kwc

2-2 is 2-2. No reason to change the OC. You win some. You lose some. The HC isn't going to dump the OC when the team is batting 500 in the championship game. It's not going to happen, no matter how much folk complain. Not at 500.

Elite Eight: Whitehaven's Jesse Payne went from 'real life chunky' to starting point guard Khari Thompson, Memphis Commercial AppealPublished 9:48 p.m. CT Jan. 12, 2020 With its tallest starter standing at 6-foot-5, Whitehaven's basketball team relies on strong guard play and a pressing defense. The Tigers create much of their offense by creating turnovers and beating teams down the floor in transition. "We press from the beginning to the end of the game. First quarter, second quarter, third quarter, fourth quarter. We are in tip-top shape. That’s one of our strengths," coach Fred Horton said. That makes it all the more interesting that the team's leader, point guard Jesse Payne, was once a 5-foot-5, 200-pound sixth-grader who struggled to keep up with the pace of the game. "I was real life chunky. I’m dead serious. You know that’s pretty big for a sixth-grader. I’m like 175-180 now," Payne said. Payne is No. 7 on The Commercial Appeal's inaugural Elite Eight, a collection of the area's top senior basketball prospects. He said he used to be the last one off the bench and that it all began to change when he met former Whitehaven coach Faragi Phillips in the seventh grade while playing AAU basketball. "The only thing I could do was that I could shoot. But when I met Coach Phillips, there was this one practice where we just ran that whole practice," Payne said. "I never ran like that; every time I had played we mostly ran drills. But with him we ran the whole practice and the next day I said, ‘Mama, I’m not going to practice.' I tried to make it sound like I was sick. Coach Phillips called my mama and said, ‘Where’s my fat boy at?' He's the first coach that ever made me earn minutes." Payne said his eating habits stayed the same and that some of the weight came off naturally when he hit his growth spurt around ninth grade. "That's when the weight started coming off. I thought it was just baby fat because I still eat the same way and everything," Payne said. But he also said the way Phillips pushed him in practice helped him develop into the athlete he is today. Senior Jesse Payne, 17, on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, at Whitehaven High School in Memphis. (Photo: Max Gersh / The Commercial Appeal) "He would put me with the fastest people. He’d put me with (Whitehaven's) Kavion (McClain) and (Wooddale's) Alvin (Miles)," Payne said. "We’d run 10-second down and backs. They used to finish at like 7. I was at like 11 or 12. So trying to catch up with them every day made me faster." Payne, who is now 6-foot and 180 pounds, helped the Tigers reach the Class AAA semifinals last year. Although Phillips left to join Jerry Stackhouse's staff at Vanderbilt and four-star Ole Miss signee Matthew Murrell transferred to IMG Academy in Florida, Whitehaven is 12-1 with wins over Arlington, Cordova, Tipton-Rosemark and Christian Brothers. Payne has offers from Christian Brothers University and several junior colleges. "He’s able to score when he’s got good shots. He’s able to deliver the ball to the open guy. He’s an excellent ball handler," Horton said. "He can get to the basket and he's smart. What I’m trying to do is get Jesse to shoot more because he can shoot. I’m trying to bring that all together." Horton said that he values Payne's leadership, smarts and versatility. He said that Payne knows how to control the game and keep his teammates organized. "Jesse knows everything. His role is sort of like a handyman. He’s there all over the court," Horton said. "Once he does his job he can make sure everybody else is doing their job, and once we get everybody on the same page it makes it easier for everybody."

Commercial Appeal boys basketball weekly power rankings Khari Thompson, Memphis Commercial AppealPublished 1:09 p.m. CT Jan. 13, 2020 | Updated 1:11 p.m. CT Jan. 13, 2020 Here's The Commercial Appeal's weekly boys basketball power rankings. 1. East (12-3): The Mustangs, who picked up wins over White Station and Central last week, have yet to lose to an in-state opponent. Last week: No. 4 2. Houston (14-3): The Mustangs picked up double-digit wins over Arlington and Germantown. Last week: No. 3 3. Briarcrest (13-5): The Saints fell to Hall (Little Rock, Arkansas) and Olive Branch. Last week: No. 1 4. Whitehaven (12-1): The Tigers beat Christian Brothers by two but fell to B.T. Washington by double digits. Last week: No. 2 5. Lausanne (12-4): The Lynx beat Holly Springs (Mississippi) and Lake Cormorant. Last week: No. 5 6. Olive Branch (12-4): The Conquistadors earned wins over Tupelo and Briarcrest. Last week: Unranked. 7. Wooddale (12-6): The Cardinals got a pair of district victories over Mitchell and Raleigh-Egypt. Last week: No. 6 8. White Station (12-4): The Spartans beat Harding Academy by 10 but fell to East by 11. Last week: No. 7 9. Center Hill (14-6): The Mustangs won their past two games against Lake Cormorant and Lafayette by 34 and 47, respectively. Last week: Unranked 10. Christian Brothers (13-6): The Purple Wave bounced back from a close loss to Whitehaven with a 14-point win over Southaven. Last week: No. 9.

The Vols are seeing T-Mac's versatility.

They should be excited. He's a dynamic guy. Are you familiar with his clinic/camp he does every summer at the Liberty Bowl called "Do the Right Thing". He's been doing it for about 7 years now. He has a lot of upper level football guys who come a take part in ity every year. Current NFL and college who grew up in Memphis playing at various HS within the Memphis area.

