Jumpshot

As I said in earlier post, that is the MINIMUM grade requirements of the state organization, The TSSAA. Every school district has the option to add to that minimum. If you want to institutute a grade requirement in your district that every athlete has to have an "A" average and a 25 on the ACT to participate, go ahead. Individual schools and individual coaches can also raise the standard. In the Memphis city schools, the grade requirement is amended. If an athlete has a grade below a "C" in any course at grading period, the school must document that the player is actively engaged in after school tutoring in that class until the grade improves to a "C" in the next grading period. (A safety net so to speak). I believe every school and every coach has an obligation to monitor every player's academic progress and provide help in all forms to the athletes to insure they are on track to graduate, and possibly qualify for a college scholarship...but that is an ideal. Coaches have to deal with so many factors when it comes to their individual players' on and off court success. What do you do with the special ed. student that has an IEP on file, meets those requirements and is eligible to play? What do you do with the player whose home environment is a wreck; no caring parent in the home, extreme financial difficulties, drug and alcohol abuse by parents and siblings, no transportation, no bed to sleep in, not much to eat, few clothes that they themselves have to wash and clean, and a host of other difficulties to overcome just to get to school each day? What about Joe or Jane that makes a "D" in Ms Hardnose's chemistry class (who has a well known bias against athletes)? Do you just automatically drop them from the team and go on about your business? Or, do you have a conference with Ms Hardnose and Joe or Jane; make sure they go to tutoring with the teacher; give them a goal and a deadline; and work through the difficulty? What about a host of other factors that may come up in these young people's lives they have to deal with in private that may be affecting their performance in school. Well enough to have some steadfast rule for the lazy, unmotivated player that needs to be punished and made to perform at a higher level. But, if we aren't in this profession to help young people overcome circumstances in their lives to go on and become productive citizens in our society, then we are in it for the wrong reasons. For many of the athletes, the "team" is a shelter from their real lives. They have an adult that cares for them and disciplines them. They have teammates with whom they form friendships. They have goals set for them and goals they set for themselves. They experience success or at least a reward for hard work. To take this network away from them would cause more harm than good. I recognize the difference between an egotistical, lazy, self-serving "star" who thinks everything should be given to them on a silver platter, and the athletes that are struggling to overcome the aforementioned difficulties. Unfortunately, when you make a steadfast rule that all athletes have to maintain an "A or B" average to be on the team...it applies to everybody. I don't think anyone disputes that a successful coach MUST have rules and standards, and players MUST be held responsible and accountable for their actions. Minimum standards HAVE to be maintained for the success of the player, team and program. The state sets these minimums and each school has the right to raise the standards for their athletes to whatever they choose. Do what you think is best!

TSSAA rule regarding grades: If a player earns five credits at the end of a school year (summer credits included), they are eligible to play all sports the next school year. No longer do they become ineligible during the school year as they once did. If a player does not earn five credits they are ineligible but may become eligible at mid-term if they at that time pass five subjects. School districts and individual schools may pass stricter guidelines if they choose to, but they all have to adhere to the TSSAA minimum requirements.

Legend When is the last time you saw Arlington play? They have improved each year since beginning varsity play three years ago. Bolton is young this year and could get better but had an up and down summer. Arlington will be better coached than Cordova and will not get into wild running game that Cordova prefers. Would be surprised if either team KILLS them.

May have Kirby too high but they were a powerhouse last year. Just ran out of gas at the wrong time. Don't know how hard they were hit by graduation but also know they have talented athletes every year. Germantown is due to have a big year and Fairley is always a tough team to play so you could be right about them.

Southwind is talented and play extremely hard on defense. They are well coached and I gave them credit for being impressive this summer... but summer ball is different from regular season. They will have to go some to beat White Station or Ridgeway. Germantown will be a tough match for them too. Don't know past that. Kirby will be erratic as will Wooddale, and Houston is only as good as O.J.'s brother can make them so Southwind could finish ahead of all of them. Don't forget that Melrose was also a freshman and sophmore laden team last year so it was close between them. Melrose was so up and down last season that it was hard to know which team would show up. They will be more consistent this year.

