To say the University Heights Academy Blazers will look like a different team during the 2019-2020 season would be a significant understatement. The Blazers will look nothing like last year’s team, and may play a completely different kind of game during the upcoming season.
Gone are the big three from last season, KyKy Tandy, Drew McGowan, and Taquan Hollowell. Those three combined to average 53.1 points per game last year, or 71.5-percent of the UHA offense. That will be a challenge to replace, and the success of doing that will likely determine just how good the Blazers can be during 2019-2020.
UHA figures to be very guard oriented, and the expectations are that the Blazers will be looking to get the ball up and down the court at an accelerated pace.
The core of the Blazers attack will center around juniors KJ Crump, DJ Quarles, Will Bryan, and Amani McGee.
Despite battling a leg injury over a big part of the season, Crump still managed to average 8.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. He will also likely be the number one option at the point for the Blazers, although, any of the above mentioned four can handle the duties, should they need to.
DJ Quarles became known for his defensive play during UHA’s run to the All A title last season. This year, he will also be counted upon to become a bigger part of the offense. Quarles finished last season with an average of 4.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
It is safe to say, with KJ Crump battling an injury last year, that the Blazers would have been hard pressed to win the All A championship without the play of Will Bryan. Bryan’s efforts earned him a well deserved slot on the All A tournament team. Bryan would end the season averaging 4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest.
The player who could make the biggest jump this season is Amani McGee. McGee, who saw action in 27 games last season, averaged 3.3 points and 0.6 rebounds per game for the Blazers. He has the skills and athleticism to become an integral factor for UHA going forward.
Outside shooting and rebounding will be big question marks for the Blazers as the season gets rolling. Tandy, McGowan, and Hollowell combined to hit 149 of UHA’s 190 three pointers during the 2018-2019 season. On the glass, no returning player averaged more than 2.3 rebounds per game last season.
For an inside presence, UHA may have to look to the committee approach. Senior Weston Wood returns, and will need to play a larger role. Sophmore Namari Hall, senior Daniel Kabithe, and junior Noah Shouse are also expected to see more minutes on the court for the Blazers.
The schedule for the Blazers is brutal, as they will play at home only four times over the course of the season. Opponents will include John Hardin, Owensboro, Hopkinsville, Christian County, and regional favorite Madisonville. Plus, there will be appearances in the Paducah Tilghman Christmas tournament, the Lake Cumberland Holiday Classic, Mustang Madness, and the Toyota Classic.
The Blazers will begin their All A title defense with a game against the Crittenden County Rockets, in Marion, January 14.
Coach Grant Shouse looks at the season in the video below.
