Team Preview: Queens Grant Quest For Back to Back State Titles

<p>Dominant is the best word to describe the Stallions' recent run. They are coming off a 35-win season that was capped off with a state championship. Coming into the season, the Stallions are on a 31-game win streak and return a lot of talent that could extend that streak even further. Coach Badgett is a big fan of the depth and development that he's seen from the players.</p>   <p>Discipline and hard work are two things that were constantly brought up in the practice I attended. The standard is that everything is done with max effort and high attention to detail. Looking at the results over the last few years, it's not hard to see that the philosophy is working. Queens Grant is 62-11 over the last two seasons and are coming off a season where they won 26 games by 20+ points and 19 games by 30+ points. Bad news for opponents, they might be even better this year.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Center of Attention</h2>    <p>After a dominant sophomore season, the 2A Player of the Year and top 60 nationally ranked recruit returns. A complete matchup nightmare for opposing teams, Chase has gottten leaner, stronger and more explosive. The versatility at his size continues to grow and develop into making him one of the more dominant players in the country. On the block, he can play with finesse or power and has added the post fade to his tools in the low post. When your team consistently won by 20+ points, there were a lot of second halves that weren't played. Despite that, Chase still averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds on nearly 70% from the field. </p>   <p>During the summer for Team United, he became more comfortable shooting the three. He wasn't a knockdown shooter on high volume, but he made the defense respect him. Stretching the floor is the next step in the development along with the ball handling. Both were points of emphasis during the summer and the growth was very visible. His elevated perimeter game also limits the number of double teams and opens the floor up for his teammates to play in more space. Even if teams try to double him, he's an exceptional passer that can find an open teammate. Trying to stop Queens Grant start and ends with the big man in the middle.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sharpshooting New Edition</h2>    <p>A newcomer to the state who will immediately impact the Stallions. He comes over from Carlina Forest in South Carolina after averaging nearly 25 points and 8 rebounds per game. The numbers are eye catching for sure, but the efficiency is what should catch your eye. A smooth effortless shooter from anywhere on the floor but still is not opposed to getting downhill and finishing at the rim.</p>   <p>He's not just a shooter, his rebounding prowess is elite for his position, and the defensive upside is coming along. Coach Badgett credited JJ's ability to absorb and process information rapidly in a small amount of time. Although he just arrived, he's meshing well with the team and understands how to play within the flow of the system. Although the scoring may go down a notch, his overall impact will be just as loud. From scoring to rebounding to playmaking, JJ's addition makes the Stallions that much more dangerous.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Senior Leader</h2>    <p>One of the few seniors in the rotation, Cannon should be in line for a monster season. He's improved each year and now has a chance to finish his high school career with massive numbers. The motor on both ends of the floor is tremendous and when you factor in the size, it's a perfect match in this system. After averaging around 8 points and 6 rebounds last year, the expectation is that he is a walking double double every time he steps foot on the floor.</p>   <p>Being more consistent is something that will take Cannon to a different level. Once he continually makes the game simple, he'll be that much more dangerous. Not a great shooter but showed some flashes today of being a capable outside threat. Defensively his impact is loud and game changing. His timing and anticipation on blocking shots is excellent. Cannon defends 1-5 effectively and does so without fouling. With an improved offensive game paired with the defense, look out for a big year from the senior.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ascending Playmaking Wing</h2>    <p>After playing a more scaled role last year, I think Ethan will announce himself to the state this year. It won't take long with how skilled and hard he plays possession after possession. He has excellent positional size to create mismatches with the variety of ways he can score. Not only can he knock down shots, but when he touches the paint, great things happen. Whether that's finishing at the rim, pulling up for a mid-range, or finding the open man, Ethan does it with precision.</p>   <p>An underrated part of his game is the playmaking. His versatile skillset allows Coach Badgett to use him as a pick and roll ball handler in the half court. With the size and vision, his ability to see plays before they happen is not talked about enough. On the defensive end there is no let down with how impactful he is. Not only can he guard the ball but his weakside shot blocking is an extreme asset to the Stallions.</p>    <p>Despite being so dominant over the last two years, Coach Badgett feels there is much more room to improve. He quoted the lack of consistent outside shooting as something he felt will be vastly improved this year. The more balanced they can be, the tougher they are to stop. I think the staff does a great job of installing high-quality sets that emphasize ball and player movement. Having multiple actions within one set is something I thought Coach Badgett employed well during the practice. The team picked it up with ease and was able to execute, which is a credit to how locked in they are as a group.</p>   <p>One thing about Queens Grant that I think is hard to scout and prep for is their depth. It's not just one or two players off the bench you must prep for, that number could extend to about five. Preston Scott is one of the more underrated defenders in the region. His ability to force turnovers and defend with no help makes the other four defenders job a lot easier. Bobby Montgomery III had a great summer and is one of the premiere shooters in the state. As he develops his playmaking, he'll be on track to be one of the better guards in the region.</p>   <p>Joel Jackson is another player who caught my eye and I was happy to know that the staff is high on him. Being more consistent on defense is a high priority but the size and skill are there. Once the game slows down for him and he gets a little more disciplined, he should be a contributor for the Stallions. As you read all the many ways Queens Grant can come at teams, don't expect anything less than another 30-win state championship team. It's just the standard that has been set.</p>

Dominant is the best word to describe the Stallions' recent run. They are coming off a 35-win season that was capped off with a state championship. Coming into the season, the Stallions are on a 31-game win streak and return a lot of talent that could extend that streak even further. Coach Badgett is a big fan of the depth and development that he's seen from the players.