TPA’s coach Harold Rayford Jr. thinks Damion Baugh proved he’s a high-major D1 basketball player
Tennessee Prep Academy point guard Damion Baugh found out where he will be attending college next fall hours before he made his decision Wednesday evening at Team Thad ‘s gym. James Wiseman, the No. 1 recruit in the 2019 class…
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Continue ReadingTennessee Prep Academy point guard Damion Baugh found out where he will be attending college next fall hours before he made his decision Wednesday evening at Team Thad ‘s gym.
James Wiseman, the No. 1 recruit in the 2019 class that committed to Memphis earlier this year, texted Baugh persuading him to stay in the city and play college basketball. Apparently, Baugh’s heart was in the same place as his future teammate as he decided to stay in Memphis and become a Tiger.
Baugh chose Memphis over TCU and Texas Tech.
Baugh is a 6-foot-4 point guard that proved to be a tremendous playmaker as the floor general this season for the Diplomat Lions. With his athleticism and ball handling, Baugh is a difficult matchup and is able to see over a lot of defenders because of his height.
Baugh was a must-get for the Tigers because they are lacking size at the point guard position. Freshman point guard Alex Lomax is listed at 5-10, while freshman point guard Tyler Harris is listed at 5-9. With Baugh being the tallest between the three, there could be times head coach Penny Hardaway will place Baugh at the shooting guard position, depending on the rotations and matchups.
“We have implemented a lot of things off the ball, because college coaches and some pro scouts asked ‘Can he play off the ball?’ Tennessee Prep Academy head coach Harold Rayford Jr. said. “We have shown that, because he’s averaging 23.5 points.
“He’s actually the third-leading scorer in Grind Sessions, so he’s proven he can play on the wing as well.”
Not only does Baugh gives Memphis the size the program could definitely use next season, but he also gives the Tigers a consisent scorer in the backcourt.
Since Jan. 30, Harris has only scored in double figures three times in a span of 10 games for Memphis. In the same stretch, Lomax didn’t reach the double-digit scoring mark.
Senior guard Jeremiah Martin has been carrying the Tigers offensively. In that same span, Martin has scored in double figures, with two 40-point performances highlighting that stretch. Baugh’s scoring ability will take away a lot of the double teams Wiseman and Malcolm Dandridge will see next season.
Rayford Jr. quickly noticed the potential of Baugh when he played for Team Thad last summer.
“His body language looked like he wanted to be a high-major player, but the biggest thing was his defensive prowess,” Rayford Jr. said. “He wants to play defense on the best player on the other team, no matter who they are. Then, his passing ability.
“Before he came into this academy, we needed a playmaker, somebody to make plays for other guys that we’re bringing in, and he’s just proven himself to be a scorer this season, which we didn’t anticipate him doing.”
Baugh’s success didn’t come overnight. He, like other top high school basketball players in the state of Tennessee and in the country, had to work tirelessly in the gym in order for the hard work to pay off.
But, there were other characteristics Baugh had that helped him along the way.
“Passion and dedication,” how Rayford Jr. described his point guard. “You have to have passion, and you have to be dedicated through the ups and downs. Baugh is a passionate kid, confident, and you have to have that to be successful.”
As a right now, the Tigers have Baugh, Wiseman, Dandridge, and Olive Branch High standout D.J. Jeffries. Memphis’ 2019 class is currently ranked No. 6 in the country on 247Sports.