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 choose the Dandy Dozen in various sports for more than a decade. Wilson has rebirthed a similar team this year with Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Elite Eleven Preseason Boys Basketball Team based on our All-Metro team selections from last season. Wilson selected the best players from Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties from their performances last season. The players below are in alphabetical order. The girls basketball team was published last week.
Cam Brent, Jackson Prep, 5-8, Senior, Guard
Brent averaged 15.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists and led Prep to a 15-13 record, was the MAIS Class 5A runner-up and reached the Overall quarterfinals last season as a junior. He shot 46 percent from 3-point range (75 of 167). Brent scored a school record 43 points, including an MAIS record 12 3-pointers (second most in MAIS history and most since 1987), against Parklane last season. He made the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson fourth team. Brent averaged a team-high 12.3 points and led Prep to a 24-11 record and an Overall Tournament runner-up finish as a sophomore. He has offers from Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Mississippi Delta CC, Hinds CC, and Holmes CC.
“Cam has the ability of being able to distribute and score from the guard position,” Prep coach Tim Wise said. “The quickness that he possesses allows him to counter what one may think is a lack of size. Cam very rarely puts himself in tough situations with the basketball, because of his ability to handle it. His ability to start and stop, and change direction is not something that you can completely teach. It is God-given. Cam’s ability to score on the perimeter from a catch and shoot scenario, from using screens and from the quick pull-up/mid-range shot, puts him in an elite class. Cam certainly does not shy away from the crucial moments of the game. He possesses a confidence that has grown from seeing repeated successes and countless hours in the gym.”
Tremaine Dixon, Raymond, 5-10, Senior, Guard
Dixon averaged 18.5 points, 6.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds and helped Raymond to a 22-6 record and a MHSAA Class 4A runner-up finish. He made the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson second team last season. Dixon helped Raymond to a 25-8 record and a MHSAA Class 4A runner-up finish as a sophomore. He made fourth team All-Metro. Dixon has offers from East Mississippi Community College, Hinds CC, Meridian CC, Northeast Mississippi CC, Pearl River CC and Southwest Mississippi CC.
“Tremaine is a natural born leader,” Raymond coach Tony Tadlock said. “He can do so many things well. Tremaine can score from all three levels and he’s an elite defender.”
Samarion Grant, Provine, 5-11, Senior, Guard
Grant averaged 22 points and 4 assists and led Provine to a 3-8 record and the MSHAA Class 5A playoffs. He made the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson fourth team last season. Grant has offers from Coahoma Community College, Copiah-Lincoln CC, Hinds CC, Itawamba CC, Jones College, Northeast Mississippi CC, and Northwest Mississippi CC.
“Samarion is an elite three level scorer who can heat up very quickly,” Provine coach Sirdonta Washington said. “His ability to break down defenses and understanding of the game shows his maturity on the court. We’re looking forward to his leadership this season.”
Kimani Hamilton, Clinton, 6-8, Senior, Forward
Hamilton averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocked shots and led Clinton to a 21-1 record and the MHSAA Class 6A state championship. He had 14 points and 14 rebounds and was named MVP in the 6A state championship victory over two-time defending state champion Starkville. Hamilton also had 22 points in a semifinal win over Harrison Central.He made the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson first team last season. He averaged 14.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists and led Clinton to a 23-9 record and the Class 6A playoffs and made the All-Metro fourth team as a sophomore. Hamilton is rated as the No. 2 player in Mississippi and the No. 24 small forward in the country by 247 Sports. Hamilton’s top three college choices are Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Alabama. Hamilton’s dad, Tang, was the Mississippi Player of the Year at Lanier High, played at Mississippi State and played in the NBA and overseas for several years.
“As a player, Kamani just wants to win,” said first-year Clinton coach Leonard Taylor, who was promoted from assistant when Robert Green left after winning the state title. “If it means for him to step up on defense to guard the best player, to take over a game from the scoring aspect, to be a beast on the boards, to setting up his fellow teammates. Kimani doesn’t care if he has 6 points or 50 points at the end of the game, he wants the W. He’s willing and wanting to do whatever it takes to win.”
Josh Hubbard, MRA, 5-11, Junior, Guard
Hubbard averaged 24.3 points and made 75 3-pointers led MRA to a 32-3 record, the MAIS Overall championship and seventh straight Class 5A state title last season as a sophomore. He scored 36 points in MRA’s Overall championship victory over Greenville Christian. Hubbard made the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson first team for the past two seasons. He averaged 18.2 points and made 93 3-pointers and led MRA to a 32-7 record, its sixth straight state championship and the MAIS Overall semifinals as a freshman. Hubbard scored a career-high 46 points, hitting nine 3-pointers, in a victory over MHSAA perennial Class 6A power Gulfport in his third game as a freshman. Hubbard, who has been starting since the eighth grade, has 2,099 career points, the sixth highest in MAIS history, behind Ken Coghlan of East Rankin Academy (3,168 from 1977-80), Dakota Dailey of Marshall Academy (3,113 from 2012-2015), Chris Thurman of Brookhaven Academy (3,072 from 1985-89), Jeff Richburg of Magnolia Academy and Hillcrest Christian (2,541 from 1985-89), and Phillip Prince of Leake Academy (2,371 from 1990-93). He has Division I offers from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley, Southern Miss, LSU, University of Houston, and University of New Orleans.
