Top players of the week
Each week, I always find myself listing all guards as the top players of the week.
Well, this week was another where guards dominated from start to finish, but some new names at different positions emerged this week. Some of the names I will mention have made my list before. Some of the guys I will mention have played well since the summer.
There are still some players I need to see play, so just be patient with me as I make my rounds to other high schools. I promise you that this list will feature new names as the season progresses. Two schools had multiple players land on the list this week. These two schools have coaches who have won state championships in the past.
And after I watched some games this weekend at the Memphis vs. The World Classic, I was able to finalize my list. I tend to talk too much, so I will just stop here and let the show begin.
Here are my top players of the week:
Calvin Temple, Center Hill: This senior guard doesn’t seem to disappoint. He’s been a big part of the Mustangs’ hot streak. He had 21 points and six assists in Tuesday’s win over Oxford. He followed that up with a 35-point performance Friday night against Southaven. Temple also added seven rebounds.
Decorian Payton, Center Hill: This junior forward is a walking double-double. Payton had 23 points and 10 rebounds against the Chargers on Tuesday night. Against the Chargers of Southaven, he had 23 points and 12 rebounds. Payton is an undersized post player, but he’s not afraid to get physical in the paint. I’m pretty sure his coach, Newton Mealer, is loving that.
Matthew Murrell, Whitehaven: Lausanne found out Thursday night how special Matthew Murrell can be with the basketball in his hands. In the second half, he scored 15 straight points and nailed four of the Tigers’ 11 3s. He finished with the game-high 27 points.
Jordan Wilmore, Whitehaven: The 7-foot-4 post player from Baltimore, Maryland is finally coming around. He had his way in the post against the Lynx. He had four dunks and played solid defense. He finished with 15 points.
Kennedy Chandler, Briarcrest: Chandler could be considered as the top guard in the state of Tennessee in the 2021 class. He’s not only a scoring guard, but he’s a facilitator. Chandler can impact the game on both ends of the court. He plays defense. He has the DNA of Chris Paul in terms of physicality at the point guard position. In the Saints’ two wins over the weekend, Chandler had 57 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and six steals.
Honorable mentions: Senior point guard Cameron Sims scored 19 points for Lausanne in a losing effort at Memphis Central on Tuesday night. Southwind’s senior forward Kameron Jones led the Jaguars with 15 points in Saturday’s win against Callaway. Sophomore point guard Daeshun Ruffin had 17 points for the Chargers in the loss to Southwind. He went 6 for 7 from the free throw line.