D12-4A Notebook with a Drew Giudice Interview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>June was enlightening. The District 12-4A quintet played often within the sight of @PrepHoopsTN, whether it be as a team or as individuals. Notes for this notebook are largely from watching the BCAT Team Camps in June.<br><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong><br>Participating Teams</strong></span><br>Columbia<br>Ravenwood<br>Nolensville<br>Summit<br>Independence</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ravenwood is a senior-laden team with a potential District MVP in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2042871' first='Rocco' last='Lamuno']</strong>. He was featured prominently in the following article.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/07/class-or-2024-new-additions-part-i/">Class or 2024 New Additions: Part I - Prep Hoops</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What is the new edition of Nolensville looking like?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I am spending a lot of time how to mesh our team because we have five seniors that have a lot of experience, but from a talent perspective we have a lot of sophomores that are ready to help and play in some varsity games," said Nolensville Head Coach Drew Giudice. "Basically #4-#13 there is not much drop-off at all. Looking for some guys to separate themselves."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Giudice sees a unit with extreme depth. In fact, he is welcoming of and excited about the ensuing clashes practice will introduce and perpetuate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"That internal competition is going to be a great thing for us as long as our mindset is right. There is another team in our district that goes really far and we are pointing out their depth. We have preached that to this group."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Nolensville Faced Tough Teams in June</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We played Bartlett at Centennial [High School]," recalled Coach Giudice. "We played really good against Rossview. We put it on them. I think we won by 15 or 16."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nolensville competed in the early June iteration of BCAT Team Camp too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We were in Memphis. We went 2-2 over there. We beat Northpoint Christian, from over the state line. We beat Marshall County and then MASE got us. We were up 12 going into the fourth quarter, but sucked it up in the fourth. They beat us on a three-pointer with two seconds left. Bad taste in your mouth after losing that one."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Nolensville '24 Class</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1121408' first='Jaden' last='Clark']</strong> started all 30 games last year as a junior. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1121409' first='Lucas' last='Pring']</strong> started 29 out of the 30, and the only the one he didn't was senior night. <strong>Carter Henninger</strong>, we didn't have at either BCAT Sessions because he was at lacrosse. He was out with mononucleosis and that really, really hurt us in the region semis. Those three guys will be seniors. They started 86/90 games last year for us."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<strong>Jason Harris</strong> and <strong>Adam McCullen</strong> are also seniors. All five of those guys got experience as juniors. All five will be in our Top 8 when they are healthy."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The seniors are vital, and yet, they are not alone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1959892' first='Bryant' last='Hall']</strong>...he started probably 20 games last year as a freshman. Defensively, it is like having two people out there. He covers up so many holes and so many mistakes because he is so athletic and quick. He is learning on the offensive end on how to manage a team and that quarterback role. His intensity and heart. There is no one else I would rather have my first four years here. [player_tooltip player_id='1947169' first='Oliver' last='Bender']. He is going to be a sophomore and [player_tooltip player_id='1946924' first='Chris' last='Johnson'] and he are going to be sophomores. They are both on that Shockers team together. Definitely a really strong sophomore class. And there are two twins that didn't attend BCAT, but those five sophomores will all be on varsity."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2636457' first='Kyson' last='Barney']. [player_tooltip player_id='2306628' first='Kael' last='Barney'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Oliver is a wide receiver football player. Some of it just might be him learning and having varsity specific reps. He has to learn where to be and when to be there. Offensively, he has so much ability. Shot selection [needs to improve]. He has the skill. It is knowing when and why it is a good shot. We really have high hopes for him long-term."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Frontrunner</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1121408' first='Jaden' last='Clark'].</strong> I think everybody has said...he has the physical skill-set. He has got the talent. That game against Bartlett, a team of that caliber, and he goes for 23. It was within our offense and taking good shots. He goes for 16 in the first half of Rossview. A lot of that is the mindset of 'I am the best scorer on the court and I can get to my spots.' </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We are trying to find that killer instinct in him. I think his best is ahead of him. He has been so much better at impact winning. We need you to impact winning when you only get 10-12 [points]. He is doing so much better at that." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"He is a matchup problem. It is in his hands at different spots on the floor. We try to get him the ball at the high post, in the block. A big part of playing our offense, is he had to read where to attack. He has come so far in the year. I wish I got another four years with him." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Rockvale</span><br>'26 [player_tooltip player_id='2101720' first='Darian' last='Cotton'] (#31)<br>'24 [player_tooltip player_id='2084618' first='Darryl' last='Cotton'] (#4) <br>'26 [player_tooltip player_id='1975489' first='Kaleb' last='Lewis'] (#9)<br>'24 [player_tooltip player_id='1535515' first='Maxwell' last='Blake'] (#21)<br>'26 [player_tooltip player_id='1960529' first='Alijah' last='France'] (#27)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2045018' first='Antonio' last='Ward']</strong> earned Camp MVP thanks to a stellar display of effort and dynamism. His game is ready to go for Rockvale, and he probably will start this season. [player_tooltip player_id='2084618' first='Darryl' last='Cotton'] is another senior. He looks like a starter, maybe full-time starter? During the event, Cotton was the fourth best in attendance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockvale started <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1960529' first='Alijah' last='France']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2084618' first='Darryl' last='Cotton']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1535515' first='Maxwell' last='Blake']</strong>, <strong>Imari Dewberry</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2045018' first='Antonio' last='Ward']</strong>. The lineup is essentially five guards together. While Ward is a stronger player, he can't really be confused for a forward. The team will need to play fast and hit outside shots in order to exploit opposing bigs. It is not clear whether this will be a good perimeter shooting team. Facing Fayette Ware, the team struggled to get into the lane frequently. While FW is a frenetic defensive team, Rockvale's district is hardly a breeze. Blackman defends as well as any team in the state. Riverdale is short, but quick. Rockvale's guards understand spacing rather well, specifically [player_tooltip player_id='2045018' first='Antonio' last='Ward'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2084618' first='Darryl' last='Cotton']. But, when the team earns open or semi-open looks they MUST hit shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockvale is deep at guard, but they did unequivocally lose high-end athleticism (Jakobe Tharp, Markell Sibert) and rebounding. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2084618' first='Darryl' last='Cotton']</strong> is the lone returning captain. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->