Sterling Sophomore Semifinal Showings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='3043670' first='Cooper' last='Williams']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beyond the headliners consider the following sophomores and their wonderful Friday performances in the state semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3043670"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bd86ca85b8d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/20/26:</strong> Cooper's first half against Westview was a thing of beauty. He made mid-range jumpers, pull-ups, hit free throws. The sophomore did a bit of everything against a speedy Westview Charger squad. "Did he miss a shot in the first half? [Smiling] He missed one," said Westview Head Coach Willie Trevathan. "He is a great player. We knew that. We didn't do a great job defending him in the first half. Some of those we did. A lot of those shots came after they ate about 30-40 seconds, so that is tough to deal with. Other than watching him on film I had not seen him play before. He is a great player." Cooper found his spot and did what it took early. "He really played great, " said Smith County Head Coach Layne Bussell. "They kind of leave the high post open and I told him that. That is his game. If he wouldn't have done that then we probably wouldn't have been in it as much as we were."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3560366"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bd86ca85c46"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/20/26:</strong> Simpson did endure foul trouble. He is an important piece for Westview. They usually use him to trap and defend the ball alongside [player_tooltip player_id='2881545' first='Tayshun' last='Walker'] and Ethan Pettigrew. Simpson is a very good outside shooter, but did not take many shots Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3562696"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bd86ca85cc8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/20/26:</strong> Rigsby struggled with the speed of the game. He checked an absurd leaper in [player_tooltip player_id='3561094' first='Miles' last='Brown'] decently. It was an unenviable task. Rigsby did bury a critical wing three-pointer in the third quarter when Smith County was ice cold. He also secured a key defensive rebound amid the hungry Charger terriers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2816212"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bd86ca85d41"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/20/26:</strong> Speedy guard. Keirus is guy I have been watching for several months. He is still a bit raw, but you cannot teach first-step burst. He projects as a lead guard. Nice handle. Cox projects favorably long-term to his fellow guards, but he did lose minutes to fellow sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3562861' first='Albert' last='Harris'] against Upperman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3192471"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bd8c11aef4e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/20/26:</strong> We listed [player_tooltip player_id='3192471' first='Jymari' last='Martin'] about 6-foot-5 back in December. That is wrong. He is a 6-foot-2 power forward with defensive lineman strength. He probably plays football and essentially plays center for Fulton hoops. For a team almost entirely composed of guards Jymari brings something unique to the table. He did not look to score, and the squad does not ask that of him. One opportunity for a bucket occured when Fulton broke down Upperman's 2-3 zone and fed Jymari for a hurried layup. He made it. Incredible lateral mobility for a guy that probably weighs 205-pounds of muscle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3562839"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bd8c11aefa6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/20/26:</strong> Undersized guard. Wood hit a pretty layup. Fulton liked to use him as a pressure breaker. He played with quickness. Needs to develop his outside shot. Gritty. Grimy. Chaz gives Fulton a little edge, a little bit of the hunter's spirit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2401732"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bd8f817850a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/20/26:</strong> Maynard's free throws are a work of art. He puts them in the middle of the circle each time. Maynard is a guy that splashed onto the scene during AAU last summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='2078775' first='Tennessee' last='Tigers']. Great size for the position. Handles better than average already. Starts for State Champion Upperman Bees. Maynard can sometimes be forgotten when watching Upperman because [player_tooltip player_id='2133810' first='Ty' last='Cobb'] is so ball dominant. Maynard can play though. Rebounded quite well defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3562861"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bd9d92c7449"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/20/26:</strong> In one of the most exciting plays of the entire day, [player_tooltip player_id='3562861' first='Albert' last='Harris'] lifted a 19' three-pointer, was knocked over and heard the whistle, as the ball dropped through the halo. Three and-1! Albert stands about 5-foot-7. He handles well. Head Coach Jody Wright shows a lot of respect for the young man's game considering how many veterans frequent the Fulton Falcon roster. "It is nice to have some depth," said Fulton Head Coach Jody Wright. "It all depends on if those guys can come in and do what they need to do." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Alby's physique scares a lot of people," said Fulton Head Coach Jody Wright. "I trust him. That is earned. These guys were here last year. They knew the stage. We play two sophomores at that spot. Both phenomenal shooters. Alby had the hot hand and we rode that tonight. I think that trust is earned through just making it through the fire. He played well tonight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->