2018-2019 Boys Basketball Preview
MADISON- Both Sparkman and Madison Academy will lead the barrage of talent into the 2018-2019 season as both schools had both boys and girls teams make it to the State Tournament a season ago and return numerous players from those elite games. Meanwhile, James Clemens and Bob Jones are ready for the challenges to make the same advancement this season as their neighbors of a year ago.
The upcoming schedule will also be the last of one of the most outstanding and decorated coaches in Alabama school history as the James Clemens Jets will say goodbye to head coach Danny Petty.
BOB JONES-
The Patriots had a disappointing 8-20 season a year ago, but return several players who can do something the Pats weren’t able to do last season- shoot. Leading the shooting talent will be Jaden Coleman (G, 6-4, Jr.) who will be the spark needed to help the roster which includes six seniors and seven juniors. At forward, Jalen Myers (6-7, Jr.) returns with 9.6 points and 5 rebounds per game a season ago.
“This team will be a good shooting team with lots of depth in multiple positions,” said Luther Tiggs, in his third season as head coach.
“We’re not a big team, but I feel like our athletic talent can do the things needed to overcome that fact and our off-season workouts have been good so I feel we will do well,” said Taesean Hicks, 6-2, senior guard.
Coleman averaged close to 30 points an outing for the Bob Jones junior varsity squad last year. “Team chemistry is much better this year and that’s what you need to win games,” said Coleman.
JAMES CLEMENS-
The latest campaign for James Clemens will be one posting a success for outgoing head coach Danny Petty. Entering his fifth season with the Jets and 46th overall, the 67-year old Petty won state titles at Johnson, Madison Academy and Johnson and was the first coach to win state championships at three different schools.
“We’ve got to send him out on a good note and do it big for him,” said senior guard Garrett Hicks (G, 6-0) who averaged 17 points per game last year.
The Jets lost two players off last year’s squad which posted a 17-12 record. The roster has 11 seniors this go around let by Hicks and A.J. McGinnis who scored 16 and pulled down 4 rebounds per outing as a junior.
“We have a lot of small guards, but we also several big men so we can really do anything we really want,” said McGinnis. “This year we’re going to put Coach Petty out on a good note with at least 25 wins and that’s goal.”
Lead assistant coach is Frankie Sullivan, the former Auburn University player and who came to James Clemens after being on the Auburn staff until late 2017. He said of being with Petty, who has won 758 games as a head coach.
“Just to work with a legend is a good thing and everyone knows him as a winner and to go out on a positive note would be a historical moment for him,” said Sullivan.
SPARKMAN-
The Sparkman Senators (31-5) rode a wave of great to play to the semi-finals of the Class 7A State Tournament before losing to McGill-Toolen 64-61 in overtime. The fact a point or two separated them from a possible state title is easily an inspiration to make it back to the final four.
“I just hate I fouled out in that last game, but it just makes be hungrier and makes me go harder every day as our goal is to make it back to state as that was a great feeling,” said Malik Tyson (F, 6-4) one of five seniors on the team and who is the only returning starter. He was a third-team All-State selection averaging 15 points and 6 rebounds per game.
“We can get back to where we were, but it all starts at working hard in all aspects of our program,” said Rondell Cole (G, 6-3, Sr.) who is also being heavily recruited as a football player.
Jamie Coggins is in his seventh year as head coach of the Senators understands his team is young and inexperienced so the first thing for he and his staff was to teach the young players how to practice and how to prepare for the season. “I’ve seen a lot of improvement and these guys are catching on and we’ve turned the corner,” said Coggins. “Down the road we will be very competitive.”
MADISON ACADEMY-
Another near state title last season came in Class 4A where Madison Academy lost to Cordova 56-54 in the state title game. This season the Mustangs move up in classification to Class 5A and must make their program known to a new set of teams in the new class.
Head coach Andy Blackston is in his 13th season with the Mustangs and will have four seniors on his squad to lead to another possible state tournament appearance. Ty Walker (G, 6-1), Luke Reavis (G-6-0), Tucker McClung (C, 6-4) and Jakari Anderson (F, 6-3) are being looked to as leaders and inspirations for the three juniors, one sophomore and one freshman who make up the Mustang’s roster.
