Following up the discussion on 4A with insight into 3A, it could get a little tricky. Any number of teams could storm ahead, and this division is always loaded. I like Ridgeway but Melrose has played them close once already. Another match up tonight at Melrose should be a fun game. Hamilton is also in the mix, but Ridgeway beat them pretty good a few weeks back. Memphis is favored here, but right outside of the city is Fayette Ware. I’ll talk about Fayette in another post. Ridgeway, right now is the leader and their bigs, Brian Carter and Emmanuel Allen, make up the best front court in 3A and in the city. Carter is versatile. He can handle the rock and run the offense, or he can go score it from the free throw in, hit the pull up. He defends smaller players just as well as bigs and he can block shots. He does so much for them and is incredibly valuable. Emmanuel Allen is probably the second best big in the city, some might say he’s the best. EA (my nickname is he’s in the game, like EA Sports…lol) has a really soft touch around the basket. He converts everything near the rim into points or he’s going to get fouled. He can face up and attack to score and he’s a really good offensive rebounder as well. He’s not bad a rim protector either and doesn’t get enough credit in that area.
Marlon McShane has been good for Coach Wooten bringing the ability to score via the jumper and at the rim. Mcshane has amassed over 1,500 points in his high school career. McShane’s scoring punch prevents other teams from focusing on Allen and Carter with their defense because Mcshane has to be accounted for. You have to worry about him, or he can go get 15-20 virtually any time he steps on the floor. Kayin Mitchell is another ball handler for them who creates offense for himself and guards the other team’s best guard. Only a sophomore, Mitchell will be their leader next season. It just feels like Ridgeway’s year. They don’t let you get too many second chance opportunities; they limit paint touches well and they have 3 of the better seniors in Memphis. Combine that with the disappointment of last year being one game away from the state title and the edge goes the RoadRunners to represent the area in 3A.
2A basketball is a one team show. The question around the city is, “who is beating Douglass?” Here are a few things to consider:
- They are currently undefeated
- like the other teams above, they are older, but they also combine some youth as well.
- Taquez Butler is a top 5 player in the city in 2025
- Demario Johnson is a 2025 who starts at pg for them
- Josh Thompson is a 6’5 senior forward and Jarmon Brittman is the best under 6’5 rebounder around. His ability to go against bigger players and position himself the way he does is remarkable considering he’s only 6’2 maybe 6’3 and he can really score around the rim. He’s a 2025 as well.
Douglass wants to get back and finish what they started. Considering all those things, do you see why I love Douglass chances of not only getting there but winning it?
