WGHS 2023 Basketball Tryouts

On October 23rd, 2023, the Walnut Grove Basketball teams held their tryouts, with the Girls teams being from 3:00-4:30 PM, and the Boys teams being from 4:45-6:15 PM.
by Ty Cameron and Drew Caraway

The Walnut Grove Boys team has multiple levels of talent on their roster. Some newcomers, like Will Tyre, and some returning players like Cameron Selman. The same thing can be said with the Girls Varsity team, bringing back Alyssa Leonard, along with others. Cameron, a Junior, said “They just conducted [it] like a regular practice. We warmed up and then we did some layup drills, then we ran some 5-on-5 for most of it. Then we did some dribbling and stuff like that.” Will (Freshman) contributes to the conditioning spectrum. “It’s tough because we run a lot but it helps us get better.” Selman compares last year's team to this years, saying “I think we’ll do good, I think we’ll do better than last year honestly, because last year, Tyler [Jewell] got hurt and we had some people who weren’t as experienced. We got more experience this year and we got Tyler [Jewell] back.”

Alyssa Leonard, who started Varsity as a Freshman last year, shares her thoughts on the Varsity Girls season goal. “I think we’re gonna do actually good. Our goal is to make it to state.” However, with Selman being the most experienced with Coach Witherspoon, he says, “He’s [Coach Witherspoon] probably the best basketball coach I’ve ever played for, because, even though I’m not the best player on the team, he gives me a role and he lets me thrive in that one role and it’s just easy.”

Congratulations 2023-2024 Varsity Boys and Varsity Girls teams:

Marcus Smith, #0, PG and SG, Junior
Chase Roux, #1, SG and SF, Senior
Brody Goodbar, #2, SG, Junior
Terrance Barimah, #3, SG and SF, Junior
Jonah Peters, #4, SF, Senior
Tyler Jewell, #5, PG and SG, Senior
JT Rogers, #10, PG, Senior
Jonathan Issac, #11, G, Senior
Xavier Malcolm, #12, SF and PF, Junior
Jacob Johnson, #13, PG and SG, Sophomore
Chase Mohn, #15, SG, Freshman
Will Tyre, #20, SG, Freshman
Kayden Miller, #21, G, Junior
Cameron Selman, #25, F,  Junior
Nicholas Smith, #33, PF, C, Junior
______________________________________________________________________
Niera Ovalles, #2, PG, Senior
Aviya Thompson, #3, PG, Junior
Mitchnell Lake, #4, PF, Senior
Makayla Battle, #5, SG, Senior
Grace Sharp, #10, SF, Junior
Cameria Reed, # 11, SG and PG, Senior
Alyssa Leonard, #12, PF, Sophomore
Dorothy Nealin, #14, SF and SG, Senior
Amelia Bethea, #15, SF and PF, Sophomore
Nakiya Davis, #21,  SG, Junior
Teresha Smith, #22, SG, Freshman
Teaira Kelley, #23, PF, Junior
Jaelyn Harris, #24, Freshman 
Alannah Burns, #25, Freshman
Malka Griffin, #30, Sophomore

(positions weren’t provided for Jaelyn, Alannah, and Malka)

Positional References
*PG- Point Guard
*SG- Shooting Guard
*SF- Small Forward
*PF- Power Forward
*C- Center
*G- Guard
*F- Forward

After an incredible 2022-2023 season from both teams, both teams have a lot to prove going into the 2023-2024 seasons. 

*all information via MaxPreps*