols</strong> and <strong>Ehi Ataga</strong> are great rebounders and great leaders for an inexperienced team with rich history.The two star MUS freshmen last year, [player_tooltip player_id='2694838' first='Jamarion' last='Chapman'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2674669' first='Taheim' last='Elohem']</strong>, for MUS left, one of them to Christian Brothers. Without them the Owls (5-0) clawed out five wins to start this fresh season immaculately. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defeating FACS last week MUS enjoyed 17 rebounds from Echols and 12 boards from Ehi Ataga. One player that completely changes the MUS offense with his skill is sophomore <strong>Levi Johnson</strong>. When he shoots well the team instantly becomes impressively potent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Projected Order of Finish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Briarcrest Christian<br>2. Christian Brothers<br>3. Memphis University School<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Christian Brothers does not have the horses now but will get stronger when they get [player_tooltip player_id='1763152' first='BJ' last='Brown'] back from injury. Brown suffered injury back in June. Even with Brown darting around the floor CBHS will be second best. BCHS are the outright favorites in this three-team region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Preseason Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1760996' first='Fred' last='Smith Jr']. (Briarcrest Christian): </strong>Truly a matchup nightmare. Former State Champion, State Tournament MVP, and reigning Mr. Basketball. [player_tooltip player_id='1760996' first='Fred' last='Smith Jr']. can attack the rim with either hand. He can hit an occasional three-pointer. Smith Jr. passes as well as any forward in the nation. As a high school basketball player there is nothing that Smith Jr. cannot do. He will find a limitation next season if he intends to defend the arc, but still his capacity to impact the game offensively makes him tremendously valuable to an assortment of D1 programs. Briarcrest Christian will be a nearly impossible out in 2025-2026 thanks to [player_tooltip player_id='1760996' first='Fred' last='Smith Jr']. and his new teammate [player_tooltip player_id='2194485' first='Joshua' last='Huggins'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1658056' first='Parker' last='Pounds'] (Briarcrest)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2283268' first='Greg' last='Spight'] (Briarcrest)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2694838' first='Jamarion' last='Chapman'] (Christian Brothers)<br>Bo Echols (MUS)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3150727' first='Connor' last='Hewitt'] (Christian Brothers)<br>2027 Charles Snider (MUS)<br>2028 Levi Jackson (MUS)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2194485' first='Joshua' last='Huggins'] (Briarcrest)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1760996' first='Fred' last='Smith Jr']. (Briarcrest)<br>2028 DJ Rainey (Christian Brothers)<br>2026 Ehi Ataga (MUS)<br>2026 Kendon Leakes (MUS)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1763152' first='BJ' last='Brown'] (Christian Brothers)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->