“Josh has a lot of God-given ability. He has speed, strength and great offensive skills,” MRA coach Richard Duease said. “Josh can get to the rim without being knocked off course because of his strength. He has a 41–42-inch vertical leap. Josh has great range. He can make it from 26-27 feet out. He has had a great summer and looking forward to having a great season.”
Allen Hughes, Clinton, 6-3, Senior, Guard
Hughes averaged 14.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.5 steals and helped Clinton to a 21-1 record and the MHSAA Class 6A state championship. He had a team-high 16 points in Clinton’s victory over two-time defending MHSAA Class 6A state champion Starkville in the 6A state title game. Hughes made the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson fourth team last season. He has been offered by Mississippi College and many Mississippi community colleges.
“Allen is a hard worker,” said first-year Clinton coach Leonard Taylor, who was promoted from assistant after Robert Green left after winning the championship. “He is a kid who can really get to the basket and finish and loves a defensive challenge on the court. And above all, Allen just wants to win and have fun while doing it.”
Keivion Hunt, Callaway, 5-10, Senior, Guard
Hunt averaged 17 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals and helped Callaway to a 10-1 record and the second round of the MSHAA Class 5A playoffs. He made the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson second team last season. Hunt averaged 13.9 points, 4.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals to help Callaway to 25-5 record (undefeated in Mississippi), a Class 5A state championship and a No. 1 ranking in Mississippi and a No. 38 national ranking by MaxPreps two years ago as a sophomore. He was selected to the third team on the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson team. Hunt has career highs of 26 points and 12 assists in a game. He has Division I offers from Southern Miss, Jackson State and Alabama State.
“Every coach wishes they had a Keivion on their team,” said first-year Callaway coach Timothy Speech, who replaced David Sanders, now the boys coach at Copiah-Lincoln. “He has a high basketball IQ. Keivion could be my assistant coach right now. He gets it. Keivion knows how to get his teammates involved. He is a great competitor and brings it every day. Keivion is a special player.”
Erin Jones, Richland, 6-2, Senior, Guard
Jones averaged 25.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.4 assists and led Richland to a 9-9 record last season as a junior. He made the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson third team last season. Jones scored a career-high 37 points against Puckett last season. He has offers from East Mississippi Community College and Pearl River CC.
“Erin is a tremendous scorer, he can score from anywhere on the floor,” Richland coach Rod Taylor said. “He gets in the passing lanes on defense and is a very good rebounder. Many people are sleeping on his talent. He was the offensive player of the year in our district (Class 4A, Region 5) last year.”
George Marshall, Forest Hill, 6-3, Senior, Guard
Marshall averaged 16.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists and helped Forest Hill to a 21-2 record and the MHSAA Class 5A semifinals last season as a junior. He made the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson fourth team last season. Marshall has Division I offers from Jackson State, Alabama State, Murray State and North Carolina A&T.
“George has shown from his freshman season that he was going to one of top players before his high school career was over,” Forest Hill coach Jerry Currie said. “His ball handling ability, combined with his scoring ability set him apart. But when you factor in his athletic ability to go along with his improved defensive prowess, that makes him even more of a handful. I’m expecting big things from him this season.”
Ismail Rashid, Brandon, 6-4, Senior, Forward
Rashid averaged 16.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.4 steals and led Brandon to a 19-7 record and the MHSAA Class 6A quarterfinals last season as a junior. He made the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson third team last season.
“Ismail is a very versatile player,” Brandon coach Fred Barnes said. “We literally play him at all five positions on the court. He is a natural born leader who can flat out play on both offense and defense. I’m looking forward to him leading us to a great season.”
Jabarie Robinson, Raymond, 6-0, Senior, Guard
Robinson averaged 23.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists and led Raymond to a 22-6 record and its second straight MHSAA Class 4A runner-up finish last season as a junior. He made the Priority One Bank/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson second team last season. Robinson averaged 23.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5. 2 assists and helped Raymond to a 25-8 record and a MHSAA Class 4A runner-up finish as a sophomore. He made third team All-Metro. Robinson has offers from East Mississippi Community College, Hinds CC, Meridian CC, Northeast Mississippi CC, Pearl River CC and Southwest Mississippi CC.
“Jabarie is one of the most elite scorers in the state,” Raymond coach Tony Tadlock said. “He can do so many things with the ball in his hands from scoring to getting his teammates involved.”
