How local high school basketball stars are doing this season

From Commercial Appeal The Memphis Edge blog post by John Varlas

For a long time now, the city of Memphis has been a prime exporter of basketball talent to colleges throughout the nation. The University of Memphis can't get everyone, meaning there are plenty of players from Hoop City who annually put up nice numbers. But like the old saying goes "out of sight, out of mind." So, to rectify that, we present a look at how some former Memphis-area high school stars are doing this season.

(Statistics are current through this weekend's games).

Danielle Ballard (LSU women): The former Central star has made an instant impact in her first college season and will certainly be in the mix for SEC Freshman of the Year honors. Ballard is averaging 13.4 ppg., tied for second on the team, while leading the Lady Tigers with 3.6 steals per contest. She got her career highs in points and rebounds against Ole Miss on Jan. 3, scoring 24 and pulling down 12. In an early-season victory over Grambling, Ballard scored 24 points and tied LSU's single-game freshman record with seven steals.

Alex Black (Chattanooga women): Black, who starred at Harding Academy, has started all 17 games for Chattanooga, scoring 6.6 ppg. while shooting 34 percent from behind the 3-point line. She's also third on the team in assists (37).



Laurence Bowers (Missouri): After missing all of the 2011-2012 season because of a torn ACL, the former St. George's star has made a terrific return to form for the Tigers. Bowers leads Mizzou in scoring at 16.8 ppg. and ranks second in rebounding (6.9). He's shooting 58.1 percent from the field and has yet to shoot below 50 percent in any game this season. The only blot on Bowers' season is a sprained MCL in his right knee (the injury last season was in his left) that has kept him on the sidelines for the last few games. Reports are, however, that he's progressing well.

Hauns Brereton (Hawaii): Brereton, who prepped at Bartlett, has started 12 of 17 games for the Rainbow Warriors, averaging 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while playing 20.8 minutes per contest.

Kris Brewer (Kent State): A former Ridgeway standout who attended prep school in Illinois, Brewer is putting togetehr a nice season for Kent State. He leads the team with 43 assists while averaging 8.6 ppg., third on the team.

Martino Brock (South Florida): Another Ridgeway grad who attended prep school at Maine Central Institute, Brock has started 11 of 17 contests for South Florida, averaging 4.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest. Turned in an iron-man performance against Bowling Green earlier in the year, playing 52 minutes while scoring a career-high 18 points to go along with seven boards.

Reginald Buckner (Ole Miss): The Rebels' rise to prominence has been one of the biggest stories in the SEC this season and the former Manassas star has played a vital role in that success. He ranks third on the team in scoring at 10.8 ppg., second in rebounding (8.1) and leads the Rebels with 49 blocks. Buckner is also a very effective finisher around the basket, converting 63.4 of his field-goal attempts. His six double-doubles rank second in the SEC, behind teammate Murphy Holloway's 11.
Erica Burgess (Murray State women): Another former Central standout, Burgess has developed into Murray State's floor leader, leading the team with 53 assists while scoring 9.9 ppg. (third on the team).

Bianca Cage (Eastern Michigan women): Cage, who set the state record for 3-pointers in a game with 13 for Southwind last season, has made a nice impact in her first season, despite playing in just eight games. She's averaging 7.1 ppg. She made five 3s on the way to a career-high 25 points against Western Michigan on Jan. 10 and scored 15 against Miami-Ohio 10 days later.

Sampson Carter (Massachusetts): The rugged former Ridgeway star has been solid in the paint for the Minutemen, averaging 5.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in just 22.2 minutes per game.

Ian Clark (Belmont): Overlooked by many coming out of Germantown, Clark has developed into one of the finest perimeter shooters anywhere in the nation. He's been named Ohio Valley Conference player of the week three times this season and is the current POY after averaging 22 points in victories over Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State. Clark ranks in the top 10 nationally in 3-pointers per game and 3-point percentage. He made nine 3s against Northeastern in the Great Alaska Shootout and scored a career-high 32 against Tennessee-Martin earlier this month. Clark--who has scored 1,638 career points, is averaging 19.1 on the season.

Amber Dunlap (Kent State women): Kent State has had its share of struggles this year--its record is 2-14--but the former Bolton star has contributed nicely, averaging 6.2 points while shooting 40.7 percent from the field.

