What a month July has been for the 16 and under Tennessee Travelers.
A slick run through the competition and the 'ship at the Hoosier Shootout. A deep advancement in West Virginia and then for their swansong a 59-53 victory over Team Loyalty to capture the silver bracket championship in the 16 and under Super Showcase in Orlando.
The title makes the Travs 17-3 in the month of July. Very impressive.
A balanced team effort and buying into the system created by former Tennessee Vol player Shane Williams has done wonders for the confidence and competitiveness of this group.
On a given night their are 5-7 players who could lead in scoring depending on the scheme or who's enfuego.
Fred Sturdivant (Brainerd) and Tyler Hood (Lenoir City) made the most of their summer in Mickey's house playing consistently well throughout the Showcase. Sturdivant, a Class of 2009 player, has drawn a great deal of interest from coaches with his length and ability to block every shot that dares enter his atmosphere. Hood has impressed with his array of moves around the bucket, his crafty ability to score in the post and from the wing. His lefty stroke gives him an advantage and his game is on the rise.
Brandon Herman (Grace Baptist) has been the catalyst most of the summer with his natural scoring ability but he showed some leadership skills at the showcase giving opportunities to the hot man. This will only benefit him in the long run. Devin Jackson (Knoxville West) simply has knocked the bottom out of the goal and Robert Boyd (Fulton), is a human dynamo be it for his state championship Fulton crew or with the Travs. Boyd joined the fray before the July period and seems to be the missing piece that brought all of this together.
Linwood Holloway (Knoxville Central), DeAngelo Williams (Spring Hill) and Dwight Tarwater (Knoxville Webb) all provided effort and had their moments during the showcase run.