Should be a great year for the fans and a real headache for the coaches with so many good teams. These predictions may go out the window when the head-to-head competition begins. 1. White Station 2. Ral-Egypt 3. Ridgeway 4. Central 5. Melrose 6. Craigmont 7. Kirby 8. Germantown 9. Hamilton 10. Fairley Others: Houston, Wooddale, Whitehaven

Having been the most competitive district in Memphis for several years, this district has had to take a back seat to 15AAA the past two seasons. Several state champions have come from this league and every team in the league has won at least one state championship. Coaching changes and declining enrollments have hurt some of these programs but 2008-09 could be a resurgence for them. This league holds several interesting scenarios and it could be fruit basket turnover in the standings all year long. Predictions: 1. Central- Talented and deep. Won city championship over Ridgeway last year and have several key players back. Infusion of several outstanding young players make this team a challenger to make it out this year. 2. Melrose- Outstanding young talent. Up and down summer for this team but when they are good, they're really good. Should improve all year and give Central a run for championship. 3. Hamilton- Always talented and athletic, this team sometimes plays out of control. If Coach Lawson can harness the horses, could be a tough out in the tournament. 4. Fairley- Make this prediction due to Coach Ford's presence on the bench. This team always plays hard on defense and patient on offense. Usually in every game with a chance to win at the end. 5. Whitehaven- This program due for a breakout year. Loaded athletically, they will be competitive with every team in this league. Season will depend on how much they believe in themselves. 6. East- Should be improved over last season both in talent and experience. This once storied program may still be a year or two away. 7. Kingsbury- May have this team rated too low. Season will tell. Usually athletic and hardnosed, they could be a surprise. 8. Northside- Losing seasons have taken its toll on this program and new coach Reginald Mosby (formerly of East) has his hands full getting this team out of the cellar.

Was a three team race last year between Ridgeway (state champs), White Station (state runner-up), and Kirby (state ranked all year). Should be these three again with Germantown and Houston figuring more into the mix. Predictions: 1. White Station- Loaded, loaded, loaded. The team to beat in Memphis this year. 2. Ridgeway- Never at a loss for talent, this team will be the biggest in Memphis this season. Key losses to graduation could hurt at first of season until young players get their experience but this team will be tough to beat in January and February. 3. Kirby- Lost several key players to graduation but always has a load of talented, athletic players. Don't count this team out, but should be a notch below last year. 4. Germantown- Had excellent season last year and return bulk of the team. Coach Mealer will have his hands full with top three teams but nobody will want to draw this team in district tournament. 5. Houston- Off the wall with this prediction due to transfer of O.J. Mayo's little brother to the program. Don't know if one player can turn the program around, but he has drawn rave revues over the summer. 6. Wooddale- Extremely competitive at the end of last season, this team lost several players due to graduation and defection. New coach Jerry Johnson (formerly of Mitchell) will be in a rebuilding situation but the talent level will show remarkable improvement in one year. If current players adapt to new system, could be a spoiler team in this district. 7. Southwind- Entering its first year in varsity competition, this senior-less team has shown remarkable competitiveness over the summer and can't do anything but get better and better. 8. Collierville- Having been eratic and unpredictable in the past, this team could have a breakout year and surprise everyone. Had excellent young talent two years ago who will be mature for this season. Good team in the wrong district. 9. Overton- Struggled last year and will be hard pressed to improve in this tough district.

For the past three seasons, District 14AAA has been a two-team race between Ral-Egypt and Craigmont and looks to be the same this year. Bolton could be a spoiler with a young team and Arlington has improved each year since beginning varsity play two years ago. Predictions: 1. Ral-Egypt- Returns 13 players from 2007-08 team that finished 26-5 and won the region (7th year in a row to win a regional championship) 2. Craigmont- Returns several key players from last year's regional runner-up squad 3. Arlington- Will be much improved over last year. Should battle Bolton for this spot. 4. Bolton- Had a productive summer with young team. Could be a spoiler if youth matures. 5. Cordova- Still talented. although graduation and defections have depleted their talent pool. 6. Millington- Hit hard by graduation, this will be a rebuilding year for coach Keith Wood. 7. Bartlett- Mystery team. A new coach (for second straight year) and a lack of experienced players spells early season struggles but by tournament, could be a spoiler team.

I don't know...I was thinking that ECS and CBHS had played for state championships in recent years under these two fine coaches. MUS is a fine school and and outstanding basketball program under Jerry peters, but this past year was their first state championship. I can't remember the last major recruit to come from this program either. Briarcrest and St. George's have succeeded recently based on the talented players they have managed to get from the Southwind Middle School program. Since Southwind is now a high school, that gravy train is going to tail off. They do have aggressive boosters out recruiting for their programs and will continue to have moderate success against other private schools post Leslie McDonald and Elliott Williams, (two high-major players). With the city schools in the news constantly regarding violence and gang activity, parents are looking to private schools as an alternative. I believe we have excellent private schools in the memphis area, but costs and academic requirements eliminate most of the possible applicants.

Rob You omitted ECS from your list which is coached by five time state champion coach, Terry Tippett, and CBHS coached by Bubba Luckett. These are also good choices for private schools.

