Jumpshot

Opinions are a dime a dozen about who the best sophs in Memphis will be this year. Coach 1999 seems to be stuck on Fairley and Sheffield players, but he seems to know the Memphis area players. Just wonder what his bias is? Egohaslanded usually writes that White Station, Ridgeway, and private schools have the top players. They do have some, but don't have a corner on the market. Opp, you and TJ are always touting Bartlett and Coach Smith, but otherwise, you are pretty realistic about the Memphis scene. Haven't read enough posts by Cocky to know if he's seen everybody yet, but he also seems knowledgeable. Hoopscoopdre, how are you so in touch with "the Memphis scene" when you don't even live in Memphis? My take on Memphis is that it is too early to predict much about this sophomore class until they are truly tested against each other and proven to be #1, #2, #3 etc. There are several excellent players in this class FOR THEIR AGE. It has been my experience that players develop at different ages and in different ways, and the process is ever ongoing. Its seems that once a player gets a label as "the best" or "#1", he can do no wrong and no one can catch up or surpass him. We ALL know this is wrong. Andre is a perfect example of that. His reputation far exceeds his performances. Many of these sophs are overrated, and several are definitely underrated. Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. If you're interested in watching some of the head to head competition in this class, come to Raleigh Egypt's gym on Nov. 5, to see the scrimmage between Fairley and the Pharaohs, or to BTW on the 7th to see BTW and Ral-Egypt. Bartlett will also be scrimmaging Ral-Egypt on Nov. 9th. As I previously stated, you can tell more from head to head competition than mere guessing so some of these games should be interesting. I sincerely hope all of you "predictors" and "gurus" will remember that these are kids that we are talking about, and they are going to constantly be changing and in different stages of development. Please don't lock someone "in" and someone else "out" until they've had their chance to fully develop.

How did Nathaniel Calhoun for Memphis Bellevue play in the tournament? He will be a ninth grader at Raleigh Egypt this next year, and will join an already strong young team.

Can Anyone fill me in on the Memphis team/teams in this tournament and how they did? I believe one of the teams won the championship and Carlton Peete, a junior from Raleigh Egypt, was named to the All Tournament team? Can anyone verify this?

Deputydog, I well remember the Hampton team of which you speak. They beat Union City in the championship game. Union City was 31-0, and ranked #1 in the state. Had John Ed Miller (Vanderbilt fame), Charlie Forrest (UT football fame), Hardy Graham (Ole Miss), Jerry Spencer (Freed Hardeman) and Gunther Eichorn. Lee Grasfeder (Army) and John Tanner (US Congressman) were also on that team. It was one of the biggest upsets in the state. I got to know Buck Van Huss later on in life, and there has never been a more colorful coach in the game. Loved to hear him tell stories and he had a million of them. He is truly a ledgendary coach not only in Tennessee but in the nation. We miss him.

I have to go along with OPP on this one! District 16AAA: All of the schools in this district have won a state title, (The only exception is Craigmont). Hamilton, East, Central, Whitehaven, Northside, Fairley, Melrose have all won titles in the last twenty years with some winning it more than once. District 15AAA has White Station and Kirby with titles. You have to have a really, really good team in 16AAA to even have a WINNING SEASON!!! To get out of this region is murder and there isn't a region anywhere in the state that is tougher. You'd just have to see it to believe it.

I am very interested in your new basketball academy. Where is it located and who is running it? Sounds like a good idea. Am curious about how it fits in with TSSAA rules governing middle schoolers? Will they be able to participate without penalty?

The talent level at East will be incredible this year and they definitely have the size. If they play hard and together, (things that have been lacking in the past), they have a good chance to be the team to beat in Memphis. Only Hamilton will be able to match their size and athletic ability. Don't count either of these teams out come tourney time. Remember, guys, White Station graduated EIGHT seniors last year and each of them were keys to their season in some way. They will have Dane, Travis Strong, Jonathon Ball, Quinton Marion and a couple of others with real battle experience back, but the bulk of their team will be young. They win by committee, playing 14 players each game, and that worked for them this past year. This will be a different team for them this year and will be talented again, but definitely beatable. They have a transfer, the Shaw kid, 6'9" from Conway, Ark., which will help in the post, but their success depends on what kind of year Bradshaw, Strong, Ball, and a few others have. Bolton and Bartlett should battle it out again in the suburbs and that is usually a toss-up. Bartlett wins because of sound play and hardnosed defense and they are always well coached. This team may not have the talent to survive in the tournaments and make it all the way to the state, but don't overlook them either. I don't know much about middle or east teams in AAA but there are only 5 or 6 teams in Memphis that have a preseason legitimate shot at the title. Could be some surprises cause there always are.

Raleigh Egypt also competed at the Summer Hoops Classic in Murray and finished 9-2, losing its first game to Murfreesboro due to trip lag (1 hr. after arriving) and then reeling off 9 straight wins before losing to White Station in the quarterfinals of the tourney by 8 points. It was a knock-down drag-out game as usual between these two, and Raleigh missed 9 free throws in 2nd half. The Pharaohs went 7-2 at the Steamboat without their leading scorer, Carlton Peete, losing to an Illinois team by 6 pts., and in double overtime to Huntsville Lee. The Pharaohs have two rising juniors and three rising sophomores in the starting lineup, so I would say they had an excellent summer!