Friday’s notebook: Overton is building blocks in the offseason
Overton head coach Shelvie Rose is back to the basics. Back to the drawing board. Back to doing what he loves: coach. The agony Rose and each boys’ varsity basketball coach in a Shelby County School felt a season ago…
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Continue ReadingOverton head coach Shelvie Rose is back to the basics.
Back to the drawing board.
Back to doing what he loves: coach.
The agony Rose and each boys’ varsity basketball coach in a Shelby County School felt a season ago was everlasting, with a sharp pain numbing each coach’s feet, since there wasn’t a season for Shelby County Schools in 2020.
Rose is rejuvenated, upbeat and is finally able to chop his gums again from the sideline, since normalcy is creeping up on us with COVID-19 in the rearview mirror . This month, high school programs have been participating in summer leagues. The Wolverines have been getting as many reps as they can, since most of the roster – outside of two players – is filled with new faces.
Overton has two solid cornerstone pieces in senior forward Isaiah Regular and junior point guard Jordan Frison. Regular is a 6-foot-7 forward that can affect the game from both ends of the floor. Offensively, he can space the floor with his perimeter shooting. Regular can be effective in pick-and-roll action, as he can pop out and knock down 15-footers or roll to the rim and finish with a monster dunk.
Defensively, Regular is a fierce rim protector. He’s very alert in the paint and will contest most shots going up in his presence. Regular’s length allows him the possibility to register close to 10 blocks a game if he’s locked in.
“Isaiah is going to contribute a lot to this team. Sometimes, my guys get complacent on defense because they know we have a shot blocker,” Rose said. “I have to tell those guys to work just as hard, so we won’t get Isaiah in foul trouble.
“As far as his shot blocking ability, he can step out, he can shoot the 3. We have been in the gym on the shooting machine all summer. We are going continue to stay in there. He’s going to be a major, major contributor to our team’s success this year.”
Regular won’t be the only one with a lot of responsibility. Frison will have to do three things for this team: limit turnovers, make great passes, score when needed and run the offense. The 5-10 point guard will have to be prepared for situations when Rose calls on him to make a spectacular play when an offensive set has broken down.
Frison has grown so much since his freshman season. His confidence is still high. His swagger is still impeccable. For the very first time under Rose, Frison is having to do more than knock down shots from 3-point range. After a great showing at last weekend’s BCAT Team Camp, Frison is walking into the 2021 season looking to put on a show.
“Jordan is who Jordan is. We want the ball in his hands, especially in crunch time,” Rose said. “He’s just one of those players that’s very unselfish, but when the lights come on, he shows up and shows out.”
Frison and Regular are the two main pieces for the Wolverines but will have help. Senior guard Chauncey Holmes Chauncey Holmes 6'3" | SG Overton | 2022 State TN will be a solid piece for Overton as he has the ability to knock down shots from 3-point range. Junior forward Jailen Hardaway will allow the Wolverines to space the floor. He can play inside-out. Senior guards Jaden Taylor and Terrell Freeman will provide solid depth in the backcourt.
The Wolverines are going to play hard. They are going to scrap.
Overton will come to battle since its coach is a warrior himself.