Wheeler Wildcats

Region 5-AAAAAA
Head Coach: Doug Lipscomb
Last Year’s Record: 30-3 (16-0)

Top Returning Players:Darius Perry (Jr.), Cam Jordan (Sr.), Makhai Eastmond (Sr.)
Top Newcomers: Romello White (Sr.), Al-Wajid Aminu (Sr.)
Key Games: @ Montverde Academy (FL), Walton (Twice), Cherokee (Twice), Milton (Twice), Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC) (City of Palms Classic), OT Holiday Invitational (Raleigh, NC), La Lumiere (IN) (Cancer Research Classic)

Team Preview: Coming off of a season where you win thirty games, take the City of Palms Classic title, and a state championship, needless to say expectations could be pretty high this year for Wheeler, even despite losing some big time talents including top prospect Jaylen Brown, who is now a freshman at Cal, and Shembari Phillips, who is at Tennessee. Despite losing a lot of talent off of last year’s state title team, Wheeler is reloaded and ready to make another run. They will be led by junior combo guard Darius Perry, who will have the ball in his hands a lot this year as Wheeler’s top guard. Perry had a big time travel season with Game Elite and scored the basketball at a high level, so look for him to take on a much larger role in Wheeler’s backcourt this year. Also returning from last year’s team is a supreme athlete in senior wing Cam Jordan, whose role will also expand from last year, as well as senior guard Makhai Eastmond, who will share most of the ball handling responsibilities with Darius Perry.

Wheeler is also no stranger to attracting talent, and this year is no different with some impact transfers. That starts with Georgia Tech commit Romello White. White gives Wheeler a presence in the middle and will continue the Wheeler legacy of having great play down low after players like Daniel Giddens, Charles Mitchell, JJ Hickson, and Richard Howell. Joining him as a newcomer in the Wheeler frontcourt is senior forward Al-Wajid Aminu, a North Florida commit who transfers from Coral Gables, FL. Aminu will provide Wheeler with good size as well as scoring and rebounding ability. Also of note is sophomore guard Reikan Donaldson, who comes in from Cavalry Day, and gives Wheeler another backcourt option and brings some good athleticism to the floor.

Can Wheeler repeat? It certainly will not be easy, but this is a talented bunch that will be among the best teams in AAAAAA and one of the most dangerous come the state playoffs.