Tennessee Prep Academy Post-Grad Gold Preview
The wings of Tennessee Prep Academy Post-Grad Gold each demonstrate scoring prowess.
The Coach
Anthony Jones Sr. leads the TPA Post-Grad Gold squad. Drafted out of Oral Roberts (1991) by a much more foreboding Los Angeles Lakers team, Jones spent most of his basketball career overseas.
“He was drafted by the Lakers,” said TPA President Harold Rayford Jr. “He was drafted and projected to come in and start if Magic Johnson retired” due to H.I.V.
Anthony Jones was drafted and signed October 1991 as the Lakers were certainly scrambling for a point guard after the shocking Magic announced his retirement in November, but Jones did not earn the coveted role and found his footing elsewhere.
“He is a two-time JuCo All-American in 1988 and 1989,” said TPA President Rayford Jr. “Big addition to our program. His daughter transferred to Memphis. His son played at SeMo under (Coach) Dickey Nutt. His baby is in high school. She is a 2019 (recruit) at 6-foot-4.”
Coach Jones Sr. is operating a “pro-style offense with (GeAnni) Bannerman, (Jordan) Graham, and (Aaron) Whitmore.”
The Players
TPA Post-Grad Blue is a shallow roster with 8 players, but boasts an expected depth at multiple positions.
12 | Aaron Whitmore | 6’6 | Memphis, TN |
1 | Eric Johnson | 6’6 | Memphis, TN |
10 | Jordan Graham | 6’7 | Detroit, MI |
13 | Dwayne Nicholson | 6’0 | Memphis, TN |
22 | Rylan Franklin | 6’0 | Atlanta, GA |
12 | GeAni Bannerman | 6’2 | Teaneck, NJ |
2 | Jamerick Moton | 6’3 | Southaven, MS |
33 | Rashid Ellis | 6’7 | Washington, MD |
GeAni Bannerman is a gifted scorer.
“He had 36 the other night in Coahoma Junior College,” said President Rayford Jr. “Scores off ball screens. Shooting threes off the dribble. He is very similar to Tahj Eady (SeMo sophomore). He is very similar to him.”
Eady is a slippery, thin guard that really gets on hot streaks. Bannerman also scores in bunches and needs to tack on some upper body weight.
“He handles the ball on the swing,” said President Rayford Jr. “He is very similar to Tahj Eaddy. He is from New Jersey.”
Coach Rayford Jr. saw him at a showcase in the Bronx and “just recruited my ass off to get him down here.”
Jordan Graham is another guy that fills up the coffee cup.
In two 20-minute halves, Jordan Graham scored 48 points against Bethel University. The 6-foot-7 wing needs a test score to qualify for a D1 program.
“He is from Detroit, Michigan,” said President Rayford Jr. “He averaged over 27.5 ppg out of high school.
Aaron Whitmore “is a Memphis kid” that needs the perfect fit.
“It surprises me he is still available,” said President Rayford Jr. “Strong as hell. He played football in high school…he was a RB/LB. He can read plays on the defensive end. He is muscular. He definitely has a college-ready body. The kid is super strong. He dunks it like he is trying to rip the bolts out of the backcourt.”
Dwayne Nicholson Jr. serves the ball up to the scorers (Bannerman, Whitmore, Graham)
“We have a point guard that is a pass-first guard,” said Rayford Jr. “He gets those guys involved. You have DJ, Bannerman, Whitmore. Those guys play off each other. He is a facilitator.”
At 6-foot-4 lefty Jamerick Moton can shoot it a little bit out of Southaven, Mississippi and Rasheed Ellis scraps and claws for loose balls at 6-foot-8.
“He is a junkyard dog,” said President Rayford Jr. “He bangs. He rebounds and he dives on the floor for loose balls.”
In the eyes of President Rayford Jr., “The Gold team has the best wings and the Blue team has better size and better guard play overall.”
The Schedule
In October and November TPA Post-Grad Gold competed against true college hoopers, including D2, NAIA and junior college schools (Dyersburg State, East Mississippi, Vincennes, Northwest Miss.)
Their schedule ramps up with The Grind Session dates in December.
Why didn’t TPA jump on The Grind Session from the outset this fall?
“We already had our schedule already complete,” said TPA Harold Rayford Jr. “The first half. I wanted to keep that relationship with those junior colleges open. Other teams on The Grind Session, based on proximity or relationship, might not be able to get these games.”
Post Grad Gold
October 11 Bethel University 7pm/ Crisp Arena
October 15 Vincennes Indiana (JUCO Jamboree) TBA/ VU P.E. COMPLEX
October 27 Alabama Prep TBA/ HOME
November 2 East Mississippi (JUCO) 7pm/ Scooba, MS
November 3 Dyersburg State (JUCO) 7pm/ Dyersburg, TN
November 9 Northwest Miss (JUCO) 7pm/ HOME
November 10-12 Memphis Classic TBA/ HOME
November 16 Northeast Miss (JUCO) 7pm/ Booneville, MS
November 18 Shawnee (JUCO) 7pm/ Shawnee, IL
November 23-25 Holiday Hoopsgiving TBA/ Atlanta, GA
November 27 Blue Mountain College 7pm/Blue Mountain, MS
December 1 Faith Prep 6pm/ West Memphis, ARK
December 6 Alabama Prep 5pm/ HOME
December 8-9 Memphis vs The World (Grind Session) TBA/ HOME
December 16-18 NYC Super 16 Showcase(Grind Session) TBA/ New York City
January 6-7 Woodstock Showcase (Grind Session) TBA/ Woodstock, CT
January 19-21 Geneva Ohio Showcase (Grind Session) TBA/ Geneva, OH
February 9-10 Woodstock Virginia Showcase (Grind Session) TBA/ Woodstock, VA
February 23-24 NACA National Championships TBA/ Dayton, TN
March 1-3 USA Prep National Championships TBA/ Myrtle Beach, SC
March 8-12 Grind Session World Championships TBA/ Owensboro, KY
President Rayford Jr. loves The Grind Session as a concept and the execution of it.
“I had an eye-opening experience last year when we played Hillcrest Prep,” said TPA Coach Rayford Jr. “We played Oak Hill Academy at the Hoopfest. I like everything about it. It is like the ACC of high school basketball. We have a waiting list to get on the The Grind Session. We just can’t bring anybody on The Grind Session.”