By Robert Wilson
Jamarion Fleming has impressed a lot of high school coaches during his career at Canton High, but he received compliments from a new one this past weekend.
The 6-foot-9 senior center and Mississippi State signee had 20 points and 14 rebounds and led defending MSHAA Class 5A state champion Canton to a 49-37 victory over MAIS Overall Tournament and Class 5A state championship contender Heritage Academy Saturday in the Tangle in the Trail event at Pontotoc High.
For his outstanding performance, Fleming has been named the Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Mero Jackson Boys Basketball Player of the Week.
Heritage coach Andrew Howell came away impressed with Fleming. It was the first time the two teams had played each other in school history. Heritage is the third ranked Class 5A and the eighth ranked MAIS, according to MAIS and came in with a 9-2 record. Fleming helped limit Heritage to its lowest scoring game this season, 14 points lower than its previous low of 51.
“He’s obviously a very talented kid and gifted with his body type,” Howell said. “He’s a match up nightmare for most high school teams. He can score at all three levels and looks pretty comfortable doing it. The kid eats rebounds for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You get one shot a possession against Canton.”
“Jamarion is in a new role as a leader and teaching the ones under him who were on the team last year to be his leaders as well,” said Canton coach Brian Townsend, whose team is 6-8 this season. “His new role includes playing positions 1 through 5 and expanding his game to get him ready for the next level.”
Fleming also had 14 points and 12 rebounds in a 51-49 win over Provine last week.
Fleming – rated as the No. 1 player in Mississippi and the No. 19 center in the country by 247 Sports – is averaging 26 points and 13 rebounds this season.
He averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocked shots and helped Canton to a 26-4 record and the MHSAA Class 5A state championship and was first team on the All-Metro Jackson team last season as a junior.
Fleming had 25 points (11 of 15 from the field) with 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocked shots in Canton’s 58-40 victory over Yazoo City in the state championship game.
In addition to MSU, Fleming has Division I offers from Ole Miss, Jackson State, Alabama, LSU, Wake Forest, Marquette, Fresno State and James Madison.
He averaged 13.5 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots and helped Canton to a 22-7 record and the MHSAA Class 5A semifinals two years ago as a sophomore.
Fleming is the son of Kajwana Davis. Kajwana was a cheerleader and majorette at Jackson State. Fleming’s brother, Javian Davis, was an All-State basketball player at Canton High and played for Alabama, MSU and Alabama-Birmingham.
Mississippi Scoreboard selects a boys basketball player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by text or call to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.
WEEK ONE: Phil Nelson, Ridgeland
