3 Rivers Conference Predictions

[redsprings17]

Basketball season is around the corner and I want to get some conversation started. How will things shape up in the conference with the two new teams added? Here is my shot at it.

1. Fairmont - Returns a good amount of talent even after losing some good players. Arnette will run the show with a host of young guys and maybe the most size they have had in a while.
2. St. Pauls - Lost a good bit from last year but much like FHS they bring up some good athletes from a good JV team with some talent left over from last years team. Will not be as tall but will be more athletic. Coach Thompson will have them rolling.
3. Red Springs - Returns two of the best guards in the area. Those kids can light it up. If they can establish some post play they may contend for the top two spots.
4.Whiteville - For the first time in 6 years there will not be a Kirk on the roster. Coach Singletary will have a young but scrappy bunch.
A tie for 5th with West Bladen and South Columbus
5. South Columbus - Should have a good number of guys who have played varsity the past two years. We will see if that experience pays off.
5. West Bladen - Lost a big portion of their offense from last years team, but you can never count out a Coach Pait team. He always has his guys ready and they will be scrappy.
7. East Columbus - The program has been on the rise under coach Skipper.
8. East Bladen - Always very athletic. We will see if it translates to the hardwood.
9.South Robeson - Always has talent, and is under the helm of a new coach.
10. West Columbus - Has potential athletes year in and year out. We will see what they show this year.

 

[DAMAN14]

From The Robesonian:

1. Fairmont

Head Coach: Montrell McNair

Last Season: 25-5, 12-2 TRC

Key Players: Derrick Arnette (Sr., G); Corry Addison (Sr., G); Javon Morris (Jr., F)

Coming off its seventh straight regular-season conference championship and a conference tournament title, the Golden Tornadoes enter the new season without their top two scorers — Jarique Moore and Julius Caulder — from last season. But with a roster that features seven seniors, including a pair of all-conference performers in Derrick Arnette and Corry Addison, the Golden Tornadoes will be in the mix for their eighth consecutive league title.

2. Red Springs

Head Coach: Glenn Patterson

Last Season: 13-12, 9-5

Key Players: Caleel Mitchell (Sr., G); Monte’ Wilkerson (Sr., G); Eriq McBryde (Sr., F)

Patterson’s veteran group is led by a pair of all-conference senior guards in Monte’ Wilkerson and Caleel Mitchell. With just one underclassmen on the roster, the Red Devils enter the season with high expectations. Seniors Eriq McBryde and Jerome Bass will anchor the Red Devils’ frontcourt. Could this be the year Red Springs finally ends its drought against Fairmont?

3. Whiteville

Head Coach: Jerry Singletary

Last Season: 20-7, 12-2 TRC

Key Players: Cameron Smith (Sr., G); Phillip Powell (Sr., G); Cameron Richardson (Jr., F)

For the first time in quite some time, the Wolfpack enters the season without a Kirk on the roster. Tyrell Kirk, the reigning league player of the year, is now at UNCP. After sharing the regular season title with Fairmont last season, Whiteville returns a trio of all-conference performers in Cameron Richardson, Demetrius Brown and Bradley Pridgen. The squad also welcomes back sharpshooter Cameron Smith.

4. St. Pauls

Head Coach: Corey Thompson

Last Season: 19-8, 11-3 TRC

Key Players: Romeo Jordan (Sr., F); Aaron Revels (Sr., G); Sean McNeil (Sr., F)

As a first-year coach, Corey Thompson inherited a veteran squad that helped St. Pauls finish third in the league behind Fairmont and Whiteville. The core group that led last year’s team has now departed, leaving the eight seniors on the roster to accept bigger roles. Romeo Jordan will be the go-to guy on offense for the Bulldogs, with 6-foot-7 Sean McNeil patrolling the paint.

5. West Columbus

Head Coach: W.T. Edwards

Last Season: 7-13, 4-10 TRC

Key Players: Jake Brownlee (Sr., F); Dejour Smith (Sr., F); Tayvon Tyler (So., G)

Jake Brownlee, a Lees-McRae commit, enters the season as one of the top candidates to earn player of the year honors. The team’s leading scorer from last year will be even better for a much-improved Vikings squad that welcomes a pair of 6-foot-4 transfers this season in Kevon Lewis and Deontay Bromwell.

6. South Columbus

Head Coach: Bryant Edwards

Last Season: 6-15, 4-10 TRC

Key Players: Shiquan Conyers (Jr., G); Tyrek Long (Sr., F); Trey Bellamy (Jr., G)

Shiquan Conyers and Trey Bellamy form a potent backcourt for a Stallion squad that features 11 upperclassmen. Conyers and Bellamy are poised for breakout junior campaigns with Tyrek Long returning as the team’s top rebounder from last season.

7. West Bladen

Head Coach: Travis Pait

Last Season: 18-10, 9-5 Four County

Key Players: Scott Bowen (Sr., G); Jonathon Robinson (Sr., C); Jimmy Williams (Sr., G)

With Sayaun Dent at Lander and John Bowen at Belmont Abbey, the Knights enter the new season without their top two players from last year. A quartet of seniors — Scott Bowen, Jonathon Robinson, Jimmy Williams and Gerardo Reyes — will be vital to West Bladen’s success as it enters the new league.

8. South Robeson

Head Coach: Ryan Bullard

Last Season 4-18, 2-12 TRC

Key Players: Jaleel Lesane (Sr., F); Cameron Werrell (Jr., F); Jaurius Davis (Sr., G)

Ryan Bullard begins his first year as head coach of the Mustangs, who return the scoring of all-conference performer Jaleel Lesane and Cameron Werrell from last year. Jaurius Davis is expected to handle point-guard duties, with Daniel Murray and Zach Carter providing depth in the backcourt.

9. East Bladen

Head Coach: Kenzil McCall

Last Season: 4-23, 1-13 Four County

Key Players: Xavier Wooten (Sr., F); Adonis Avery (Jr., G); Sadique Ingram (Sr., F)

After earning just one conference win last season, the Eagles enter the new league without their top three guards from last season — Ethan Hines, Eian Hines and Denzel Johnson. Adonis Avery figures to be the team’s top option on offense. Xavier Wooten will also need to provide scoring and rebounding for East Bladen.

10. East Columbus

Head Coach: Marcus Skipper

Last Season: 7-17, 2-12 TRC

Key Players: Graylan Daniels (Sr., G); Donavan Worley (Jr., G); Jordan McKoy (Sr., C)

The Gators lost their top five scorers from last season, leaving Graylan Daniels — who averaged just under four points per game last year — as the top returner on a team searching for a new identity without Alex Moore, Travin Squires and John Baldwin.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Derrick Arnette, Sr., G, Fairmont

 

[redsprings17]

Finally someone responds! A one person conversation is no conversation at all. I agree With the assessment. There were some teams in question when I did mine, but it should be an interesting year.

 

[Juke_em]

Well, sometimes a one person conversation isn't bad depending on the other person you're trying to have a conversation with. Just Saying

 

[ebhsfan]

On the Girls side, I think it will be a 3 team race.
Upper tier, includes East Bladen Red Springs, and Fairmont
Second tier includes Whiteville, S Columbus, W Columbus, and St Pauls
Bottom Tier includes E Columbus, W Bladen, and S Robeson.
East Bladen and Red Springs have an early matchup Friday Night. We will see where those two stand after that.