MEMPHIS SELECT 2010                      

    One of the top programs (Memphis Select Boys) in the region and only in existence for 4 years, Coach Rhodes has amassed an very talented team led by sophomore sensation Jarnell Stokes (6'7 - 220 lbs., rivals #3) who can dominate the paint and with a man child body is a load to handle. The roster definitely full of some of the best big men in the entire area including  Aaron Jones (6'9 - 225 lbs., rivals #36) who can do it all from running the floor, rebounding, nice inside game, perimeter shooting is good, and has a motor that doesn't stop. Other big men that are D-1 ready is Octavious Ellis (6'9 - 210 lbs., rivals #103) whom has a soft touch and good hands with his inside spinning moves and Eric Richardson (6'9 - 220 lbs., rivals #). Guard play will be very solid with Cedric McAfee (6'2 - 190 lbs., rivals #67) athletic play and is a streaky shooter that can do everything else on the court. Solid ball handler sophomore Myron Johnson (5'10 - 150 lbs., rivals #Hamilton) is one of the best point guards in the city that can handle any pressure and can shoot the ball extremely well from anywhere on the court. Sharp shooter John Huston (6'4 - 200 lbs., rivals #Dyer County)  is one of the best shooters in the entire region. Demar Richardson (6'2 - 190 lbs., rivals #Briarcrest) another versatile guard that drives to the goal very effective as any other guard in the city.

      Memphis Select will participate in several high profile tournaments starting with the Real Deal in the Rock April 16-18, then follow up the next weekend in Dallas at the Next Level Tournament. Other tournaments during the season and wrapping up the season in Las Vegas in the The Nike Main Event on July 22-26 2010.

      Other players of interest are Robert Houston (6'1 - 180 lbs., rivals #) and McCoy Pope (6'5 - 215 lbs., rivals #) will notch major minutes all season long with their all around the court play and strong rebounding by Pope will open many eyes during the summer circuit season.      

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

Recap 4-10-2010

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