White Station basks in USA Today's top 10

3rd straight for 'unselfish kids... team ball'

Commercial Appeal by By Jason Smith March 31, 2004

The state's top boys basketball program can make a case that it's also the best in the country.

For the third straight year, White Station has finished in the top 10 of USA Today's Super 25 boys basketball rankings, making it the only public school in the country to accomplish that feat.

"I didn't realize that," said former Spartan coach Terry Tippett, who over the last three seasons guided White Station to three consecutive TSSAA Class AAA state titles and a sparkling 111-6 record.

White Station, which finished 39-2 this season, is 10th in USA Today's final rankings released Tuesday.

The Spartans also finished 10th in 2003 and ninth in 2002. They were able to sneak into the top 10 in the final rankings because No. 6 West Aurora (Ill.) was beaten in the Illinois Class AA state semifinals.

"It's a credit to our kids and the academic allure of White Station," said Tippett, who after 18 seasons at White Station is moving on to coach at Evangelical Christian School next season.

"It's also a reward for our kids' unselfishness and their willingness to play team ball."

Oak Hill Academy, a boarding school in Mouth of Wilson, Va., and perennial basketball powerhouse, is the only school in the nation other than White Station to have finished among the top 10 in each of the last three seasons.

Oak Hill (38-0) finished No. 1 this year after finishing fourth in 2003 and third in 2002.

The school typically attracts some of the nation's top prep talent; players like Denver Nuggets rookie sensation Carmelo Anthony and Josh Smith, a 6-8 forward projected to be a lottery pick in this year's NBA Draft. Talent like that is a luxury White Station has never enjoyed.

"This really speaks for Memphis basketball," Tippett said. "We could've been in a weak area and had this record, and we still wouldn't have been ranked.

"It goes to show that (USA Today) has got plenty of respect for Memphis basketball. We're beating Fairley, Ridgeway and those teams, so we must be pretty good."

- Jason Smith: 529-5804