Kordario Fleming (Jacksonville): Another Ridgeway product, Fleming is averaging 6.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while starting 10 of 20 games as a true freshman. He's second on the team in rebounding, as well as field-goal percentage (46.7).

Nate Garth (UC-Santa Barbara): One of the area standouts plying his trade far from home, Garth has started 12 of 15 games for the Gauchos this season. The Hamilton grad is averaging 5.9 ppg. and has been in double figures three times, scoring a season-high 13 against Cal-Poly on Jan. 19.
Cameron Golden (Arkansas State): The true freshman from Ridgeway has seen action in all 18 games for the Red Wolves, starting nine. Golden is averaging 6.7 ppg. and his 39 assists rank second on the team.

Andre Hollins (Minnesota): University of Memphis fans won't need to be re-introduced to Hollins; the former White Station star and Commercial Appeal Best of the Preps player of the year torched the Tigers for a career-high 41 points during an early-season tournament in the Bahamas. For the season, Hollins leads the Golden Gophers (15-3) in scoring (14.3), 3-pt. percentage (42.9) and assists (66). In Big 10 conference games, he's averaging an impressive 17.8 ppg.

Austin Hollins (Minnesota): The other half of Minnesota's 1-2 Memphis-area combo, Hollins ranks third on the team in scoring (11.4) while shooting a team-high 81.4 percent from the free-throw line. The former Germantown standout has been red-hot from 3-point range lately, shooting 63.6 percent (14 of 22) from behind the arc in the last four games.

Jasmine James (Georgia women): One of the more solid players in the SEC, James is having another nice season for the Lady Bulldogs. She's started all 19 of her team's games, scoring 11.9 per contest (second on the team). James, who starred at Bartlett, leads Georgia in steals (50) and ranks second on the team in field-goal percentage (46.1).

Nino Johnson (Southeast Missouri): Johnson, a White Station grad, has developed into a consistent double-double performer for SEMO, as evidenced by his 15-point, 14-rebound effort against Tennessee-Martin. He leads the team at rebouding at 9.2 per game, field-goal percentage (56.9) and blocks (52) while his 12.0 ppg. ranks third. Johnson has six double-doubles on the year and scored a career-high 21 points against Central Arkansas.

Jarvis Jones (East Tennessee State): Formerly of Mitchell, Jones was academically ineligible at the start of the year but has come on strong since making his debut Dec. 14 against Ole Miss. He's started all 12 of the games he's played in, averaging 14.2 per contest. Scored a career-high 21 points against Arizona during a holiday tournament in Hawaii. Former Mitchell teammate John Walton has started 11 of 19 games for the Bucs, averaging 4.9 points and 3.8 rebounds.

Leslie McDonald (North Carolina): Word came down on Wednesday afternoon that the Tar Heels had suspended McDonald for the next three games. He'll be missed; the former Briarcrest star is averaging 8.4 ppg. in just 17.1 minutes, while knocking down 25 of 58 from beyond the arc. Made six 3-pointers against Mississippi State and scored a career-high 24 points against UAB on Dec. 1.
Melvin Morgan (Idaho State): Morgan, a former Bolton standout by way of Itawamba Junior College, has found a home at Idaho State. He leads the team in scoring at 12.1 ppg. and ranks second with 43 assists and 22 steals. Morgan made 5 of 8 3-pointers against Northern Colorado on Jan. 5 while scoring a season-best 27 points. Has scored in double figures 12 times.

Hasina Muhammad (Auburn women): Now a sophomore, Muhammad has been a top contributor since she arrived from Ridgeway, where she was named Best of the Preps MIAA Female Athlete of the Year in 2011. She leads the Tigers (13-5) in scoring at 16.9 ppg. and ranks second in rebounding (5.9). Muhammad has scored in double figures in every game this season, with a career high of 24 coming against Missouri on Jan. 6. She had a near triple-double against George Washington (21 points, 10 rebounds, nine steals).

Kaitlyn Murphy (Furman women): The White Station grad has started 12 of 16 games for the Lady Paladins, averaging 6.6 ppg. while leading the team with 44 assists.

