Top 15 Jackson area juniors for the 2017-18 school year
This week, we will look at the top juniors for the 2017-18 school year.
These players have played well during their first two years of high school, but now they are upperclassmen. And they have the opportunity to take over on the athletic field and take programs to the next level.
1. Quanardra Miller (South Side girls basketball) – Miller, a guard, was key to the Lady Hawks’ success last season as she can hit consistently from the perimeter.
Miller averaged 15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.0 assists to be named to the All-West Tennessee Girls Basketball first team, and she has now settled into her role as a shooter. She will be more crucial this season as two starters graduated.
2. Anthony Jones (Humboldt boys basketball) – Jones, a post, was named the All-West Tennessee Boys Basketball Newcomer of the Year last season on his role leading the Vikings to the Class A quarterfinals.
Jones got better as the year went on as he averaged 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks, and he is looking to improve upon that for this season.
3. Jarion Lewis (Bolivar football) – Lewis, considered one of the top returning linebackers this season, was named the All-West Tennessee Junior of the Year in 2016.
He is listed at 5-foot-9-inches and 180 pounds, and he finished last season with 86 tackles with eight for loss as Bolivar hosted a Class 3A state playoff game.
4. Jordan Vick (Camden volleyball) – Vick, a setter, has been playing varsity volleyball since she was in the fourth grade, so she is comfortable on the court. She also knows what to do to make sure her team can go on rallies.
Vick finished her sophomore season with 1,044 assists, 286 digs and 116 aces in leading the Lady Lions to a second straight Class AA sectional appearance in the second year of Camden’s volleyball program.
More:Top Jackson area seniors for 2017-18
5. Jenna Arnold (Jackson Christian softball) – Arnold, a pitcher, finished her third season in the circle for the Lady Eagles with a trip to the Class A state tournament.
Jackson Christian finished in the top four of the state as she went 22-16 with 286 strikeouts and a 2.64 ERA. She also batted .340 with 25 RBIs and 11 doubles.
6. Lauren Petty (TCA volleyball) – Petty, a setter and outside hitter, can do just about anything on the court. Opposing teams must keep an eye on her as it is hard to determine what she will do with each attack.
Last season, she finished with 248 kills, 416 assists and 112 aces as TCA reached the Class A state tournament for the eighth straight season.
7. Jacquez Norman (Milan football) – Norman is one of two stout running backs for the Bulldogs. He had a strong sophomore season and wants to add to that this year.
He rushed for 1,380 yards and 16 touchdowns on 143 carries last season, and he is listed at 5-foot-11-inches and 175 pounds.
8. Kelby Pearson (Huntingdon baseball) – Pearson, an infielder, played well all season for the Mustangs, who finished in the top six of the Class A state tournament.
He turned it on in the postseason to finish the season with a .440 batting average to go along with 25 RBIs, 29 runs and six doubles to be named to the All-West Tennessee Baseball first team.
9. Stephun Bush (Liberty football) – Bush, a linebacker, will play a key role in keeping the Crusaders as one of the top teams in West Tennessee defensively.
He is listed at 5-foot-9, and he finished last season’s run to the Class 3A state championship game with 80 tackles with 10 for loss and seven sacks.
10. Benjamin Sidwell (TCA boys tennis) – Sidwell has finished his first two seasons of high school tennis leading the Lions to a semifinal finish as a team, and he has reached the Class A-AA singles semifinals.
This past season, he was named the All-West Tennessee Boys Tennis Player of the Year after losing one match before the state semifinals.
11. Tyler Spivey (McKenzie football) – Spivey, a wide receiver, could have a big impact on the Rebels’ offense as McKenzie graduated most of its rushing offense.
Spivey is listed at 5-foot-8 and 135 pounds, but he caught 53 passes for 788 yards and eight touchdowns last year. If he has another big season, the Rebels have a chance to capture the district championship.
12. Tarreq Williams (Sacred Heart boys basketball) – Williams, a forward, had a breakout season for the Knights around the post. He was tough for teams to stop offensively, and he was big under the basket defensively.
He finished the season averaging 16.2 points and 11.3 rebounds, and he has the opportunity to improve upon that with a year of experience under his belt.
13. Sara Kate Stephenson (Crockett County softball) – Stephenson, an outfielder, played a key role in the Lady Cavaliers’ run to the region semifinals.
She didn’t allow much to get by her in the outfield, and she batted .505 with 40 runs, eight doubles and 35 RBIs to be named to the All-West Tennessee Softball first team.
14. Loral Winn (Dresden track and cross country) – Winn, the 2017 All-West Tennessee Female Track Athlete of the Year, had another strong season running.
She finished eighth in the Class A-AA state cross country meet, and then at the state track meet, she finished second in the 800-meter run and third in the 1600-meter run.
15. Anna Johnson (Dresden cross country and track) – Johnson, the 2016 All-West Tennessee Female Cross Country Runner of the Year, also had a strong running year.
She was the top West Tennessee finisher at the Class A-AA state cross country meet at seventh, and she finished sixth in the 3200-meter run at the state track meet.
Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.