Stadium lights are dark, and the days are a little cooler. Those are usually signs that winter sports are in season. The intensity of indoor high school basketball games is legendary, and the Columbus Valley area is loaded with talent this school year. It’s not a matter of who will be heading to region and state playoff games, but more likely to be how many teams will advance to that level this season. In this edition of In The Game, we are featuring some of the most talented young men local high schools are putting on the hardwood. These guys are ready to help lead their teams to victory while enjoying a sport most of them have been playing for as long as they can remember.
Name: Jacquez Green
Age: 16
High School: Calvary Christian School
Grade: 11th
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 165 lbs
Position: Forward
Coach: Doug Guthrie
How long have you been playing basketball? Eight years
Favorite food: Hot wings
Favorite movie: Set it Off
Favorite sports team (college or professional): College, Kentucky; Pro, Chicago Bulls
Person you would most like to meet: Kevin Durant
What do you like to do in your spare time? Play basketball
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: I enjoy playing basketball because I’ve been playing since I was 8 years old.
Name: William Reaves
Age: 17
High School: Brookstone School
Grade: 11th
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 190 lbs
Position: C, PF
Coach: Bentley Sparks
How long have you been playing basketball? 10 years
Favorite food: Chicken fingers
Favorite movie: Napoleon Dynamite
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Auburn
Person you would most like to meet: Michael Jordan
What do you like to do in your spare time? Play basketball and golf
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: High intensity
Name: Tre’ Todd
Age: 18
High School: Central High School
Grade: 12th
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 170 lbs
Position: Point Guard, Shooting Guard
Coach: Bobby Wright
How long have you been playing basketball? Since seventh grade
Any awards or accomplishments: 7A Regional All-Tournament, Area-All Tournament, All Bi-City, 7A All-Area Offensive Guard, 2014-15; Defensive award, 2013-14
Favorite food: Fries
Favorite movie: How High
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors
Person you would most like to meet: Allen Iverson
What do you like to do in your spare time? Go to the gym
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: The competition
Name: Jac’Quan Crawford
Age: 18
High School: Spencer High School
Grade: 12th
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 126 lbs
Position: Point Guard
Coach: Doug Cromartie
How long have you been playing basketball? 10 years
Favorite food: Fish
Favorite movie: Friday
Favorite sports team (college or professional): College, Kentucky; NBA, Los Angeles Lakers
Person you would most like to meet: Kobe Bryant
What do you like to do in your spare time? Play basketball
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: Fun/teamwork
Name: Trip Day
Age: 17
High School: Glenwood School
Grade: 11th
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 235 lbs
Position: Small Forward, Power Forward
Coach: Dusty Perdue
How long have you been playing basketball? Whole life
Favorite food: Fish tacos
Favorite movie: Back to the Future
Favorite sports team (college or professional) Atlanta Hawks
Person you would most like to meet: Larry Bird
What do you like to do in your spare time? Hoop
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: Competition
Name: Stephon Jackson
Age: 18
High School: Smiths Station High School
Grade: 12th
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 170 lbs
Position: Guard
Coach: Steven Davis
How long have you been playing basketball? Six years
Any awards or accomplishments: Honorable Mention, 2014-15 MVP-Leading scorer, Nominated All-Bi-City
Favorite food: Chicken
Favorite movie: Haunted House (1 and 2)
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Golden State Warriors
Person you would most like to meet: Stephen Curry
What do you like to do in your spare time? Play basketball
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: I come from a very talented family. My uncles all played basketball at the college level. I have grown to love basketball and hope to play at a Division I level.
Name: Kourtney Shakespeare
Age: 17
High School: Shaw High School
Grade: 12th
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 180 lbs
Position: Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Small Forward
Coach: Terry White
How long have you been playing basketball? 12 years
Any awards or accomplishments: 2014-15 Team MVP, Team leading scorer, 2-point FG % leader
Favorite food: Hamburgers
Favorite movie: The Pursuit of Happyness
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Los Angeles Lakers
Person you would most like to meet: Kobe Bryant
What do you like to do in your spare time? Play basketball
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: I’ve been playing since I was a child, and I’ve always liked it ever since.
