By Robert Wilson

Sam Funches is expected to be playing for one of the top college men’s basketball programs in the country next year. Gonzaga is ranked No. 7 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll and has reached at least the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 nine times in the past 10 seasons, including two runner-up finishes.

But the Germantown 6-foot-11 senior center and Gonzaga signee has some unfinished business in high school and hopes to lead the Mavericks to their second straight MHSAA Class 7A state championship.

If Funches keeps playing like he did last week, Germantown has a good chance to repeat.

Funches averaged 24.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2 blocked shots in two victories last week.

For his outstanding performance, Funches has been named the Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Boys Basketball Player of the Week.

Funches had 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists – one assist short of a triple double – in a 68-60 victory over defending MHSAA Class 6A state champion Ridgeland and 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in a 70-36 victory over MHSAA Class 6A Callaway.

Funches – rated as the No. 1 player in Mississippi, the No. 10 center and the No. 84 player in the country in the Class of 2026 by 247 Sports and a member of the Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Preseason Metro Jackson Elite 11 Team – is averaging 20.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.3 blocked shots and 4 assists for Germantown, which is ranked No. 3 in Mississippi by MaxPreps and has a 10-2 record and is undefeated in Mississippi.

“I think Sam is the best player in the state and one of the top players in the country,” Germantown coach Chris Love said. “He plays the right way, doesn’t force shots and is a really good passer. What Sam doesn’t get enough credit on is his defense and rebounding, which has been great this season. He has really accepted the challenge this season of leading the team. Sam can shoot it and he is skilled in the post and can shoot the midrange jumper. Sam can handle the ball. He’s a modern day big.”

Funches averaged 14.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.7 blocked shots, 1.7 assists and 0.8 steals and helped Germantown to a 29-5 record, its first winning season in school history and the MHSAA Class 7A state championship last season as a junior. Funches chose Gonzaga over Ole Miss, Mississippi State and LSU. Funches also had Division I offers from Jackson State, Mississippi Valley, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Missouri, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Kansas, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas State, Michigan, North Carolina State, Oklahoma State, Penn State, California, Xavier, Creighton, SMU, TCU, South Florida, and Wichita State.

Funches is the son of Sam and and Kesha Funches. Sam played basketball at Murrah High, University of Connecticut and North Texas State. Kesha played basketball for Callaway High and Jackson State before injuring her knee. Funches’ sister, Kalia, played basketball for Germantown and had a knee injury her senior year. She graduated from Mississippi State. Funches’ grandfather, Marvin Brown, is in the Jackson State Hall of Fame. Funches’ uncle is former Mississippi State and NBA center Erick Dampier. Funches’ first cousin is Madison-Ridgeland Academy sophomore EJ Dampier, one of the top boys basketball players in the country in the Class of 2028.

Germantown’s next game is against Gadsden City, Ala., in the Jasper Christmas Classic Friday in Jasper, Ala.

  Mississippi Scoreboard selects a boys basketball player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by sending a text to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276. 

PREVIOUS WINNERS 

WEEK ONE: Jeff Flanagan, Madison Central