Season preview: Bartlett Panthers

<p>From now until the start of the 2021 season, I will be attending open gym runs or official practices of a good amount of high school basketball programs in the state.</p> <p>My first stop was Bartlett High School.</p> <p>Panthers head coach Dion Real will have a plethora of weapons to coach in 2021.</p> <p>Here’s an overall observation from Tuesday.</p> <p><strong>Experienced backcourt</strong></p> <p>It always helps to have an experienced backcourt. That’s what Bartlett has in senior guards <strong>Amarr</strong> <strong>Knox</strong> and <strong>Terrance</strong> <strong>Jacobs</strong> <strong>Jr</strong>. Jacobs is the floor general the Panthers need. He’s an intelligent point guard, with the ability to know when to make the right pass or take the best shot available. Jacobs doesn’t get enough credit for his defense, as he’s a scrappy defender that refuses to give up anything cheap. As for Knox, the 6-foot-2 combo guard brings versatility because he can be effective on and off the basketball.</p> <p>The Memphis commit is crafty with the basketball, can get to the basket with ease when he’s downhill, and is reliable for a score down the stretch. The Panthers will have one of the most experienced backcourts in 2021.</p> <p>Jacobs and Knox should make Real’s job quite easy.</p> <p>“You can see the growth in him,” Real said about Knox, who couldn’t participate in open gym on Tuesday due to a minor injury. “He’s encouraging his teammates, and they understand that they have to get better. As for (JR) Jacobs, I feel like the young man is very underrated. He can play. He’s one of the better guards in the southeast region in my opinion.</p> <p>“He does so many special things. Having those two leading us, I feel very good about it.”</p> <p><strong>Solid depth</strong></p> <p>Bartlett hasn’t had solid depth since the 2019 season. The Panthers have all of the right pieces needed to make their first-ever trip to Murfreesboro under Real. In the backcourt, Knox and Jacobs are going to start, but Bartlett has solid talent coming behind both players. Junior combo guard <strong>Regale</strong> <strong>Moore</strong>, who missed his sophomore season due to the pandemic, could provide solid minutes at either guard spot. Moore was productive over the summer with Woodz Elite 16U, as he showcased his ability to make shots from the perimeter and push the basketball up the floor.</p> <p>Senior guards <strong>Noah</strong> <strong>Johnson</strong> and <strong>Devin</strong> <strong>Crockett</strong> can both make shots and run the offense if they’re needed to do so. Sophomore guard <strong>Christian</strong> <strong>Alston</strong> and junior wing <strong>Charvez</strong> <strong>Ambrose</strong> have all of the potential in the world to be special players in their respected classes. As for now, they will need to be productive rotational players in Real’s system. Alston and Ambrose can make shots from the perimeter. Both can put the ball on the floor. Alston and Ambrose provide spacing that should open up a lot of scoring lanes for Bartlett in 2021.</p> <p><strong>Missing piece in the frontcourt </strong></p> <p>The Panthers added junior forward <strong>Matthew</strong> <strong>Stokes</strong> before the start of the school year. Since the 6-8 forward has arrived, Stokes has been eager to improve on both ends of the floor. He’s in great shape. Stokes looks more mobile than before. The Houston High transfer is looking to expand his game, as he’s been attempting mid-range jump shots. The frontline will be anchored by Stokes and sophomore forward <strong>Rashad</strong> <strong>Williams</strong>. Another piece Bartlett could use is sophomore forward <strong>Jack</strong> <strong>Shackleford</strong>, who can play inside-out, but if Stokes can continue to get better, he will be in prime position to have a solid junior season.</p> <p>“Everyone knows Matthew is really talented. Not only is he talented, but, boy, he works hard,” Real said. “This morning at 5:00 a.m., he was in here getting up shots. He’s coming out here working his butt off. He has definitely bought into helping the team, and also helping himself.</p> <p>“He’s taking on the ownership that ‘I have to improve.’ I won’t say there’s a monkey on his back, but he wants to show everybody that he’s a really, really good ball player.”</p>