Queen’s Grant was a familiar face last year with Phenom Hoops, and they certainly showed why they were one of the top teams in the state. Finishing the season last year with a 27-8 overall record before falling last in the playoffs to Corvian, Queen’s Grant looks to be back once again and in the hunt for the ultimate prize… a state title.
Coach Joe Badgett is back and leading the way, as he has proven time after time that he can gather talent, develop, and put a team together that can compete for a championship. He did so last year, but ultimately came up short in the end.
And though this is a team that will have to replace some key seniors that are now gone in 2025 Ian Howard and 2025 Geronimo Clark, there is still plenty of talent back on this roster this coming season to make another run.
When talking about this roster, though, you have to look at the young mixture of stars. Starting down low and a player that I believe has proven himself a lot early on is 2028 6’8 Chase Smith. Smith has been a focal point for this team for some time now, and continues to prove himself time after time to bring production to the table, whether it was with Queen’s Grant or Team United this summer. Smith can be a force down in the paint, scoring through contact, attacking the glass, and really being a presence down low on either side. I expect him to continue to flourish as a prospect and become an even bigger presence this season at Queen’s. Then you have 2028 Mekhi Allen, a 6’4 prospect that does a great job in opening up the offense, knocking down shots from outside, and has a developing overall game that has him highly ranked as a prospect by many. And lastly, you have 2028 Bobby Montgomery, a gritty, tough, scrappy, and quick guard that can score off the bounce, be a playmaker for others, and score from outside with confidence.
And that doesn’t even mention the veterans that will now be stepping up in a bigger role with 2027 Preston Scott and 2027 Cannon DeBerry, both of which bring a ton of impact in a variety of ways, help bring a balanced attack, and both have a blossoming overall skill set.
The trend of racking up wins at Queen’s Grant this season doesn’t seem to be going away, as they will have plenty of firepower again. They showcased that all of last year, but now, they look to finish it offer with a state title.