Even though a couple of his top players haven't been around
for much summer practice, Moss Point basketball coach Micoe Cotton is
thrilled with where his team stands in July.
The Tigers' top two guards, senior Devin Booker and junior Terrance Trussell, are both on the summer circuit, playing with travel teams and taking part in camps.
Their absence has allowed Cotton to work mostly with his younger players as they prepare to make a classification drop this season from 5A into Division 8-4A, joining teams like Pass Christian and St. Stanislaus.
"I'm looking forward to this year," Cotton said. "We're going into a different Class 4A schedule. I'm real upbeat, excited. We had lots of close games against good teams last year. I think this year, the close games will turn into wins with the experience we have."
Booker is having another star-crossed summer, taking part in the Lebron James Skills Academy this week along with the nation's other top high school recruits.
Cotton sees his star player growing more as a player with each month.
"Devin moved up in the rankings," Cotton said. "He was ranked 19 or 20 by ESPN, now he's 16th (among the top high school seniors). He's doing good. One guy said he's the best shooter in the camp."
Aside from a high ankle sprain that kept him out of the Kevin Durant Skills Academy in late June, Booker has had a strong summer spent on the road.
Cotton plans to travel to South Carolina next week to watch Booker play as part of the Alabama Challenge, a team in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, in the Peach Jam tournament in New Augusta, S.C.
Cotton has pieced together a challenging schedule for his Moss Point squad in the
2013-14 season with home games set against Gulfport, Biloxi and Harrison Central.
The Tigers will also travel to tournaments in Kentucky and Raleigh, N.C.
Cotton said Friday that some home games in the 2013-14 season will be played in the gym at the newly-constructed Magnolia Junior High School. It's a gym that seats about 800 and can hold about 1,100. Games that feature larger crowds will continue to be played at the high school.
While Booker will be relied upon the lead the way again this season, Cotton is banking on an improved group of players around him.
Trussell and senior forward Derrick McMillan showed promise during the 2012-13 season, and the two will be relied upon when opponents double- and triple-team Booker.
"(Trussell) has come back and worked out. His work ethic has really come up, really improved," Cotton said. "His shooting has improved. I think he and Derrick McMillan, both of their confidence levels have really just picked up. I expect to get strong seasons out of both of those two."
Cotton hopes 6-foot-6 junior forward Greg Williams and 6-foot-1 football player Jajuan Parker will help the Tigers' in the frontcourt this season.
While many are expecting the Tigers to be an instant favorite in Division 8-4A, Cotton sees no easy road ahead.
"You will always develop rivalries," Cotton said. "We had the opportunity to play Pass Christian twice last year and we won those games by a combined two points. I think St. Stanislaus has got an athletic 10th grader (in Drake Davis). He can pose some problems and Poplarville has athletes. It's not necessarily written in stone for Moss Point. There are good teams in our district, and in all of Class 4A."
The Tigers' top two guards, senior Devin Booker and junior Terrance Trussell, are both on the summer circuit, playing with travel teams and taking part in camps.
Their absence has allowed Cotton to work mostly with his younger players as they prepare to make a classification drop this season from 5A into Division 8-4A, joining teams like Pass Christian and St. Stanislaus.
"I'm looking forward to this year," Cotton said. "We're going into a different Class 4A schedule. I'm real upbeat, excited. We had lots of close games against good teams last year. I think this year, the close games will turn into wins with the experience we have."
Booker is having another star-crossed summer, taking part in the Lebron James Skills Academy this week along with the nation's other top high school recruits.
Cotton sees his star player growing more as a player with each month.
"Devin moved up in the rankings," Cotton said. "He was ranked 19 or 20 by ESPN, now he's 16th (among the top high school seniors). He's doing good. One guy said he's the best shooter in the camp."
Aside from a high ankle sprain that kept him out of the Kevin Durant Skills Academy in late June, Booker has had a strong summer spent on the road.
Cotton plans to travel to South Carolina next week to watch Booker play as part of the Alabama Challenge, a team in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, in the Peach Jam tournament in New Augusta, S.C.
Cotton has pieced together a challenging schedule for his Moss Point squad in the
2013-14 season with home games set against Gulfport, Biloxi and Harrison Central.
The Tigers will also travel to tournaments in Kentucky and Raleigh, N.C.
Cotton said Friday that some home games in the 2013-14 season will be played in the gym at the newly-constructed Magnolia Junior High School. It's a gym that seats about 800 and can hold about 1,100. Games that feature larger crowds will continue to be played at the high school.
While Booker will be relied upon the lead the way again this season, Cotton is banking on an improved group of players around him.
Trussell and senior forward Derrick McMillan showed promise during the 2012-13 season, and the two will be relied upon when opponents double- and triple-team Booker.
"(Trussell) has come back and worked out. His work ethic has really come up, really improved," Cotton said. "His shooting has improved. I think he and Derrick McMillan, both of their confidence levels have really just picked up. I expect to get strong seasons out of both of those two."
Cotton hopes 6-foot-6 junior forward Greg Williams and 6-foot-1 football player Jajuan Parker will help the Tigers' in the frontcourt this season.
While many are expecting the Tigers to be an instant favorite in Division 8-4A, Cotton sees no easy road ahead.
"You will always develop rivalries," Cotton said. "We had the opportunity to play Pass Christian twice last year and we won those games by a combined two points. I think St. Stanislaus has got an athletic 10th grader (in Drake Davis). He can pose some problems and Poplarville has athletes. It's not necessarily written in stone for Moss Point. There are good teams in our district, and in all of Class 4A."
GLENN ANDREWS/SPECIAL TO THE SUN HERALDMoss Point's Terrance Trussell drives to the basket as Pascagoula guard Tracy Hadley defends in a game last season. Trussell and senior guard Devin Booker are improving their skills this summer.
No comments:
Post a Comment