Leonard Leading the Way for Wilson Hoops
Wilson High School's top rated, 6-foot-7-inch guard Josh Leonard is a leader on the team and making an impact on both ends of the court.
By Dennis Brunson
hssr.com Associate Editor
Florence – Being a contender for a state title on a year-in, year-out basis is expected for the Wilson High School boys basketball team. Tigers head coach Yusuf English likes where his team stands at the moment.
“I believe we’re right at our expectations overall,” said English, whose team is 12-6 overall and 4-1 in Region 5-AAAA. “We’ve had some really strong moments that show what we’re capable of, and there are still areas we’re continuing to clean up.
What I’m most pleased with is the growth. The guys are competing, buying into what we’re teaching and getting better game by game. I think that consistency is the next step for us, but the foundation is where it needs to be.”
Wilson, which is ranked fifth in the most recent High School Sports Report AAAA boys basketball poll, is led by 6-foot-7-inch junior guard Josh Leonard. Selected as one of the top players in the state regardless of classification by the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association, Leonard is averaging a double-double of 20.9 points per game and 11.7 rebounds. He’s also averaging 2.6 assists, 3.1 steals and 1.4 blocked shots.
“Josh has made tremendous strides,” English said. “ His confidence has grown, and you can really see the game slowing down for him. He’s making better decisions, impacting the game on both ends of the floor, and embracing his role as a leader.
“The most impressive thing is his work ethic. He’s committed to improving every day, and that’s translating into real production and presence on the court.”
Leonard’s teammate, KJ Allen, was selected as one of the top five seniors in AAAA. He’s averaging 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Junior Isaiah Addison is also scoring in double figures with an 11.7 average.
The Wilson girls are ranked 10th in the latest HSSR poll. The Tigers are 10-4 overall and 3-2 in region play.
Wilson has three players averaging in double figures in senior Zoey Miller, sophomore A’Raina Ross and junior Logan Murray.
Miller leads the team in both scoring and steals with averages of 14.1 and 3.6, respectively. She’s also averaging 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists.
Ross leads in assists at 2.0 while scoring at a 12.4 clip to go with 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 steals. Murray is the leading rebounder with a 7.3 average to go with 12.1 points and 2.5 steals. She also averages a block per game.
Senior Jordan Nelson is also a major contributor with an 8.3 scoring average and 4.7 rebounds.
SOUTH FLORENCE
Wilson’s Region 5 foe and crosstown rival South Florence is also having a lot of success on the hardwood. The Bruins girls are ranked fifth in the HSSR poll and are 15-2 overall and 4-1 in region play. The South Florence boys are 11-7 overall and 1-4 in the region.
Freshman Harmony Bostick sets the pace for the South Florence girls. She is averaging 21.5 points and just misses out on averaging a double-double with 9.4 rebounds. She’s also averaging 3.1 steals.
Senior Allyson Watson leads the way in steals at 4.1 and is averaging 11.9 points to go with 3.2 assists and 4.9 rebounds. Junior Amari Gamble is the assists leader at 4.4 to go along with a 5.5 scoring average, 6.0 rebounds and 2.9 steals.
Also contributing in a major fashion is junior Madison Randolph. She scores at a 7.6 clip and pulls down 3.5 boards.
The South Florence boys are struggling in a brutal region that has three other teams besides Wilson ranked in the top 10. They are Crestwood at No. 3, Darlington at No. 6 and Hartsville at No. 10.
Senior Zyon Johnson was leading the Bruins in scoring, assists and steals. He was averaging 16.8 points, 2.7 assists and 2.3 steals.
Junior Adrian Singletary was averaging a double-double of 12.1 points and 10.9 rebounds. Also contributing significantly was sophomore Davey Green with 5.4 points and 6.2 rebounds and senior Rashaan Coleman with 5.0 points and 5.3 rebounds.