Jasmine Newsome (Tennessee-Martin women): Without a doubt one of the top players in the OVC, Newsome, formerly of Millington, is having another huge season for the Lady Skyhawks. She's averaging 20.9 ppg. to rank second on the team, while leading UTM in field-goal percentage (46 percent), free-throw percentage (79.2), assists (123) and steals (68). She's been named OVC player of the week three times this year (most recently on Jan. 4) and ranks in the top five in the league in five categories (minutes, scoring, steals, assists and free-throw percentage). Her teammate, former Overton standout Cortrice Golden, was having a solid season with 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds but is out for the year with a knee injury.

Jalen O'Bannon (Arkansas State women): Formerly of Central, O'Bannon has been making more and more of an impact as the season has progressed. She's played in all 18 games for Arkansas State, starting four, and is averaging 6.4 ppg.

Christal Porter (Rice women): A freshman from Germantown, Porter is having a nice season for the Lady Owls. She's third on the team in scoring at 7.2 per game while leading the team with 7.9 boards. Porter has been a starter in all 17 of her team's games.

Tyler Stone (Southeast Missouri): After starting his career at Missouri, Stone has found a home since transferring to SEMO. The former Central standout leads the team and ranks fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference at 16.7 ppg. while also pulling down 8.3 rpg. He's scored in double figures in all but two games this season and poured in a career-high 32 against Central Arkansas. Stone also had a fine game against Kansas City, scoring 28 points and hitting the winning free throws with 28 seconds left.
Jarnell Stokes (Tennessee): The hard-nosed Stokes, who transferred from Central to Southwind for his senior season but never played for the Jaguars, has been a bright spot in a disappointing season in Knoxville. He has four double-doubles on the year, the most recent of which came in an 18-point, 11-rebound performance against Georgia last week. Had 24 points and 12 rebounds against UMass and for the year is averaging 11.2 points (second on the team) and 7.8 boards (first).

Mardracus Wade (Arkansas): Formerly of Mitchell, Wade ranks third on the Razorbacks in scoring at 7.2 ppg. while leading in steals (28). He's seen action in all 17 games, starting 14. Wade scored a season-best 17 points against Northwestern State on Dec. 29., a game in which he also had six assists. Teammate Anthlon Bell, a true freshman from Bartlett, is averaging 4.1 ppg. in 16 games and is tied for the team lead in 3-pointers with 16, despite playing just 9.2 minutes per contest.

Adam Weary (High Point): Overshadowed somehwat at Ridgeway by Cameron Golden, true freshman Weary is having a fine rookie season for High Point. He's started 12 of 17 games, ranking third on the team in scoring at 9.8 ppg. Weary also ranks second on the team in assists with 38 and fourth in free-throw percentage (77.8). Scored a career-high 15 points against Gardner-Webb and was named Big South Conference freshman of the week at the end of November. Had a career-high eight rebounds against Winthrop on Jan. 5.

Sarah Watkins (Arkansas women): Watkins, who starred at Houston, has been a key contributor for a Lady Razorbacks team that currently sports a 13-5 record. She's seen action in all 18 contests, starting four, and leads the team in scoring (13.1), free-throw percentage (85.9) and blocks (21) while ranking second in field-goal percentage (47.3) and third in rebounding (5.1).

Aaliyah Whiteside (Georgia Tech women): The former Central standout has been a solid contributor during her first season in Atlanta. She's started 12 of the 16 games in which she's appeared, averaging 8.1 ppg. (fourth-best on the team). She's tied for second on the team with 16 made 3-pointers and is second in 3-point percentage (30.2). Scored a season-high 19 against Washington on Dec. 21.

Carnecia Williams (Mississippi State women): The 6-3 sophomore from White Station is having a solid year for the Lady Bulldogs, averaging 8.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in 23.4 minutes per contest. Williams scored a career-high 26 points in an early-season victory over Savannah State and grabbed a career-best 10 boards against Troy.

Johnny Williams (George Mason): The former Briarcrest standout has developed into a solid contributor for the Patriots, averaging 7.1 points and 4.2 rebounds, both second-best on the team. Williams had a career game against Mercer, scroing 16 points and pulling down 10 rebounds, and he's scored in double figures on three other occasions, while starting all 18 contests.