Memphis Roar

On July 8th, the River City Showdown hosted by BEAC starts in Memphis, TN. The 64-team tournament runs thru July 11th and will feature some of the region’s fastest-rising prospects heading into the summer. The same could have been said heading into last year’s River City Showdown tournament.

As one of the first tournaments of the July evaluation period, last year’s lineup featured many high-profile prospects from around the country. The following is a breakdown of some players that stood out during the first annual River City Showdown followed by analysis of featured players for next week’s tournament.


THEN AND NOW

Joe Jackson (Memphis Magic Elite): One of the most talented players in last year’s tournament, Jackson showed excellent quickness displayed a much improved jump shot. Knocking down multiple pull-up jumpers and hitting outside shots, Jackson was a nightmare for defenders. After making it to the semi-finals of the River City, the Joe Jackson led Memphis Magic went on to win the Adidas Super 64 last summer. Jackson signed with the University of Memphis over the likes of Kentucky, Tennessee, Kansas.

Highlight Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8ZTQPcs1QU

Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXNSjbP6kjg


Austin Hollins (Nashville Celtics): Hollins displayed an incredible jump shot and great range. Hollins, like his teammate Casey Prather, played a fundamentally sound game, not taking plays off at either ends of the floor; and he was willing to do the types of things that can often be overlooked, including setting up teammates with excellent passes. Hollins, who was being recruited by Arkansas, Memphis, Baylor, Minnesota and others last year, went to on sign with Tubby Smith and the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Highlight Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHk0McfpX9A

Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht3w00TrgC0


Casey Prather (Nashville Celtics): Having the body of a college player already, Prather is an excellent small forward that showed good leadership qualities as he led his Nashville Celtics AAU team to win the River City Showdown Championship last year. Prather was one of the best rebounding guards in the tournament and did not back down from contact. Heavily pursued by Memphis, Vanderbilt, Florida and others during last year’s Showdown, Prather went on to sign with Billy Donovan’s Florida Gators.

Highlight Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg-pVwEgppE

Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR2JIadSgC0


OTHERS


Tarik Black – Signed with the University of Memphis over Florida and Marquette.

Chris Crawford – Signed with the University of Memphis over Mississippi State and Tennessee.

Mardracus Wade – Signed with the University of Arkansas.


With so many players using last year’s Showdown as a spring-board into last summer and high major commitments, it is likely that this year’s tournament will offer the same opportunity for some of the participants. StaHere is a rundown on some of the big names on this year’s rosters.


Andre Hollins – 2011 (Memphis Magic Elite) – 6′1″ 180-pound guard: Penn, Stanford, Harvard, Memphis, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Baylor, UAB and a load of others are recruiting the 6-foot-1 guard. Hollins is a winner who can play both lead guard and off the ball, can shoot the ball from deep, and is a highly underrated defender. With a high ACT score and great academics, Hollins will be a high level student-athlete for whichever school is lucky enough to get his commitment. Hollins, who played with the 16U Memphis YOMCA last year, helped lead his squad to the 16U River City Showdown Championship.


Willy Kouassi – 2011 (Team Alabama)  - 6′10″ 225-pound center: Kouassi is an active and mobile post that plays with urgency the entire time he is on the floor. The African native is gifted athletically, but his defense is far ahead of his offense. Kouassi runs the floor well and is an active rebounder at both ends of the floor. He has good feet and is agile away from the basket. Kouassi is one of the fastest rising big-men in the country, as he recently went from unranked to #135 overall (#15 rated center) in the Rivals Top 150 for 2011 and is now rated as a 93 by ESPNU Scouts, Inc. He is now being recruited by Alabama, Auburn, UAB, Florida, Georgia, Marquette, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and others.


Cordarius Johnson – undecided senior (Louisiana Future) – 6′5″ 195-pound small forward: Johnson, a talented 6′5″ SF, is a high level athlete that can jump with the best of them. In his senior season at Red River High School in Louisiana, Johnson avereaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. Johnson, a dual-sport star who also excels in track, is being recruited by Nebraska, Oregon, Oklahoma.


 Nino Johnson – 2011 (Memphis Magic Elite) – 6′8″ 225-pound power forward: Johnson rebounds and provids a nice inside presence for the Magic. He constantly attacks the rim from the post and shows a knack for loose-balls. Johnson has a big opportunity to stand out this summer after a productive spring. Look for Johnson to be one of the summer’s fastest risers as teams like Ole Miss, Memphis, Auburn, Cincinnati, Oregon State, Tennessee, and others look on.


Bernard Morena – 2011 (Team Alabama) – 6′8″ 200-pound small forward: Morena rebounds well on both ends of the floor and is skilled enough to go end to end with the ball in his hands. Morena has a nice mid-range game and has the ability to guard all 3 front court positions due to his length and quickness. He currently has offers from UAB and South Carolina and is receiving interest from Alabama, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Marquette and Georgia to name a few.


Keenan Anderson – 2011 (Arkansas Warriors) – 6’6” 200-pound power forward: Anderson is a warrior on the interior. He rebounds, defends and creates space. Anderson has the mentality that every rebound is his property and he defies you as a defender to tread on his terrain.


Chris Jones (2011) – Committed to Tennessee, Chris Jones will be coming back to Memphis from Oak Ridge Military Academy in North Carolina to play with the Magic. He’s fun to watch on offense and is a must see for SEC fans in the area.


Wayne Martin (2011) – An intriguing prospect who is getting looks from Ole Miss, Memphis, Virginia, Arkansas, Illinois, Miami, Alabama, Tennessee, and more. Martin is a 6′7″ combo forward with jaw-dropping athleticism.


Todd Mayo (undecided senior) – Technically an unsigned senior, Mayo (the brother of current Grizzly OJ Mayo) is an explosive scorer who will likely reclassify to 2011.


Cameron Golden (2012) – One of the two promising 2012 guards playing with the Memphis Magic Elite 17U squad, Golden is a lefty that can fill it up from deep when he gets hot. Also, don’t let his size fool you. Pound-for-pound, he’ll throw it down with the best of them.


Others to watch: Carlos Denton, 2012 G Martavious Newby, 2013 guards Matthew Butler and Markel Crawford, and Lederrick Scott


For more information on the 2nd annual River City Showdown, visit the BEAC website here.