D12-4A Notebook with a Drew Giudice Interview - Prep Hoops (2024)

June was enlightening. The District 12-4A quintet played often within the sight of @PrepHoopsTN, whether it be as a team or as individuals. Notes for this notebook are largely from watching the BCAT Team Camps in June.

Participating Teams
Columbia
Ravenwood
Nolensville
Summit
Independence

What is the new edition of Nolensville looking like?

“I am spending a lot of time how to mesh our team because we have five seniors that have a lot of experience, but from a talent perspective we have a lot of sophom*ores that are ready to help and play in some varsity games,” said Nolensville Head Coach Drew Giudice. “Basically #4-#13 there is not much drop-off at all. Looking for some guys to separate themselves.”

Coach Giudice sees a unit with extreme depth. In fact, he is welcoming of and excited about the ensuing clashes practice will introduce and perpetuate.

“That internal competition is going to be a great thing for us as long as our mindset is right. There is another team in our district that goes really far and we are pointing out their depth. We have preached that to this group.”

Nolensville Faced Tough Teams in June

“We played Bartlett at Centennial [High School],” recalled Coach Giudice. “We played really good against Rossview. We put it on them. I think we won by 15 or 16.”

Nolensville competed in the early June iteration of BCAT Team Camp too.

“We were in Memphis. We went 2-2 over there. We beat Northpoint Christian, from over the state line. We beat Marshall County and then MASE got us. We were up 12 going into the fourth quarter, but sucked it up in the fourth. They beat us on a three-pointer with two seconds left. Bad taste in your mouth after losing that one.”

The Nolensville ’24 Class

“ Jaden Clark Jaden Clark 6'5" | SG Nolensville | 2024 State TN started all 30 games last year as a junior. Lucas Pring Lucas Pring 6'6" | SF Nolensville | 2024 State TN started 29 out of the 30, and the only the one he didn’t was senior night. Carter Henninger, we didn’t have at either BCAT Sessions because he was at lacrosse. He was out with mononucleosis and that really, really hurt us in the region semis. Those three guys will be seniors. They started 86/90 games last year for us.”

“Jason Harris and Adam McCullen are also seniors. All five of those guys got experience as juniors. All five will be in our Top 8 when they are healthy.”

The seniors are vital, and yet, they are not alone.

“ Bryant Hall Bryant Hall 5'11" | PG Nolensville | 2026 State TN …he started probably 20 games last year as a freshman. Defensively, it is like having two people out there. He covers up so many holes and so many mistakes because he is so athletic and quick. He is learning on the offensive end on how to manage a team and that quarterback role. His intensity and heart. There is no one else I would rather have my first four years here. Oliver Bender Oliver Bender 6'3" | SF Nolensville (football) | 2026 State TN . He is going to be a sophom*ore and Chris Johnson Chris Johnson 6'7" | PF Nolensville | 2026 State TN and he are going to be sophom*ores. They are both on that Shockers team together. Definitely a really strong sophom*ore class. And there are two twins that didn’t attend BCAT, but those five sophom*ores will all be on varsity.”

“Oliver is a wide receiver football player. Some of it just might be him learning and having varsity specific reps. He has to learn where to be and when to be there. Offensively, he has so much ability. Shot selection [needs to improve]. He has the skill. It is knowing when and why it is a good shot. We really have high hopes for him long-term.”

The Frontrunner

“ Jaden Clark Jaden Clark 6'5" | SG Nolensville | 2024 State TN . I think everybody has said…he has the physical skill-set. He has got the talent. That game against Bartlett, a team of that caliber, and he goes for 23. It was within our offense and taking good shots. He goes for 16 in the first half of Rossview. A lot of that is the mindset of ‘I am the best scorer on the court and I can get to my spots.’

“We are trying to find that killer instinct in him. I think his best is ahead of him. He has been so much better at impact winning. We need you to impact winning when you only get 10-12 [points]. He is doing so much better at that.”

“He is a matchup problem. It is in his hands at different spots on the floor. We try to get him the ball at the high post, in the block. A big part of playing our offense, is he had to read where to attack. He has come so far in the year. I wish I got another four years with him.”

Antonio Ward Antonio Ward 6'2" | PG Rockvale | 2024 State TN earned Camp MVP thanks to a stellar display of effort and dynamism. His game is ready to go for Rockvale, and he probably will start this season. Darryl Cotton Darryl Cotton 6'0" | PG Rockvale | 2024 State TN is another senior. He looks like a starter, maybe full-time starter? During the event, Cotton was the fourth best in attendance.

Rockvale is deep at guard, but they did unequivocally lose high-end athleticism (Jakobe Tharp, Markell Sibert) and rebounding.