Suffolk summer scouting on hardwood

Published 7:57 pm Saturday, July 12, 2014

Nansemond River High School rising junior Josh Covington exhibits his offensive skills for coaches as he works against Heritage High School on Thursday during the Warriors' final game of the King's Fork Summer League regular season at King's Fork High School.

Nansemond River High School rising junior Josh Covington exhibits his offensive skills for coaches as he works against Heritage High School on Thursday during the Warriors’ final game of the King’s Fork Summer League regular season at King’s Fork High School.

The 2014 King’s Fork Summer League has served as the platform for some important developments for Suffolk basketball as coaches scout new and returning players.

This has never been a more essential process for Nansemond River High School coach Ed Young, who has been facing great uncertainty about the 2014-15 season.

“The uncertainty is because we have the least amount of varsity playing experience I’ve ever had since I’ve been here,” the 10-year Warriors coach said. He has lost 10 of his 13 players from last year.

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He shared some of his observations now that the nine-game regular season of the King’s Fork High School-hosted league has concluded, with the young Warriors going 5-4.

“I’m happy because they have played as a unit a little bit better than I thought they would,” Young said. “I believe that a lot of the mistakes we’re making now, I think they can be fixed.”

He said he has seen some good in everybody on the roster. He kept a close eye on his three returning varsity players, rising senior guards Paul Hall Jr. and Aaron Parker and rising junior guard Darius Jones.

Young also studied the large group of potential junior varsity move-ups.

Rising junior Torrence Williams helped his case with a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer against Heritage High School on Thursday.

“We put some stock on Matt Allmond,” Young said of the 6-foot-4-inch rising senior swing forward.

He is actually one of the taller prospects for the Warriors, a team used to having greater length and muscle inside.

“I don’t think we have a power person inside for the first time ever, so that means we’re going to have to do some changing,” Young said.

Handling the bulk of inside play this summer has been 6-foot-2-inch rising juniors Josh Stills and Randall Dixon, who have difficult challenges in front of them.

“To make varsity, we’re asking them to be major contributors after just one year of playing, period,” Young said.

He praised the defensive skills of rising junior Colby Williams, the ball handling and driving ability of rising junior Josh Covington and said he is also giving a look at rising sophomore Nate Foster and rising freshman Gerard Stringer.

King’s Fork also went 5-4 in the summer league, and though Bulldogs coach Josh Worrell’s 2014-15 roster will look largely similar to last season, he was still taking note of standouts.

He highlighted a returning varsity player, rising junior Chris Roscoe, and a potential varsity newcomer, rising freshman Rontrey Pope.

“I think those two improved the most over the summer,” he said.

Roscoe could be able to help the Bulldogs at power forward and center, while Pope could play on the wing.

“Most of the guys are improving,” Worrell said.

The King’s Fork Summer League playoffs begin on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and conclude on Thursday. The entry fee for all ages is $2 per night.

Following are the King’s Fork Summer League playoff games taking place on Tuesday at King’s Fork High School:

6 p.m.

  • NRHS vs. Kempsville
  • Deep Creek vs. Smithfield

7 p.m.

  • KFHS vs. Menchville
  • Western Branch vs. Warwick

8 p.m.

  • Norcom vs. winner of NRHS/Kempsville game
  • Oscar Smith vs. winner of Deep Creek/Smithfield game

9 p.m.

  • Heritage vs. winner of KFHS/Menchville game