Name: Davion Thomas
Age: 17
High School: Northside High School
Grade: 12th
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 200 lbs
Position: Power Forward
Coach: Kenneth Lawrence
How long have you been playing basketball? Since ninth grade
Any awards or accomplishments: Played in the North-South All-Star Jr. Game
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite movie: Friday
Favorite sports team (college or professional): OKC
Person you would most like to meet: Kevin Durant
What do you like to do in your spare time? Play video games
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: I enjoy it because I’m good at it.
Name: Lederrius Jones
Age: 17
High School: Jordan High School
Grade 12th
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 157 lbs
Position: Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Small Forward
Coach: Ben Braaten
How long have you been playing basketball? Since seventh grade
Favorite food: Hot wings
Favorite movie: Coach Carter
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Oklahoma City Thunder
Person you would most like to meet: Kevin Durant
What do you like to do in your spare time? Find a gym and work on my game
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: Because I have the heart and passion for it
Name: Jaquan Daniels
Age: 17
High School: Hardaway High School
Grade: 12th
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 164 lbs
Position: Guard
Coach: Kendall Mills
How long have you been playing basketball? All my life
Favorite food: Hot wings and fries
Favorite movie: Set It Off
Favorite sports (team or professional): Florida Gators
Person you would most like to meet: Lil Boosie
What do you like to do in your spare time? Work on my game
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: Be able to get buckets
Name: Donald “DJ” Johnson
Age: 17
High School: Harris County High School
Grade: 12th
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 175 lbs
Position: Point Guard
Coach: Patavious Sorrell
How long have you been playing basketball? Since I was 5 years old
Any awards or accomplishments: All-State, All Bi-City, Harris County Player of the Year, All-Region
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite movie: San Andreas
Favorite sports team (college or professional): n/a
Person you would most like to meet: Derrick Rose
What do you like to do in your spare time? Watch TV
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: It’s fun.
Name: Triston Wells
Age: 17
High School: Pacelli High School
Grade: 12th
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 175 lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
Coach: Allan Griffin
How long have you been playing basketball? Since I was 4 years old
Any awards or accomplishments: All Bi-City Honorable Mention
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite movie: Juice
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Golden State Warriors
Person you would most like to meet: Stephen Curry
What do you like to do in your spare time? Hang out with friends
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: Passion, team atmosphere
Name: Antwron Phillips
Age: 17
High School: Kendrick High School
Grade: 12th
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 185 lbs
Position: Center
Coach: Collins Jones
How long have you been playing basketball? Since the age of 7
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite movie: Note to Self
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Kentucky
Person you would most like to meet: LeBron James
What do you like to do in your spare time? Play 2K and eat
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: Only sport that keeps my mind away from other things.
Name: Henry Houpt
Age: 18
High School: Columbus High School
Grade: 12th
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 160 lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
Coach: George Williams
How long have you been playing basketball? Since I was 7
Any awards or accomplishments: Junior year-Defensive Player of the Year at CHS.
Favorite food: Chicken
Favorite movie: The Green Mile
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Georgia
Person you would most like to meet: Todd Gurley
What do you like to do in your spare time? Fish
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: It’s a team sport.
Name: Daniel Melvin
Age: 16
High School: Carver High School
Grade: 11th
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 190 lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
Coach: Warren Beaulah
How long have you been playing basketball? 13 years
Any awards or accomplishments: All Bi-City, Second Team All-Region
Favorite food: Chicken wings
Favorite movie: Men of Honor
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Duke University
Person you would most like to meet: Kevin Durant
What do you like to do in your spare time? Play basketball
One reason you enjoy the sport of basketball: Competition
Columbus Valley/Boys Basketball photo feature/December 2015
By Beth Welch
Photos by Jerry Christenson
Hitting the courts
