It’s common knowledge that timing is everything in the basketball world. Whether this comes in the form of players developing or coaches constructing rosters, the right timing directly correlates with success. The relevance? Coach Josh Chavis continues to visibly transform this Northeast Guilford program since taking over just two seasons ago. In that period, he took a team that hadn’t seen a winning season in over a decade and made them into something worthy of attention, going 19-8 and 20-10 in consecutive years. Now, going into year three, they might have their best roster yet. Let’s take a closer look…
So much of this team starts with the guard play of Sherman Winston. Winston shines as a veteran leader and the most consistently productive piece on this roster. He operates as the main creator and dictates the action with IQ, poise, and unselfishness. Winston breaks down defenders, touches the paint, and makes quality decisions with the ball in his hands. He’s a useful scorer from all levels, but is arguably at his best when getting downhill. Winston also defends the point of attack, makes hustle plays, and rebounds his position well. He sets the tone in several ways for this group.
Meanwhile, guys like Brennan Foster and Jamari Shepherd also stand out as key backcourt pieces. Foster is a steady point guard who handles the ball well, applies pressure as a downhill threat, and sees the floor well as a passer. He scores as needed within the flow of the action, but doesn’t need a ton of shots to make an impact. Foster also defends with toughness. Similarly, Shepherd does a little bit of everything for this group. He’s a long, fluid athlete with a crafty penetration sense and the ability to make plays in transition. Shepherd can handle the ball and create for himself and others as needed, but also moves well to find opportunities as a cutter. Add in his rebounding ability and defensive presence, and it’s easy to see his appeal. Both guys will be vital contributors for the Rams.
Arguably the most well-rounded piece on the roster, Logan McMichael always seems to make his presence felt as a malleable, adaptable piece on both ends of the floor. He’s a natural glue-guy whose IQ, skillset, and ability to operate in various roles makes him an incredibly valuable player. McMichael shoots the ball at a high percentage, makes intelligent decisions with the ball, and constantly outworks opponents for extra opportunities. He’s also a rugged defender who reliably contains opposing guards and forces turnovers at a solid rate. McMichael is already such an impactful, low-maintenance player, but should only continue to trend upward over the foreseeable future.
Freshmen Jacob Bray and Jayden Warren each have a ton of appeal, particularly at this stage in their respective developments. Bray already possesses an advanced skillset with the ability to create off the bounce, score with efficiency from all levels, and naturally create matchup problems for opponents. He finishes, applies pressure in the midrange, and spaces the floor effectively from beyond the arc. Bray rebounds well for his size and is capable of guarding multiple positions defensively. On the other hand, Warren is such a tantalizing, high-upside prospect with the size, skill, and physical tools to be an incredible talent. Although he’s still just beginning to truly scratch the surface, Warren already displays natural feel on both ends of the floor. He’s comfortable making plays with or without the ball in his hands, able to create, cut, or find opportunities within the flow of the action. Warren should only continue to progress throughout the course of the season.
Rounding out this roster, guys like Cajh Cosme, Quamari McLeoud, and Sabien Boggs should each provide meaningful minutes for the Rams. Cosme adds another scrappy defender and useful ball-handler. McLeoud offers a long, high-energy presence as a tough, physical interior piece. Boggs is a wiry guard who can consistently mix it up as a well-rounded offensive cog. Between everyone listed above, this roster clearly has the pieces to be one of the better teams across the public-school ranks in North Carolina.