BRIARCREST 2011-2012                                                      

     The last time the Hoopers staff wrote a bio for the Saints was in 2007-2008 when Leslie McDonald (North Carolina) led them to a state championship and state runner up bid in a two year span. The Saints are back with Coach John Harrington in his 10th year at the helm and with hands down the best overall player in Austin Nichols (6'8 - 200 lbs. rivals # 41) since Jarnell Stokes (Tennessee) went on to the college level in his senior year and a feat yet to be duplicated with his prowess at top form. Nichols in a short period of time has transformed into a serious comparison in the Hoopers eyes as a Duke type of player accordingly, with some added weight to an already sturdy body frame the sky is the limit. When Nichols masters the jump shot from long range he will garner skills overall as he already best all other attributes in accordance with great dominance and follow thru. Senior DeMarr Richardson (6'3 - 180 lbs. rivals #) will provide strong overall play with his athleticism with the ball and good ball handling skills. Junior Sean Tuhoy (6'0 - 185 lbs. rivals # - Loyola (MD. Maramount) at the 1 brings solid point guard skills and knows how to facilitate the team in great fashion. Tuhoy has played the best guards in the city wit the Saints strong by and large schedule and has handled the pressure in surprising fashion to the Hoopers staff.  Another senior that will provide valuable minutes minutes and will be a major piece to their success with double teams and of the sort coming on Nichols is Chris Jones (6'1 - 200 lbs. rivals #) who plays his position all over the court and is very aggressive at all times. Another senior that will help at the guard spot is Nelson Ollie (5'10 - 180 lbs. rivals #) with his solid ball handling and good court vision. 

The Saints will participate in the Harding Christmas Tournament Dec. 19, 20, and 21 at Harding Academy. Another prestigious tournament they will attend is the Corn Palace Classic in South Dakota held by the Mike Miller Foundation December 27 and 28, 2011. Other big teams in attendance is Findley Prep and others of significance.

     Freshman Chris Chiozza (5'10 - 170 lbs. rivals #), will start some this season due to his high level knowledge of the game and extensive summer experience will pay off for this young man tremendously. Transfers in senior Cory Hopkins (6'4 - 185 lbs. diamond in the rough) and junior Heber Arnold (6'4 - 180 lbs. diamond in the rough) with garner valuable minutes  throughout the season and make the difference in certain important games. respectively.

College Coaches: Diamond in the Rough Team with legitimate off the radar prospects, (college coaches click here).

Recap 9-20-2010

By Staff Writer Harold Rivera

Players:

Recap 8-25-2005

BY : ANDRE WHITEHEAD OF TENNESSEE PREP HOOPS

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I think there is a book that starts off that way, but I digress.

The anticipation of the upcoming AAU or summer campaign was alive and kicking all over the country in May of 2005, especially in Memphis.

The expectations seemed enormous, having finished second in the 17 and under nationals last season as 16's the Memphis YOMCA seemed primed for the ultimate run.

Something happened on the way to the gym.

It was apparent the Bluff City faithful were not the only parties interested in getting a piece of the star studded squad.

Adidas wanted to get a foothold in the ever burgeoning Memphis hoop scene and this seemed to be the initial move to start this particular ball
rolling.

So the YOMCA was no longer in the loop and the Memphis Pump-N-Run were officially born.

Taking a peek at the roster one could not blame Adidas for their bold move. Thaddeus Young, Willie Kemp, Wayne Chism, Pierre Niles and Brandon Powell made up a nucleus that would surely lead Team Memphis to the promised land.

The summer campaign started with a most interesting scenario as the "PNR" lost a game to the Mid-State Ballerz, who ironically had Willie Kemp running the show. This was an illusion that would soon change, as Kemp
shortly thereafter joined the PNR.

With all their ducks in a row, the PNR set out to establish themselves and put a benchmark on the national attention that would follow.

The Real Deal on the Hill, the first major tournament of the summer that coaches could attend. The pundits pined for the impending matchup between Team Memphis and the defending mythical goliath The Indy Spiece Heat. The Heat were led by the consensus top player in the class Greg Oden and numerous other high level prospects who could actually match the
PNR with name recognition.

The reputation was established and the aura of the PNR was created as the boys from Memphis soundly defeated the Heat and made a huge cry across the land as the best summer squad in existence.

Another funny thing happened on the way to their future endeavors, nothing.

For some inexplicable reason the PNR did not suit up for any of the Memorial Day festivities and was sparsely seen until the Adidas Super 64 in Atlanta, following the shoe camps.

The aforementioned players participated in various high level exposure camps and the three major shoe camps and kept their names on the tongues of coaches nationwide.

After achieving individual success at these various camps, the boys got back together with the purpose of putting the finishing touches on a grand and final run through the top programs the country had to offer. They added Ridgeway jumping jack Ernest Fields and ECS powerhouse Tim Johnson to the fold and things looked bright.

Once again a funny thing happened on the way to the gym.

The time off and the lack of continuity played havoc on the chemistry of the PNR and they bowed out early in Atlanta.

Heading to Las Vegas for the final big time event of the summer, the PNR seemed poised and ready to achieve. After dominating pool play the lack of chemistry once again reared it's ugly head and some resentment among the players seemed to end this summer campaign on a sour note.

This team had the potential to be one of the best of all time. It is truly unclear what precipitated these events that grounded this team for much of the latter portion of May and June, but it truly had it's effect on their success.

None the less these kids are part of the best class of seniors to dot the Tennessee landscape in many years.

The decision to completely disassociate themselves with the
organization that they grew up playing for in retrospect now seems like a mistake. The YOMCA will continue on with quality younger teams and what to make of the Adidas affiliation with the Bluff City at this juncture is
unclear.

BY : ANDRE WHITEHEAD OF TENNESSEE PREP HOOPS