BBALL: USJ wants to build on sub-state berths
Both basketball teams from University School of Jackson got over the hump last year and reached the Division II-A sub-state round.
The Bruins and Lady Bruins have the potential to build on that and win one more game to earn a berth into the state semifinals.
“I saw a lot of growth this summer,” USJ girls coach Tony Shutes said. “Ashton Hulme and some of the younger players took the next step.”
When talking about USJ girls basketball, Anna Jones is always in the conversation as she has been named a Division II-A Miss Basketball finalist for the past two seasons.
“I can’t explain what she brings to this team,” Shutes said. “She draws so much attention, and teams have to game plan for her. She is a great offensive player, but people sometimes overlook that she is a great defensive player.
“But sometimes she is like my favorite player Kobe [Bryant], and she feels she has to do too much. She is a senior, and she has shown growth every year.”
But Shutes is looking for the players around Jones to play their roles.
“I think we depend on Anna too much sometimes,” Shutes said. “Against the stronger teams, they double her and we suffer sometimes. Over the summer, I saw some things to get us over the hump.”
So look for players like seniors Morgan Williams and Taylor Tenpenny along with juniors Ashton Hulme and Kallie Pickens to play key roles in the Lady Bruins’ success this year.
“We are going to have to stay healthy this year,” Shutes said. “The last few years, we have been hit with the injury bug. We are also going to have to have the younger players show what they can do.”
The boys’ team will have a new look as Clayton Hughes is gone, so there is not one go-to scorer.
“We are going to play a lot of kids this year,” USJ boys coach Oliver Simmons said. “We will have to create the style of play and dictate the style of play. If we can create the tempo we want, it will be in our favor.”
Junior Brandon Craig is back with the ability to dominate around the basket. He averaged 13.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last year to be named to the All-West Tennessee Second Team.
“I know that Brandon is going to step up for us this season,” Simmons said. “While it is going to be more of a team scoring situation, Brandon has expanded his game and can play outside. He is the type of player that demands double teams and can find open shooters.”
Other key returners this season are seniors Ryan Davis and Amir Kaveh, but the scoring will go deeper than that as USJ will look to push the ball more this year.
Both Simmons and Shutes wanted to see their teams tested in out-of-district contests, so that is why teams like Humboldt, Dyer County, Middleton and Jackson Christian are on the schedule for the boys and Crockett County, Dyer County, Munford, Middleton and TCA are on the schedule for the girls.
“We want to see different styles with fast teams, slow teams, teams that go man, teams that go zone and teams that press full court,” Simmons said. “Because once you get to the playoffs, that is what you are going to see.”
Shutes wanted the schedule to test his team also.
“One thing we tried to do last year was to make our schedule tough early, so that those games will help us,” he said. “Northpoint, Harding Academy and Lausanne are more athletic than the teams on our side of the district.”
Michael Odom, 425-9754
USJ Bruins
Last year’s record/finish: 23-9 (9-1)/Tied for first in Division II-A West
2 key returners: Brandon Craig (F); Ryan Davis (G)
2 key series: St. George’s (Jan. 20 at home; Feb. 7 on road); Humboldt (Nov. 15 at home)
USJ Lady Bruins
Last year’s record/finish: 28-4 (10-0)/First place in Division II-A West
2 key returners: Anna Jones (G); Morgan Williams (G)
2 key series: TCA (Dec. 17 on road; Jan. 14 at home); Fayette Academy (Jan. 10 on road; Jan. 27 at home)