Thanks for the correction guys ... IMG. I don't know I wouldn't think it happens that often. However, that's not the point either. Playing keep away isn't basketball, even if it is within the rules. It happened first in the NBA. Trickeled down to college. It will make it's way to a high school near you. The game will continue to grow and evolve. Most folks thought that the 3-point shot was the end of the world when it was first introduced. The players and coaches have adapted adequtely. This will be no different. Sure, there are going to be folks who don't like it ... no change will be accepted 100%, especially by baasketball purist. But, it will eventually arrive and those who don't like it will continue their montra. The game grows and adapts. To some people, for the worse, and to others, for the better. But one thing you do know ... if the pros are doing it ... it will eventually make its way DOWN. College is already doing it and they have been doing it for a while now. HS is next. Just like girls baketball now resembles the game more with five players on the court playing both offense and defense, like the men do. The shot clock in HS basketball is the next eveloution.

We are 2-2 with the one we have. What makes you think they are going to change the OC cause some folk don't lke the current OC's offensive philosophy? You can't please everybody, there are always going to be critics.

Valid argument however, that junk that Briarcreat did to Montverde Acadamey isn't basketball either. That exhibit is the very reason why folks are clomoring for a shot clock in HS basketball. Whereis the happy medium?

Not a reason to not do it. I'm not saying that they should, but the above statement isn't a reason to not do it.

They found him in a 28 year old AA who is a Whitehaven alumn. Who would have thunk it!

What makes you think that;s going to happen?

Doesn't hurt at all.

From what I've seen the 2021 class is coming mostly from Middle TN. There are a few from the Memphis area like the ATH at Cordova and the OL at ECS, but by and large, it's a Middle TN thing, according to 247 and Riv_als.

The signinig of NLIs.

Shoutout indeed! This is unprecedented!

The five they got from Memphis ths year to add to what they got last year. There is a definate Memphis presence on this current UT roster that I think will assist in that endeavor.

It seems that UT is looking for Bryson to get early PT next season. Check out the link to the article.

Penn State 53 - Memphis 39. Oh well, onto the Ryan Silverfield era.

Memphis area football players who are expected to sign on early signing day KHARI THOMPSON | Memphis Commercial Appeal The football early signing period starts on Wednesday. Here's a list of local players who are expected to sign with FBS schools. Cameron Threatt, Lewisburg, Mississippi State Isaac Smith, St. George's, Wisconsin Lincoln Pare, Houston, Arkansas State Tamarion McDonald, Whitehaven, Tennessee Bryson Eason, Whitehaven, Tennessee Martavius French, Whitehaven, Tennessee Zyon Walker, Whitehaven, South Alabama Ray Curry Jr., White Station, Arkansas Devonte Nelson, MUS, Memphis Jared Dawson, Collierville, Louisville Tamarious Brown, Kirby, UAB Omari Thomas, Briarcrest, Tennnessee Jabari Small, Briarcrest, Tennessee Reggie Neely, Briarcrest, Tulane Josaih Hayes, Horn Lake, Kentucky Jakivuan Brown, Horn Lake, Ole Miss Deon Biggins, Horn Lake, Liberty Jevon Banks, Olive Branch, Mississippi State Xavier Hill, Olive Branch, LSU

LOL ... It's going to be teacher vs pupil. Mentor vs protege`. Jedi vs Padawan.

To my knowledge.

@BlackHavenSenator, @dannyq, @warmachine7954, @pigskinred.

Germantown hires Fairley's Gene Robinson, 28, as football coach  KHARI THOMPSON | Memphis Commercial Appeal Germantown has hired Fairley's Gene Robinson III as its next head football coach, the school announced Monday. Robinson, 28, is the three-time defending Region 8-2A coach of the year. Fairley finished 10-3 and made the Class 2A quarterfinals this season. Robinson starred at Whitehaven before playing at North Carolina. He has been coaching in the Memphis area since 2014. He coached the Red Team to a 14-10 victory in this year's AutoZone Liberty Bowl High School All-Star game. He's the only person to play and coach in the game. Robinson replaces Tommy Ferrill, who was 2-9 in his only season season as Red Devils coach after winning a state title as an offensive coordinator at Horn Lake. Germantown was 2-9 last season and lost 56-12 to rival Houston in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.

Germantown hires Fairley's Gene Robinson, 28, as football coach KHARI THOMPSON | Memphis Commercial Appeal Germantown has hired Fairley's Gene Robinson III as its next head football coach, the school announced Monday. Robinson, 28, is the three-time defending Region 8-2A coach of the year. Fairley finished 10-3 and made the Class 2A quarterfinals this season. Robinson starred at Whitehaven before playing at North Carolina. He has been coaching in the Memphis area since 2014. He coached the Red Team to a 14-10 victory in this year's AutoZone Liberty Bowl High School All-Star game. He's the only person to play and coach in the game. Robinson replaces Tommy Ferrill, who was 2-9 in his only season season as Red Devils coach after winning a state title as an offensive coordinator at Horn Lake. Germantown was 2-9 last season and lost 56-12 to rival Houston in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.

I have to admit ... I love who they got to be the HC over at The Haven. If anybody could come in and keep that intensity on defense going ... it's him. I thought he was retired. If he was, I'm glad he came back!