So, you're saying our newly selected superintendant, who was maligned in the news by Herenton as a third rate substitute for him, has arbitrarily fired the entire athletic department staff at Herenton's request so as to give close friends of the Mayor the job? First of all there has been no Justification given as to why a change was needed at this time. A lot of mystery. Secondly, no notice was given about the opening, so as to give qualified applicants the opportunity to apply for the position. Due process be da----. The paper reported that Smoke Gaines has already been hired as well as Don Holmes hired as the assistant. What happened to Robert Cole? This man has been grooming for the position for years. This smacks of the same cronyism that has been going on in city hall for years. The local news has been reporting on Herenton's controversial appointments and the city council is currently investigating the matter. Where does the mayor's cronyism end and the new superintendant's power begin? If Cash is going to be a Herenton puppet, then we would have been better off letting Herenton be the superintendant. We could just cut out the middle man and save that $260,000.00 salary.

Galillee Just saw the news about Wayne on the TV. Any info on what's going on? How was Smoke Gaines selected to be the successor?

Gallilee How are things in your new life? Hope things are well. Your statement about eigth graders is incorrect. All of the unscrupulus (sp) coaches in Memphis seem to think that eighth graders are free game and go after any eighth grader as if it is legal to recruit them. This is false. Every eighth grader is assigned to the high school in whose district they reside. This is the only school that student may legally attend WITHOUT A LEGITIMATE TRANSFER. There are several transfers available, and the student will be legally eligible at any high school they get a legitimate transfer to. However, this does not give high school coaches the right to recruit them or talk to their parents about transfers. Only the coach at the school where the student is assigned can talk to that student. Reread your TSSAA rules regarding recruiting and transfers.

TraderB I totally agree with your assessment of White Station. Every coach wants his or her team to peak at tournament and that is exactly what White Station is doing. They are finally hitting on all eight cylinders and with the addition of Hall pose a real matchup problem for anybody. Ral-Egypt beat them before Christmas by 3 and the rematch in the substate was won by WS by 5. Both teams played well but RE couldn't overcome a 16 for 16 free throw shooting exhibition put on by Joe Jackson in the second half. Hall added 13 pts and 6 rebounds which made a difference over the previous meeting.

Stokomo There is a silver ball that goes to the runner-up team. Although YOU can't remember who was runner-up, the players, coaches and fans that have that in their trophy case do. It is a testament to a team's season to even be the runner-up in the state. If you blind draw the top two teams in the first round, you deprive the second best team of ever being the runner-up.

Carlos is a GREAT receiver and was a solid high school bball player but he does not start for the Tigers. That distinction goes to another GREAT receiver and former Raleigh Egypt outstanding bball player "Duke" Calhoun.

Wow, Wacojaco you must spend all your time traveling if you've seen every good team in the state play. It's a long way from Oak Ridge to Memphis.

I've been looking for the state tournament brackets with the pairings for this year and they are nowhere to be found. Are the powers-to-be waiting for the substates to conclude and then make pairings? State champions could be made by this draw and the TSSAA could become king makers with their choices. State tournament brackets should be announced just as region and substate brackets are. We all know that these decisions will be made with the almighty dollar as the bottom line!

AirForceOne Obviously we don't know each other and believe me when I say i am not critical of you being a supportive parent...God knows we need more of them! What I am saying is the coach has to be making his choices based on skills, or defensive ability, or size, or hustle, or experience, or team chemistry, or players' attitudes about the team or him, or a half dozen other reasons. My question to you was are you looking only at your son's pluses, or are you able to admit some of his limitations that may be keeping him on the bench?

Sounds as if you're a disgruntled parent with an axe to grind. ALL parents would like to see the best four players on the team AND THEIR SON in the starting lineup. Coaches everywhere have to deal with unhappy parents who cannot or won't be objective about their child or the team they play on. Coaches make mistakes and their jobs are questioned all the time but most I know are trying to do the best they can with the twelve or fifteen players they have to work with. It also sounds to me you have a situation at Hunter's Lane where some athletes compete in two sports and thus have multiple coaches and are on different planes in the different sports (ie. Starter or hero or coaches' pet on one team and not on the other). I don't doubt your sincerity as a parent but it does appear you are highly subjective. Maybe a response from the coach would clear things up a bit.

Although Liberty has had a great year, this win by Millington was not unforseeable. They too have a very good team made up of seniors that have been together for a while. I thought that Liberty would have the edge in this one because of home court advantage but I guess Millington was able to overcome that. Congratulations to Liberty and Coach Williams for an outstanding year and congratulations to Millington and Coach Wood for the victory.

enrollment

Trader B Will you be able to get out to Millington tomorrow to see Bolton/ Millington and Craigmont/ Raleigh Egypt games? Need your updated opinion on these four teams.

Kirby defeated Ridgeway tonight in the 15AAA championship which puts Ridgeway in the same bracket as Central in the 8AAA region semifinals next week. Central defeated Ridgeway a week ago for the city championship.