Team Preview: Northeast Guilford Rams

<p>Coach Chavis enters year three with a ton of momentum. Prior to his arrival, the Rams had single digit wins in six straight seasons. He's totaled 39 wins in two short years and returns a group that's ready to contend for a state title. The Rams totaled 20-wins for the first time since 2012-2013 and finished 2<sup>nd</sup> in the TAAC Six 5A/6A conference. This comes after going up a few classifications from 3A in Coach Chavis first season.</p>   <p>As good of a season as it was, it could've been better. Of the 10 losses, 7 were by two possessions or less, including in the Elite 8 to State Champion Runner-Up, Fike. Converting half of those to wins would have been great but some positive regression looms this year. Despite losing their leading scorer, the Rams bring back a loaded roster blended with youth and veterans.</p>   <p>High octane offense and transition baskets will be on full display again this year. Utilizing their depth to their advantage will keep them ahead of a lot of teams. Another advantage is the versatility of the roster and having plenty of interchangeable parts. That will lead to another successful offensive season. Last year, they had 16 games ot 70+ points, 4 of which they scored 80+, highlighted by a 102-point outing. Expect much of the same with their returning talent and depth.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prolific Scoring Guard</h2>    <p>If you are looking for a conference player of the year candidate, Brennan should be atop that list. He is the leading returning scorer of the group and has a chance to elevate his game to an even higher level. Consistent and productive are what comes to mind when looking at Brennan during his two-year career. In both seasons, he's averaged 12+ points and progressed in his development from an eye test perspective.</p>   <p>Versatile offensive player who does a lot of things well. Smooth and effortless scorer from all three levels but I think he's at his best when he's used in off ball actions. The low release point on his shot would seem like an issue but he gets It off quick, and his separation makes it even tougher to defend. An excellent rebounder for his position and one of the best passers on the team. He's become more patient offensively which has raised his efficiency and the ability to get easier looks.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Versatile Shot Making Guard</h2>    <p>Shot maker is the best description of Jamari. When he's in rhythm and on time, it's automatic. The true definition of a combo guard with his ability to be a capable threat on and off the ball. Off the ball the movement is fluid and his screen setting is an underrated aspect to help free teammates up. He's coming off a season where he averaged around 7 points but that should hit double figures this year with his steady improvement over the summer.</p>   <p>When he's not making shots, the playmaking skills are on full display. Utilizing his shooting gravity to his advantage, once teams close out hard, he finds the open teammate routinely. Always making the extra pass, Jamari displays a good understanding of where everyone is and should be. As a shot creator, defenders have a hard time stopping his pull up jumper as well as his rim finishing. He's able to finish with either hand through contact and will turn it over for an occasional dunk in transition. Expect Jamari to contend for one of the top scorers on a deep ram team this year.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Explosive Senior Leader</h2>    <p>One of the more versatile pieces for the rams on both sides of the ball. Nate is an explosive athlete with good size and two-way prowess. There will be significant jump in his numbers this year but his impact in being a connector and defensive centerpiece will be huge. With his size and athleticism, he's able to guard any position on the court. The weakside shot blocking mixed with how well he communicates off the ball will be beneficial for the Rams this year.</p>   <p>While the guard play will be superb, the Rams do lack some interior size. At 6'4, Nate can fill that void with how physical and aggressive he plays. Offensively he is a crafty lefty that does more with less. The pull up jumper is respectable and once defenders try to take that away, his downhill driving takes over. The Rams will live in transition and Nate's ability to be a lob threat will change momentum in certain games. Look for him to be a pivotal piece in the Rams success this year.</p>    <p>This was set to be one of the deeper teams in the state, and they added more depth with Cam Pace. He comes in after a good year, averaging 8 points and 5 rebounds at Eastern Guilford. Cam is a long rangy guard that will bring rebounding, defense and shot making to the Rams. Although he just got there, the chemistry is strong.</p>   <p>A veteran leader like Sherman Winston is a calming force on the team. When the team is out of sorts and needs some tightening up, Sherman provides that. He controls the pace well and is an effective scorer without needing a high usage rate. Not to mention his defensive pressure used to help jump start the transition offense for the Rams. A player I think Rams fans and the state should be on notice about is Julio Cruz. In a guard heavy roster, it is going to be hard to keep Julio off the floor. He's an explosive two-way player with a never-ending motor. Consistently touches the paint and scores or finds the open teammate. Keeps it simple as a ball handler and gets straight to his spots with ease. Julio is going to be big for the Rams this year.</p>   <p>Freshman duo [player_tooltip player_id='3701913' first='Jayden' last='Warren'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2808170' first='Jacob' last='Bray'] come in ready to contribute. Their size, versatility and connectiveness is exactly what the Rams need. Jayden has high-level tools with his size and shot making ability. He's gotten a little bigger and stronger since the summer and once he adjusts to physicality, he will be tough to handle. Jacob has good size and a high IQ that will keep him on the floor. His communication was impressive on defense and as the speed of the game slows down, he'll be just as effective. The present and future are bright if you're a Rams fan.</p>

Coach Chavis enters year three with a ton of momentum. Prior to his arrival, the Rams had single digit wins in six straight seasons. He's totaled 39 wins in two short years and returns a group that's ready to contend for a state title. The Rams totaled 20-wins for the first time since 2012-2013 and finished 2^nd in the TAAC Six 5A/6A conference. This comes after going up a few classifications from 3A in Coach Chavis first season.