Memphis Roar

2011 Prospect Trevor Lacey:

With Memphis assistants Orlando Antigua and Josh Pastner on hand, 2011 Memphis recruit Trevor Lacey and his Butler team won 90-75 to advance to the 5A Final in the first of two semi-final games yesterday at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. Lacey is a 6′4″ combo guard with an extremely good frame and a knack for making plays.

“He is the type of kid that, when you look at the box score, you don’t see everything he does. He does all the little things that make his team better and help them win,” said a local high school coach.

This game was no different. Playing both the point and shooting guard positions throughout this game, Lacey impacted the game in so many different ways. Having a very good handle on the ball and the ability to throw some scary-good passes, Lacey set up his teammates for continuous easy buckets in the first half. Lacey, who was 4-of-5 from the field for 11 points, led the team with 10 assists; all 10 in the first half.

When Butler coach, Jack Doss, was asked about Lacey’s game, he said “He gave up his game. He could score 20 or 30 a night.”

Lacey is definitely a high impact guy who plays so well because he knows his role and makes his teammates better. Trevor Lacey became one of the most talked about young players in the country thanks to his impressive play with his summer hoops team Southeast Elite last summer. As a freshman last year at Butler High School (Huntsville, AL), Lacey averaged 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game. While filling up the stat sheet, Lacey put on displays of skill far beyond those of any of his peers. Lacey has been described as having “an old school feel and a frame that will be great for the highest level possible”.

They will play Parker High School tonight at 7pm in the Alabama Class 5A State Championship.

Leflore vs. Parker (Cousins vs. Bledsoe)

In what should have been the Leflore and Demarcus Cousins show, Parker completely took 6′11″ Cousins out of his game by running a shifting double/triple team at him every time he touched the ball in the post. With a game-plan of trying to frustrate Cousins and, essentially, get in his head, Parker was able to take advantage of a great defensive second quarter in which they held Leflore scoreless. They headed into the locker room at halftime leading 22-9. Parker’s 6′0 lightning-quick senior point guard Eric Bledsoe had 4 points 3 assists 3 steals and 2 blocks through the first quarter of play.

“His frustration was a big part of the plan,” Ford said. “Get the big man frustrated. We watched film and everybody let him do whatever he wanted. We felt if we could double and triple him to make him kick it out, we’d pick that poison.”

Both Cousins and Bledsoe got into early foul trouble in the second quarter and sat for a good portion of that quarter. Continuing this trend right out of the gate for the second half, Bledsoe was the first to head back to the bench after picking up two extremely quick fouls in the first 40 seconds of the third quarter, one on a very questionable blocking foul.

When exiting, his Parker team was up 22-12. Shortly after, Cousins was saddled again after he picked up his fourth foul. They returned at the same time to stir the crowd with the Herd leading 36-34 with 5:24 left, adding to the already electric atmosphere.

Bledsoe, rested and anxious to be turned loose, versus L defenders was no contest. He finished with nine points, three steals, two rebounds, one assist and a block across that final 5:24.

The final score was 52-39 and Bledsoe totaled 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks.

NOTES:

- The two Memphis assistants on hand were paying special attention to the little temper tantrum that Cousins had after he was whistled for his fifth personal foul (see below).

- The Memphis staff was very impressed with Bledsoe.

*Photos and video courtesy of AL.com