4A State Tournament Contender: Memphis Central

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='3312335' first='Carlos' last='Fitzgerald']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delve into the Memphis Central Warriors (4A) of Region 8...a State Tournament Contender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach: <strong>Vernard Watkins</strong> (4th season at Memphis Central)<br>Last Season's Record: 18-10<br>Last Season's Ending: Loss to Bartlett March 1st, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We are 16-1," said Memphis Central Head Coach Vernard Watkins. "We took our first loss this past weekend to Vashon, a school out of Missouri. We had a great week. We went to Poplar Bluff Classic this past week. That was a great success for us. We are doing great."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3312355,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/alarinpolk.webp"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/alarinpolk.webp?w=720" alt="" class="wp-image-3312355" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='3312335' first='Carlos' last='Fitzgerald'] / 2027 G</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach Vernard Watkins:</strong> [Carlos] is a "2". He is about 6'3". Smooth lefty. He can really shoot the ball extremely well. He can get to the basket. All-around. He has been our leading scorer most of the year. He is a junior also. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2789076' first='Alarin' last='Polk'] / 2027 G</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach Vernard Watkins:</strong> [AJ] is one of our leading scorers. As far as AJ...man, he has great leadership skills. He keeps the team going. He puts everybody in a position to be great. He can score the ball. He creates or others. He is really just the motor of the team. He is about 6'1" or 6'2".</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2816290' first='Makel' last='Boyd'] / 2027 G</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach Vernard Watkins:</strong> [Makel] is a real streaky shooter, as well. He is about 6'3" He plays the "2". Great defender. Can defend well. Shoots the ball at a high level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2972034' first='Davion' last='Murray'] / 2026 F</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach Vernard Watkins:</strong> [Davion] has been averaging a double-double probably the last seven games. He is rebounding for us. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2202778' first='Jaydon' last='Hill'] / 2027 G</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach Vernard Watkins:</strong> [Jaydon] has been with me for two years. He is our general. He is a flow general. He can run the "1'. He can get to the rim. Go downhill. He can get to the basket. He can kick. A great on-ball defender. He does a great job for us. This is his third year with me, so he knows exactly what I want.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returners</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2202778' first='Jaydon' last='Hill']<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2389348' first='Cardale' last='Manuel']<br>Landon James<br>Levonte Williamson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Newcomers</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christian Neal (Class of 2028)<br>Martini Traywicks (Class of 2028)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2972034' first='Davion' last='Murray'] (Class of 2026)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2789076' first='Alarin' last='Polk'] (Class of 2027)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2816290' first='Makel' last='Boyd'] (Class of 2027)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3312335' first='Carlos' last='Fitzgerald'] (Class of 2027)<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Departures</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Damion Cox (Graduated)<br>Cameron Hudson (Graduated)<br><br><strong>Three Questions w/ Coach Watkins:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The composition of your team is mostly guards. How do you deal with bigs?</strong><br>We have to play against bigs. But we have big guards. AJ. Makel. And Carlos. They are athletic and strong. The problem comes on the other side of the ball. When 6'6" guys have to guard our guys on the other side we are a problem. We play match-up man. Help-man. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What do you say to Memphis people who want to see you play Whitehaven or Bartlett before giving you respect?</strong><br>We are looking forward to playing Whitehaven Friday night. It is going to be a big game for us. Whitehaven is supposed to be the best team in the city, but we like our chances this year. We are looking forward to playing them Friday night.<br><br><strong>You have played and won a ton of games. Do you feel you need more respect?</strong><br>Memphis is a basketball city. I know the mindset. They can choose who they want, but at the end of the day we played everybody in front of us. Link Academy had two 6'8" guys in the paint. They also beat Jonesboro who beat Whitehaven. But we are excited to play them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->