ETSN.fm 2013-14 Boys Basketball Preview: Teams to Watch

TEAMS TO WATCH

Class 2A

Tatum Eagles

Head coach: Brett Carr
2012-13 record: 31-10 (Region III finalist; lost 66-47 to White Oak)
TABC preseason ranking: 5
Key player: Robbie Rockwell, Sr. (18.7 ppg., 41.0 three-point percentage, 88.0 free-throw percentage, 168 three-pointers ranks eighth all-time on NHSF single-season list)

Hayden Nichols returns to help try to lead White Oak to a third consecutive Class 2A state title. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)

White Oak Roughnecks

Head coach: Ron Boyett
2012-13 record: 37-1 (State champion; won 56-54 over Brock)
TABC preseason ranking: 18
Key player: Hayden Nichols, Sr. (10.3 ppg., 6.3 rpg.)

Class A Division I

Grapeland's Patrick Walker (left) drives to the basket against Dallardsville BIg Sandy during their Class A Division I Region III semifinal last March in Tyler. (Noreen Nartia, ETSN.fm)

Grapeland Sandies

Head coach: Owen Clifton
2012-13 record: 33-5 (Region III finalist; lost 92-77 to San Augustine)
TABC preseason ranking: 2
Key player: Patrick Walker, Sr. (TABC all-state)

Tenaha Tigers

Head coach: Todd Bodden
2012-13 record: N/A (Region III quarterfinalist; lost 51-50 to Dallardsville Big Sandy)
TABC preseason ranking: 6
Key player: Keontas Davis, Sr.

San Augustine Wolves

Head coach: Tory Barnes
2012-13 record: 23-7 (State semifinalist; lost 86-63 to Mumford)
TABC preseason ranking: 9
Key player: Jarvis Smith, Sr. (TABC all-region)

LaPoynor Flyers

Head coach: Dean Nuckolls
2012-13 record: 27-7 (Region III quarterfinalist; lost 49-47 to Kerens)
TABC preseason ranking: 13
Key player: James Jackson, Soph. (11.0 ppg., 10.0 rpg.)

Martin's Mill Mustangs

Head coach: Trae Moore
2012-13 record: N/A (Area finalist; lost 58-46 to Grapeland)
TABC preseason ranking: 21
Key player: Davis Moore, Soph. (18.4 ppg., 6.2 apg., 4.1 rpg., 2.8 spg.)

Class A Division II

Baylor commit Damiyne Durham and the Oakwood Panthers are ranked No. 2 in the preseason Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Class A Division II poll. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Oakwood Panthers

Head coach: Ronnie Dunn
2012-13 record: N/A (Region IV finalist; lost 69-58 to Douglass)
TABC preseason ranking: 2
Key player: Damiyne Durham, Sr. (27.7 ppg., 8.1 rpg., 4.0 spg., 2.3 apg., 1.0 bpg.; committed to Baylor)

Laneville Yellow Jackets

Head coach: Hosea Lee
2012-13 record: N/A (Area finalist; lost 77-59 to Calvert)
TABC preseason ranking: 8
Key player: Donta Harris, Sr. (18.4 ppg., 4.1 apg.)

Douglass' Bryce Westbrook drives against Water Valley's Kellan Kirkland during Douglass' 53-44 state semifinal win last March in Austin. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)