MELROSE 2012-2013                      

        The deepest team in the city since Craigmont won the TSSAA State Championship in 2011 that can go 10 deep in many situations accordingly. Regardless of losing Markel Crawford (6'4 - 190 lbs., rivals #51) to a summer circuit injury for the entire 2012-2013 high school basketball season, the Wildcats are vying for a sixth straight district regular season title. Coach Jermaine Johnson has amassed a rotation of Division 1 talent year in and year out for the last five years respectively to become not only a local powerhouse but with national acclaim following. Last year Darius Moore went to Jacksonville State University in Alabama and Devonte Hampton to Alcorn Sate. The days of the old basketball tradition is definitely back from the early days with football taking a back seat with the football program in disarray. Before Johnson's arrival, basketball was mediocre, but the last three years the varsity play has invigorated the neighborhood. I know Melrose in the recent future has been known for football but it's heart line and star power is from basketball hands down. The gym will sell out many times this year and will portray spirit as the football team receives.

      Melrose will be led by one of the savviest guards in the city that has great ball handles and court vision to go along with a sharp jump shot in senior K.C.  Godwin (6'0 - 180 lbs., rivals #) who committed to Southern Illinois University notably. A major catalyst for the Wildcats will be junior Jemerio Jones (6'5 - 185 lbs., rivals #15) who does a little bit of everything in strong fashion is going to be a major catalyst for this team as for the glue and as for serious "GLUE!!!" (That is mentioned as for a rock solid) to this team. This young man is a serious contender that doesn't need to be overlooked at all during the season to all Division 1 coaches. Another player that will be very significant to this team is Terry Winn (6'6 - 205 lbs., rivals #15) who transferred from Baton Rouge, Louisiana this summer while playing for the Memphis Phenoms all summer long did extremely well therefore.

      Melrose will participate in several high profile tournaments and classics starting with the 42nd Annual Martin Luther King Tournament at Melrose High School during Thanksgiving. They participate in the Penny Hardaway Classic where the first two days Jan. 10-11, 2013 of the event will be at Dyer County and the last day Jan. 12, 2013 at White Station High School. They will play national powerhouse with 6 McDonald's All Americans in the last 5 years Findlay Prep out of Las Vegas, Nevada respectively. December 7, 2012 they stay home and play in one of the top high school events in the Atlanta - Memphis Classic at MUS. The Wildcats also play in another strong event here in Memphis on the campus of Lausanne School and team they play is yet to be determined. They travel to Bristol, Tennessee for the 29th annual and  prestigious Arby's Classic. To finish off the schedule for the season the Wildcats have some interesting early out of district games against Craigmont who they might play in MLK and Ridgeway, a postseason opponent regularly. They open up district  action versus Memphis East Melrose on January 4, 2013.

      Junior Ladarius Chester (6'1 - 180 lbs., rivals #) who possesses some of the most explosive elevation in the region while his guard play has improved dramatically and will garner major minutes at the top. Senior Jay Witherspoon (6'5 - 200 lbs., rivals #) will help out in the middle with his solid and aggressive play. Chris Jefferson (6'7 - 190 lbs., rivals #) will have many opportunities to prove his mettle in the middle at hence.    

     Sophomores Donte Fitzpatrick  (6'6 - 190 lbs.,  rivals #) and Marlon Hunter  (6'4 - 180 lbs.,  rivals #) are two very special young men that you will hear alot of accolades from seriously. Both players play very aggressive defense that brings points easily in that way and can score in bunches within the flow. Freshman Javian Hamlett  (5'10 - 150 lbs.,  rivals #)  whom was MVP last year at Ridgeway Middle.

College Coaches: Diamond in the Rough Team with legitimate off the radar prospects via Division 1 potential, (college coaches click here).

Recap 10-20-2012

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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