A-J expects to have strong bench this year

 The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School boys’ basketball team could have a stronger bench this season than last.

“We’ll be able to play a lot of guys this season,” A-J coach Mike Chamness said. “A lot of players will be interchangeable.”

The Wildcats return three starters from last year’s 14-16 squad.

The trio includes 6-4 junior forward Jay Kemp,  6-2 junior guard Tyler Vaughn and 6-1 sophomore guard Noah Fuller.

“We’ll be young this year and we’ll make some mistakes,” Chamness said. “But we’ve got a really good junior and sophomore class.”

The Wildcats have good numbers of guards on the roster and that part of their game should be improved as well this year.

“Our guard play is going to be a little deeper this year,” he said.

Vaughn is the main three-point shooting threat, but Chamness does have other shooters throughout the lineup.

“We’ve got guys who can score,” Chamness said. “Our biggest concern is our rebounding. We need to focus on rebounding.”

The only senior on the squad is 6-9 center Andrew Nixon.

Other juniors on the roster are 6-6 forward Ben McFarland and 6-1 guard Colton James. Damien Reed, a 6-2 junior, will join the Wildcats’ basketball team for the first time.

Sophomores in the mix are 6-0 guard Noah Prater, 6-2 guard Zane DeWitt and 6-2 guard Derek Harvell. The lone freshmen is 5-9 guard Zach Parr.

Chamness is looking at Nashville and Carterville as the top teams in the Mississippi Division of the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference.

“In our conference, any team could beat another on any given night,” Chamness said.

The Wildcats open their season at the Goreville Tournament Monday, Nov. 26, against Johnston City.

“It will be interesting in that first week playing four games,” Chamness said. “Whether we win depends on how well we execute.”