Newcomers in 2019 Rankings: Part I
Check out newly ranked members of the senior class below. If you want to look at the complete rankings, smash here. Newcomers are either players previously undervalued or possibly players that developed their game in the last few months. For most…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingCheck out newly ranked members of the senior class below.
If you want to look at the complete rankings, smash here.
Newcomers are either players previously undervalued or possibly players that developed their game in the last few months. For most of the newcomers we ranked it simply comes down to exposure. They didn’t advance as far in the playoffs as other players or their AAU team was playing on a forgettable circuit.
These players represent five newly ranked Class of 2019 hoopers (ranking listed left of their name).
#16 Juwon Carpenter (Stratford)
Elite attacker. Stratford needs Juwon until Michael Wallace returns from academic ineligibility (ideally later this month). Together they advanced to Class AA semifinal last March. Carpenter’s game is remarkable. It has a streetball flair to it. The 6-foot-3ish lead guard operates with spectacular court vision. He can also defend shorter guards with his wonderful quickness. Carpenter’s one weakness is outside shooting. Division One is a very real prospect for Juwon.
#31 Sammy Itodo (Hamilton Heights Christian Academy)
Forward Sammy Itodo defends at a high level. He signed to Gardner-Webb after growing up in a rural Nigerian village. HHCA develops players as well as any program in the state, considering they also acclimate many players to a new country. Itodo has a long way to go beyond 6′. His offense has some deep wrinkles to iron out, but he can finish in close.
#35 Michael Rice (Ridgeway)
Recommended by Courtney Asher Smith, Rice is a dynamic Memphis-area guard. Rice loves to play at a high tempo. Rice and his brother both aggressively hound the basketball and like to generate points off turnovers.
#39 DaQuarius Harris (Haywood)
Thin and bouncy, DaQuarius Harris ran with Team Thad 16u last year. Though he played rather well running with 16u can cost older guys the necessary exposure. For example, a basketball program like UT Martin or Southeast Missouri might be a perfect level for Harris, but are their assistant coaches going to spend an hour watching a 16u game when they have three scholarships to fill in 2019? Probably not. What Harris does well is rebound and protect the rim. His mid-range game is ok, but needs to improve swiftly.
#41 Zach Heckert (West Carroll)
Exactly like Harris, Zach Heckert played with Team Thad 16u. He was also a great rebounder at the 16u level. Heckert’s one shortcoming will be his size for the position. Heckert is a 6-foot-5 power forward in truth. Heckert’s energy level and quick bounce set him apart from most seniors in Tennessee. Heckert plays with the tenacity most coaches crave.
For the best statewide coverage of high school basketball follow @PrepHoopsTN.