Top Players of the Week
The top players from this week’s high school basketball action comes from the two days I spent at the ARS Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest.
This week’s list could’ve been super long, because of all of the talent that was on the floor, but after so much thinking, tossing and turning, I narrowed my list down to 19 players. It was fairly easy to put this list together without even looking up the players’ stats.
Here are my Top Players of the Week:
D.J. Jeffries, Olive Branch: The Memphis commit went back-to-back in MVP honors. Jeffries had 19 points in the ‘Quistors’ 65-59 win over the Chicago Simeon Wolverines Friday night. He followed up that performance with a 27-point, eight-rebound outing against Bartlett in the 61-60 victory.
Kennedy Chandler, Briarcrest: The sophomore point guard put the Saints on his back Saturday against Holy Spirit. He traded 3s and dunks with 6-foot-5 wing Anthony Edwards to ignite the crowd. Chandler made clutch free throws down the stretch. He’s not afraid to play on the big stage. He finished with 21 points, six assists, and three assists and was named MVP.
Johnathan Duncan, Wooddale: The guard had 23 points on 6 of 12 shooting to lead the Cardinals to the 67-65 win over Chicago Simeon. Duncan received MVP honors for his performance.
Chandler Lawson, Wooddale: The Oregon commit nailed the game winning basket as time expired. Despite going 3 for 9 from the field, Lawson still managed to finish with 15 points and 18 rebounds. He made 9 of 13 free throws.
Samson Ruzhentsev, Hamilton Heights: The junior wing had 23 points and five assists in the 61-55 loss to Memphis East.
Jordan Rawls, Hamilton Heights: Rawls’ best performance came against Knoxville Bearden Friday night, where he had 18 points and five assists. Rawls had 16 points on 6 of 19 shooting to go along with his two assists against the Mustangs.
Marcellus Brigham, Briarcrest: The junior forward had 14 points, 16 rebounds, and two assists against the Holy Spirit Prep Cougars. Brigham went 5 for 8 from the free throw line.
Jordan Wilmore, Whitehaven: The 7-foot-4 post player had 15 points in the Tigers’ win over Whitney Young Friday night. After the game, Wilmore talked to University of Memphis Men’s basketball assistant coaches Sam Mitchell and Tony Madlock. Wilmore recently picked up an offer from the University of Tennessee.
Jesse Payne, Whitehaven: The junior guard had 15 points against the Dolphins.
Matthew Murrell, Whitehaven: Murrell led the Tigers with 25 points against Whitney Young. He was named MVP.
Derrein Merriweather, Memphis East: The senior shooting guard had 19 points, six assists, and five rebounds against Holy Spirit, then followed up that performance with 18 points and three assists against Hamilton Heights. Merriweather was named MVP after the Mustangs’ win over the Hawks. He’s now receiving interests from Ole Miss, Auburn, South Carolina, and Penn State.
James Wiseman, Memphis East: Wiseman had 27 points and seven rebounds against the Cougars of Holy Spirit.
Calvin Temple, Center Hill: Temple had 16 points in the Mustangs’ 100-40 win over Senatobia. He had 20 points and five rebounds in a one-point loss to Starkville.
Kaeden Laws, Center Hill: Laws had 15 points and seven rebounds against the Yellowjackets of Starkville. He had 16 against the Warriors of Senatobia.
Kenneth Lewis, Center Hill: Lewis’ best game came against Senatobia. He had a team-high 23 points.
Kevin Henry, Center Hill: Henry had 17 points against the Senatobia Warriors.
Alex Anderson, Tipton-Rosemark Academy – The sophomore shooting guard had 33 points in the Rebels’ 59-57 win over Jackson Christian.
Conner Richardson, Jackson Christian – Richardson led the Eagles with 20 points in their loss to Tipton-Rosemark Academy.
Seth Snider, Jackson Christian – The guard had 18 points against the Rebels of Tipton-Rosemary Academy.