Robert Wilson spent 23 years at The Clarion-Ledger/Jackson Daily News as a sportswriter with more than half of those years covering high school sports, mostly in the Metro Jackson area. He helped chose the Dandy Dozen in various sports for more than a decade. Wilson rebirthed a similar team with Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Preseason Elite Eleven Boys Basketball Team based on our All-Metro team selections from last season and information from high school and college coaches. This is the third annual team. Wilson selected the best players from Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties from their performances last season. The players below are in alphabetical order.
Trey Alexander, Clinton, 6-foot, Senior, Guard
A transfer from Clinton Christian Academy, Alexander averaged 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals and helped CCA to a 40-5 record, the MAIS Class 4A state championship and the Overall Tournament runner-up finish and made second team All-Metro Jackson last season as a junior. He has career highs of 38 points, 18 rebounds and 12 assists. Alexander had two career triple doubles.
Alexander has offers from Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Holmes CC, Jones County JC, Northwest Mississippi CC and Pearl River CC.
“Trey is a very smart player, a great ball handler, strong and athletic,” Clinton coach Leonard Taylor said. “He can shoot the ball very well and can score around the basket and knows how to get his shot off. Trey is a great teammate and coachable. Having him on the team added another important piece to our team. He’s also a great student in the classroom as well as on the court. Trey would be a great addition to any program, I’m just glad he’s a part of ours though.”
Clinton opens the season against Terry Tuesday at Terry.
Jamarion Fleming, 6-9, Canton, Junior, Center
Fleming averaged 13.5 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots and helped Canton to a 22-7 record and the MHSAA Class 5A semifinals last season as a sophomore.
He is ranked the No. 1 player in Mississippi in the Class of 2025 and the No. 18 center in the country by 247 Sports.
Fleming has offers from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Jackson State, Alabama, LSU, Marquette, and Fresno State.
“Jamarion is a student of the game that’s ahead of his time,” Canton coach Brian Townsend said. “He’s my big point guard. Jamarion is a traditional big that has guard skills. His work ethic has increased and now his motor has gotten better, which causes him to run the floor better.”
Canton opens the season against Yazoo County Tuesday at Canton.
Sam Funches, Germantown, 6-11, Sophomore, Center
Funches averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocked shots and led Germantown to an 8-16 record and was named to the PriorityOne/Bank Metro Jackson first team last season as a freshman.
Funches has Division I offers from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Texas A&M, Florida State, Michigan, North Carolina State, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Houston, Wichita State, Georgetown, Creighton, and New Mexico State.oust
Funches is ranked the No. 9 overall player and No. 1 center in the country in the Class of 2026 by ESPN and 247 Sports. NBA Draft Room has Funches projected as a Top 25 NBA prospect for the 2027 NBA Draft.
He participated in the Team USA Junior National Minicamp this month in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“We are looking for Sam to take his game to the next level,” Germantown coach Chris Love said. “He has put in a lot of work this offseason. Sam is an outstanding young man who is very respectful and humble kid and a great student academically.”
Funches’ father, also named Sam, was an All-State player at long time MHSAA powerhouse Murrah in the 1990s. He was a freshman when All-American Othello Harrington was a senior at Murrah. The 6-8 Funches was rated as the ninth best power forward in the country and one of the top 50 players in the country as a senior. He signed with Connecticut and played there two years and then two years at North Texas, where he started all 26 games as a senior. Funches picked Connecticut over Georgetown, Ohio State and Arkansas.
Germantown opens the season Tuesday against Vicksburg at Germantown.
Emajai Horton, Provine, 6-3, Junior, Guard
Horton averaged 13 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and led Provine to a 24-8 record and the MHSAA Class 5A semifinals and made fourth team All-Metro Jackson last season as a sophomore. He has career highs of 22 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists.
Horton has an offer from Co-Lin CC.
“Emajai was pretty impressive as a sophomore who played big minutes for us,” Provine coach Sirdonta Washington said. “His maturity on and off the court really separates him from other players. Emajai performed very well down the stretch for us while earning back-to-back district champs and a semifinal appearance of the 5A state tournament. This year, we are looking to extend his game beyond the paint. You will see Emajai display his unique leadership and skill set while establishing himself as one of the top prospects in the state. His ability to read defenses, communicate, three tier scoring and defend at a high level are all characteristics of what we expect from him this year. Emajai is the whole package.”
Provine opens the season against Port Gibson Tuesday at Provine.
DeAndre Lewis, Canton, 6-4, Senior, Guard
Lewis averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists and led Canton to a 22-7 record and the MHSAA Class 5A semifinals and made fourth team All-Metro Jackson last season as a junior.
“A player that any coach would love to have on their team,” Canton coach Brian Townsend said. “DeAndre is a highly talented player that loves the game and is willing to do whatever it takes to win. His skill level has improved tremendously and so has his knowledge of the game and leadership. I’m expecting him to be my leader on and off the floor. He has and offer from Jackson State and interest from Mississippi State, Southern Miss, University of Memphis and Florida Atlantic.”
Canton opens the season against Yazoo County Tuesday at Canton.
Keymarius Lewis, Raymond, 5-11, Senior, Guard
Lewis averaged 16.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists and shot 41 percent from 3-point range and helped Raymond to a 27-7 record, a MHSAA Class 4A runner-up finish, the team’s seventh consecutive state championship appearance, and made third team All-Metro Jackson last season as a junior.
He has offers from Co-Lin CC, East Central CC, Hinds CC, Itawamba CC, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, and Pearl River CC.
