Southland hosts Wings Elite Exposure Camp for aspiring basketball athletes

CARDWELL – Southland High School alumnus and new basketball Head Coach Tyre Washington said he knew all the area athletes and has watched them progress throughout the years.

“The first coaching job I had was at Southland elementary,” Coach Washington said. “So this is the same group that I had when I was coaching fifth grade. And now they’re sophomores. When I first taught these kids they were little shrimps. Now they’re out here taller than me. They got mustaches and hair and I have to remind them, ‘I’m still your coach, okay?’”

Southland was represented by three athletes Saturday at the Wings Elite Exposure Camp, Coach Washington explained.

“That’s a lot for us,” he said. “We only have 10 total right now.”

Coach Washington said he was thrilled that his players’ skills would be put to the test against talented players from across the region, including an Arkansas gunner.

“Marcus Britt, Jr.,” he noted. “He’s a star out of (Forrest City,) Arkansas.

“His dad played for the Hogs,” he added. “He’ll be here today. I’m not sure if he’s a three-star or a four-star. But he is ranked in Arkansas. I’m looking forward to watching him play.”

Washington noted he was hopeful that one of his players, Bailey Huber, would excel at Saturday’s camp.

“He’s only a sophomore,” Coach Washington noted. “I’m anxious to see how he does. He’s lengthy. Long arms.”

Participants in Saturday�s Wings Elite Exposure Camp warm up on the boards.Steve Hankins, Delta Dunklin Democrat

“High motor,” he emphasized. “He’s very confident. Very tough, and can compete with anybody. He’s not scared of anybody. We’ll see if he can back up all that talk. This is a good test for us today.”

Huber said he was on hand Saturday to demonstrate that great things come from small packages.

“I want to prove that you don’t gotta be big to make it big,” the 15-year-old said. “I want to prove that players from small schools can compete against anybody and get it done, know what I’m saying?

“Coach Washington is an excellent teacher,” he added. “He knows when to come to somebody if they need a shooter.”

Clarkton Reindeer Jacob Plunkett, a 16-year-old point guard heading into his junior year, was one player from the Bootheel who attended Saturday’s event.

“I expect to learn a lot, play the game and get noticed here today, be seen,” he said. “I’m very excited to be here.”

Lathan Crane, a 6’6”, 150-pound shooting guard from Buffalo Island Central High School at Monette, Arkansas, signed to play for SEMO Prep last fall, attended Saturday’s event.

“My good friend Parker St. Pierre is running this camp,” Crane said. “I came here to hoop with the guys and help the tournament run smoothly.”

Veteran Southland School Board member Lonnie Gibson of Arbyrd was present to watch one player in particular.

“My son plays on the Arkansas Wings Elite AAU team,” he said. “Parker and his dad asked if they could host an exposure camp here.

“I ran it up the chain of command and everybody here at Southland was on board,” he added. “It’s pretty neat to have something like this in the Bootheel. I don’t know of anything we’ve had like this, ever, in the immediate area. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

Southland Athletic Director Ben Nelson noted the event was important for his players and the community.

“This is an opportunity for aspiring athletes to get a look from college coaches,” he said. “Maybe the first time for most of these players.

“It’s a first for us, that’s for sure.”

Parker St. Pierre gathered the athletes for a pre-camp motivational speech.

“We have a lot of talent in this room,” he said. “Let’s go show it.

“We got people here watching ya’ll.

“We got media here,” he added. “The time is now. Ya’ll put in the work. Ya’ll put in the work all summer. We’re here right now to hoop, right? You got nothing to lose here. Nothing.”

And Parker’s final words rang true for everyone at the camp.

“Let’s play!” he emphasized. “Let’s play some basketball.”

Editor’s note: This is the final installment of a two-part series.