Festival Preview: Champion South Oak Cliff Using Event to Prepare

Ron Bailey, Publisher

November 29, 2007 – Going 33-3 last year while winning the state championship for the third straight year and returning future LSU big man for his senior year, J’Mison ‘Bobo’ Morgan along with All-Texas caliber, senior point guard Ty Shaw, one may surmise there is not much South Oak Cliff (TX) boys basketball coach James Mays has to worry about, that developing his team would not be an issue. If so, that person thought wrong, as Mays is using the National High School Hoops Festival as a means to improve his ball club.

“We are excited about it” said Mays of the Festival and the specter of their game with Bishop O’Connell (VA) on Saturday, December 8th. “There are extremely good teams on the East Coast. They know the game, have good skills, and are aggressive. It will definitely prepare us for our league”.

Senior Brandon Jones goes in for a slam.

Dallas, the school’s location, has produced numerous professional/college standouts, including Deron Williams, Chris Bosh, and Acie Law to name a few. South Oak Cliff can claim as alumni Kansas’ Darrell Arthur, Orlando Magic (NBA) forward Tony Battie, and probable future Hall of Famer, Dennis Rodman. Mays opined “People are just starting to realize” the city produces good individual hoops talent. His current student-athletes, though maybe not as good as the players mentioned above, are formidable nonetheless.

Adding to the impact of Morgan, a 6’11” traditional, shot blocking center, and Shaw an 5’10” excellent ball handler, passer and scorer, are senior 6’3” guard Israel Milburn, a slashing/scoring returning letter man, and 6’6”, fourth year wing player Brandon Jones, who will also slash while providing some minutes at power forward. All of these players are versatile, as they can play a fast break or half court game, latitude demanded by Mays.

Also on tap for ‘SOC’ as South Oak Cliff is known, is a 32 team tourney in Houston, as well as the DISD/Coco-Cola holiday tournament, in Dallas. Per earlier indications, Dallas Independent School District league play also looms.

Make no mistake about it, ‘Big D’ in general and SOC, Texas’ 4A state champion the last three consecutive years, specifically, will be in the house for the Festival, planning on making noise.