How will some of the transfers fit with their new teams?
My last story on the transfers in the state of Tennessee is pretty much final, but there are some more names that could appear on the list as school officially starts on Aug. 12. Now, I’m wondering how some of…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingMy last story on the transfers in the state of Tennessee is pretty much final, but there are some more names that could appear on the list as school officially starts on Aug. 12.
Now, I’m wondering how some of the familiar faces will fit with their new teams. The transition for the players I’m about to mention will not be easy and challenges await all of them.
I thought the 2018 season was interesting, but with so many roster shuffles over the summer, the 2019 season is expected to be must-watch television.
So, let’s get to it.
Jaylon Sanders, Olive Branch: The 6-foot-4 combo guard is coming from Southaven High School, in a system where he was one of the Chargers’ primary ball handlers. Sanders is a high-volume shooter, and he catches a great rhythm by getting up a high number of shots. The ‘Quistors head coach Eric Rambough will have to figure how to implement Sanders’ offensive talents into an offense that will be centered around Cameron Matthews, Wes Taylor, Kyron Pleas and Brandon Wade.
Taylor and Pleas will most likely play in the backcourt, forcing Sanders to play at small forward. That’s not a bad idea, but Sanders will not have the ball in his hands as much as he did last season at Southaven. Rambough will have to make sure he maximizes Sanders’ offensive talents.
Alden Applewhite, Houston: From a talent standpoint, Applewhite is one of the most gifted and tallest (6-6) combo guards in the 2021 class. Like Sanders, he’s a high-volume shooter, and at Lausanne under head coach Marvis Davis, Applewhite was able to get up 20-30 shot attempts. Now, he will play under a new coach at a new school. Charlie Leonard likes to run half-court sets. Leonard preaches ball movement, so the ball is going to swing a lot. Can Applewhite’s style of play adjust to Leonard’s system? I can’t answer that right now, but I doubt he gets 20-30 shot attempts up like he was able to get playing for the Lynx.
Hayden Ledbetter, Arlington: Ledbetter is a point guard, but incoming freshman E.J. Smith, from Ridgeway Middle School, is also a point guard and will join the sophomore this upcoming school year at Arlington High School. I’m wondering how first-year head coach Maurice “Moe” Miller will use both guards to play alongside sophomore guard Phil Dotson III. Smith can play on the wing, whereas Ledbetter’s strengths are at the one-guard spot, but both lack experience to win in a highly-competitive Class AAA. The Tigers will need a facilitator and a solid second scoring option to play alongside Dotson III. Smith is talented and Ledbetter showed flashes last season at Lausanne that he can run an offense. Miller’s first year could be a learning curve.
Jelani Willis, Memphis East: As I said moments ago, Class AAA is tough every year, and Willis is another kid that will have to make some adjustments. He’s coming from FACS, playing in Division II-A. The speed of the game in Class AAA is a lot faster and more physical. Willis will have to bring his A-game every night. There are no days off in Class AAA. From a body frame standpoint, Willis is a bulky 6-3 guard, so his measurements are a plus. It’s just a matter how quickly he adapts to the speed of Class AAA.