“Keymarius is a high character kid,” Raymond coach Tony Tadlock said. “He is an absolute lockdown defender and in my opinion is the best shooter in the state of Mississippi. Keymarius is one of the most coachable kids I’ve had in 13 years of coaching.”
Raymond opens the season against Choctaw Central Tuesday at Philadelphia.
Ashton Magee, MRA, Junior, 6-6, Forward
Magee averaged 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 blocked shots, 1.3 assists and 0.7 steals in 29 games and helped Madison-Ridgeland Academy to a 34-8 record, the MAIS Class 6A state championship and the Overall Tournament semifinals last season as a junior. He missed the first part of the season recovering from a knee injury.
He has Division I offers from Southern Miss and Jackson State.
Magee had career high 14 points in three games last season. He will be expected to replace some of the scoring for MRA after the graduation of Josh Hubbard, the Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year and Mississippi’s all-time leading scorer, who averaged 27.1 points last season and is now a freshman at Mississippi State.
“Ashton is a good athlete and very versatile,” said MRA coach Richard Duease, the winningest basketball coach in Mississippi history and second in active boys basketball victories in the country. “His shot is better, and he is a good defender. Ashton will be a big part of our team. Some have him ranked No. 1 in the state in his class. Mississippi State loves him. (MSU head coach) Chris Jans and (assistant coach) George Brooks have been here to watch him. Ashton will be guarding the best athlete on the other team and be expected to rebound and score for us on offense.”
Magee transferred to MRA before his sophomore year from MHSAA Class 5A South Jones High. He started his freshman year at South Jones and also played on the varsity as an eighth grader. Jones was ranked No. 34 in the country in the Class of 2025 last year by Ballislife.com.
MRA opens the season against Central Hinds Tuesday at MRA.
Javarian Mallard, Callaway, 6-foot, Junior, Guard
Mallard averaged 18 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds and led Callaway to a 10-18 record and made third team All-Metro Jackson last season as a sophomore.
He has offers from Tougaloo and Co-Lin CC.
“Javarian is a great player that’s changed his focus and approach towards the game. He has grown tremendously over the summer – both mentally and physically,” first-year Callaway coach Joshua Harvey, who replaced Tim Speech. I’m very proud of the work he has committed to. Although Javarian has plenty of growth to conquer, he has definitely grown into a more versatile guard, which has created a more confident player and leader. The goals we have set for him this year as to become a better rebounder and vocal leader. Javarian is smart both on and off the court and play to play with. The team believes in him and looks him to lead, with more than just his actions and play. However, Javarian still has things to grow into before he meets these goals. But he’s really progressing well and taking on the challenge. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to coach such a great skill and talent and more importantly a great young man.”
Callaway opens the season against 2022 MHSAA Class 4A state champion Yazoo City Tuesday at Callaway.
Eric Paymon, Raymond, 6-9, Senior, Forward
Considered one of the top big men in the South, Paymon averaged 22.1 points and 10.3 rebounds and helped Raymond to a 27-7 record and a MHSAA Class 4A runner-up finish, the team’s seventh straight state championship appearance, and made first team All-Metro Jackson last season as a junior.
He was named the Mississippi Association of Coaches Class 4A State Player of the Year. He is ranked the No. 1 player in Mississippi in the Class of 2024 by ESPN. He has Division I offers from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Texas Christian University, New Mexico State, Oral Roberts, and Morehead State.
“EJ (Paymon’s nickname) is not your typical No. 1 player in the state in that he looks to get his teammates involved as much as he likes to score,” Raymond coach Tony Tadlock said. “His work ethic is what sets him apart as he is often the first in the gym and the last one to leave. EJ is a high character, super coachable kid.”
Raymond opens the season against Choctaw Central Tuesday at Philadelphia.
Dylan Rowe, Madison Central, 6-3, Junior, Guard
Rowe averaged14.1 ppg, 3.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.1 steals and helped Madison Central to a 18-14 record and the second round of the MSHAA Class 6A playoffs last season as a sophomore. He had a career-high 23 points against Tupelo in the playoffs and a career-high nine assists against Holmes County Central last season.
Rowe has been offered by Jackson State.
“Dylan is a gym rat. If he had food available at Madison Central 24/7, he would probably live there,” Madison Central coach Ben Gardner said. “He works unbelievably hard on improving his game and has continued to improve as a leader on our basketball team. Dylan is a Division I point guard. He has had multiple Power 5 and mid major schools contact him. Dylan loves to compete and play the game. It is going to be a blast to see him take off this year and showcase his ability.”
Madison Central opens the season against Warren Central Tuesday at Madison Central.
Avery Thomas, Terry, 6-7, Senior, Guard
Thomas averaged 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1.5 blocked shots and helped Terry to a 22-9 record and the MHSAA Class 6A quarterfinals last season as a junior.
Thomas has Division I offers from Southern Miss, Arkansas Pine Bluff and Southern University.
“Avery has elite shooting ability and will showcase his playmaking skills this season,” Terry coach Chris Parker said. “He played last year and had a great season.”
Thomas’ dad, also named Avery, was a first team All-Metro guard for Forest Hill and averaged 21.8 points and led them to the MHSAA Class 5A state semifinals as a senior in 1990-91 and was on the first team with former NBA players and high school All-Americans Othello Harrington and Ronnie Henderson of Murrah. Thomas also went on to start at Southern Miss.
Terry opens the season against Clinton Tuesday at Terry.
