We continue our 2013-14 team previews with an in-depth look at White Station (Memphis), a program looking to return to national prominence after a heart-breaking playoff loss. Throughout October, we’ll preview many of the top teams from across the country as a countdown to the release of our preseason 2013-14 Student Sports FAB 50.
Note: All information that follows came from a questionnaire that was sent to and returned by the school’s head coach. If you would like your school to be profiled, please return the questionnaire that was mailed out earlier this month or it can be filled out online.
The information can also be emailed to editor Ronnie Flores: ronnie@studentsports.com. StudentSportsBasketball.com thanks the programs that have submitted information.
Team Name: White Station (Memphis)
Head Coach: Jesus Patino (198-81 at White Station, 536-258 overall)
2012-13 Record: 22-6, 15-3 (J.V.)
Final Ranking: NA
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Lettermen: 6
Players Most Deserving of Preseason Honors: F Leron Black 6-7 2014 (No. 24 Hoop Scoop Top 100, Illinois commit), PG Chris Chiozza 5-11 2014 (Florida commit), SG Davell Roby 6-4 2014 (St. Louis commit), PG Nych Smith 5-9 2015 (Arkansas, Florida International, Massachusetts offers).
Newcomers Who Could Make An Impact: F Laderius Coleman 6-5 2014, G Dillon Mitchell 5-10 2016.
Coach’s General Outlook: I really like our team because of our quickness and length. All of our starters can score and on any given night any of our starters can be the leading scorer. We don’t have a huge frontcourt, but I’m not overly concerned because I think we’re quick and long enough. What does concern me is our mental approach to games at times. When you have great players, sometimes they think can they can solve problems on their own and don’t need teammates. If we think that way, we can find trouble. Overall, I feel we are a top 10 team.
Events Scheduled To Play In: Marshall County Hoopfest vs. Prime Prep (Dallas), Iolani Tournament (Honolulu, Hawaii), Bass Pro Tournament of Champions (Springfield, Mo.), Penny Hardaway Hoopfest (Memphis).
Team(s) On Schedule Deserving of Ranking: Hamilton (Memphis), Prime Prep (Dallas), DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas), Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.).
StudentSportsBasketball.com Comments: The Spartans are talented and highly motivated to erase a stunning loss to Germantown in last year’s Region 8-AAA playoffs. White Station is not only talented, but experienced as all five starters return. The fifth returning starter is senior Curtis Phillips (6-6), a bit of an unsung contributor, plus sixth man Derrick Dandridge (6-7) is back and he provides an interior presence. Transfer Coleman is yet another talented player who coach Patino thinks will be a major contributor once he gets ingrained into White Station’s system. Overall, this team has the makings of one that can challenge for the No. 1 ranking if it can jell and get off to a good start at the Marhsall County Hoopfest and the Iolani Tournament. Besides not having a true center against national teams, there isn’t any glaring weakness you can point to on this team.
Fast Fact: The highest FAB 50 ranking ever attained for a team from Tennessee was White Station in 2002-2003. That season the Spartans, led by Gatorade State Player of the Year Dane Bradshaw, repeated as Class AAA state champ. That team begin the season ranked No. 11 in the FAB 50 and won the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. The mythical national champion that season was St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio), which was led, of course, by LeBron James.
Send corrections or comments to ronnie@studentsports.com and be sure to leave a comment that others can check out.
RELATED: FAB 50 Consideration Form
2013-2014 Team Previews
Desert Pines (Las Vegas) CLICK HERE
Rainier Beach (Seattle) CLICK HERE
Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) CLICK HERE
Damien (La Verne, Calif.) CLICK HERE
Jeffersonville (Jeffersonville, Ind.) CLICK HERE
Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) CLICK HERE
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) CLICK HERE
La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) CLICK HERE
Math, Civics & Sciences Charter (Philadelphia) CLICK HERE
Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.) CLICK HERE
Etiwanda (Etiwanda, Calif.) CLICK HERE
St. Rita (Chicago) CLICK HERE
Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.) CLICK HERE
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) CLICK HERE
Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) CLICK HERE
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) CLICK HERE
Leave a Reply