Cody is a perimeter-oriented big man who is a nominee for the 2010 McDonald’s High All-American Game. He was also named to the Class AA, 3AA All Region Team. His footwork and three-point shooting ability have led teammates to nickname him “Dirk” as in Dirk Nowitzki. His AAU coach, Charles Clark of the Nashville Celtics, says, “He runs the floor well and changes the game with his shot blocking ability.” Cody is an excellent shot blocker, once posting a triple double with 18 points, 23 boards, and 11 blocks.

Henegar’s size and mobility should create nightmare matchups in the Southern Conference. His solid midrange game and ability to shoot the three should allow the Spartans to effectively run the pick and pop. Larger bigs will be pulled to the perimeter opening up driving lanes. In order to punish smaller defenders, Cody needs to improve his post game. On defense, he needs to get bigger in order to be a presence down low but should immediately be able to impact the game as a shot blocker.

According to Coach Clark, Cody chose UNC-Greensboro not only because of the efforts of Coach Gibson, but also because of the opportunity to play immediately and the Spartans are playing in a new coliseum this season. UNC-Greensboro’s schedule, which includes games at Duke, Clemson, Virginia Tech, NC State, Maryland, and Wake Forest, also played a role in his decision. We want to wish Cody and Coach Gibson the best of luck next season, especially since they are not playing Austin Peay.


What others say about Cody:
Quotes from TN Prep Hoops

“Burst onto the summer scene with solid efforts in most every event he attended. His size makes him a factor immediately and his potential skill level makes him very intruiging for the masses. At 6-8 and a soft touch, Henegar can score from mid-range or drop step and mush in your face. He lacks strength to battle the high level posts at this juncture but is a smart young man who understands what he needs to do to get better.

Playing with the Nashville Celtics this summer only made Henegar realize what he needs to do to get to the next level. He faced serious competition in almost every tourney and improved every time he stepped on the hardwood.”

“Cody Henegar (Marion County) Big Cody had a fine tourney in Arkansas showing some much improved toughness and fight especially on the glass. His length allows him to block shots from the help side and I was very excited to see him battle some of the monsters this event threw his way. His offensive game is solid and he shoots well from the outside, nothing but upside from this long and talented young man.”

Here is a nice picture that gives the UNC-Greensboro fans something to look forward to next season.

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Meiko Lyles
Guard
6’3”, 185 lbs
High School: University School of Nashville, Nashville, TN
AAU/Travel Team: Nashville Celtics



Meiko Lyles is a silky smooth scorer from Nashville, Tennessee. Lyles has good size at 6’3” and may not be done growing. At 185 pounds, Meiko is solidly built and can take hits while still finishing. Last season, he averaged 22.5 points and 5 assists a game on his way to being named a finalist for the DII-A Mr. Basketball award. At the University School of Nashville, Meiko is coached by Adam Sonn who was himself a Mr. Basketball winner at Donelson Christian Academy and a star at Belmont University before being drafted by the Arkansas Rimrockers in the fourth round of the NBA Developmental League.

Meiko’s AAU coach Charles Clark, describes him as one of the best scorers on the Nashville Celtics, a team full of Division 1 prospects including Florida commit Casey Prather. “He’s a gym-rat. He puts the time in and when you watch him play you can tell he is a little ahead of his peers.” Lyles is an excellent shooter with good form and lift on his jump shot. When he gets hot from the outside watch out. Clark said, “Whenever he shoots it, you think it is going in. He hits timely threes and does not get rattled.” This ability to hit shots can sometimes get Meiko in trouble. Shot selection and ball-handling are the two main areas he needs to improve upon.

Clark describes Lyles as a solid defender. “He’s a better off-the-ball defender because he has really good natural instincts and does a good job getting steals. His on-ball defense is going to have to get better. With his length, he could be a really good on-ball defender once he puts some more time and effort into it.” At the college level, Meiko should be able to defend both guard positions.

Below is a short video of Meiko at the River City Showdown, which the Nashville Celtics won, in Memphis this past summer. This video was shot and edited for APSUGovs.com by our friend Clark Merriam of MemphisRoar.com. Look for a cameo by 2010 recruit Levon Tate.

Meiko is an excellent student, and as a result he is being recruited heavily by several Ivy League schools including Columbia University and Princeton University. Lyles has offers from Missouri State and Georgia State University, the only school he has officially visited. Southeast Missouri State University has shown significant interest, attending every one of his AAU games this summer. Belmont University has been in contact, and it is uncertain how big a roll Coach Sonn will play if Meiko chooses them. The University of Nevada, Reno has also shown a lot of interest since July and are actively recruiting Meiko. Austin Peay had shown interest at some point, but that interest is thought to have waned. Coach Clark says Meiko would like to major in engineering.


What others have to say about Meiko:

MemphisRoar.com Scouting Report from the River City Showdown, Memphis, TN

Meiko Lyles (Nashville Celtics): Lyles, a calm and collective shooting guard, lived up to his position title and then some. Lyles knocked down countless three point shots throughout the River City Showdown. Whether wide open or with a hand in his face, Lyles did not seem to notice or care, as the result almost always ended in three points.

ESPN.com/Scouts Inc.
November, 2007: Lyles is smooth beyond his years and is up to the challenge of improving his game. A great outside shooter who is deadly from the foul-line area. His offensive game is far ahead of its defensive counterpart but Lyles has the athleticism to make this a staple of his game. He hasn’t played as much basketball as his class counterparts and therefore is making huge strides catching up with his peers.

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LeVon Tate

Forward
6’5”, 195 lbs
High School:  Siegel High School, Murfreesboro, TN
AAU/Travel Team:  Nashville Celtics

LeVon Tate heads into the 2009-10 high school basketball season after a very successful 2009 AAU season.  Tate’s team, the Nashville Celtics, won the River City Showdown in Memphis by beating a Memphis Magic Elite team that featured several high major prospects including Memphis commit Joe Jackson (Rivals 2010 #12 prospect), Tarik Black (Rivals 2010 #47 prospect), Chris Crawford (Rivals #66 prospect), and Adonis Thomas (Scout 2011 #2 SF prospect).  Our friend Clark Merriam at MemphisRoar.com, an independent site for The University of Memphis athletics and an ESPN affiliate, had this to say about Tate’s performance at the River City Showdown.

“A force to be reckoned with down low, Tate was often the hardest worker on the court.  Fighting for rebounds, altering opponent’s shots, and not giving up on any plays, Tate provided some great play that tended to be overlooked by most.  Tate provided good put-backs and displayed some good post play.”

In addition to their championship in Memphis, the Celtics also reached the semifinals of the String Music Classic in Nashville, the Round of 8 at the Adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas, and the Round of 16 at the Real Deal in the Rock in Arkansas.  They also performed well at the Wallace Prather Memorial Tournament in Georgia, making it through pool play and winning a game in bracket play despite not having Florida commit Casey Prather, Minnesota commit Austin Hollins, and an up-and-coming star in Kedren Johnson.

At 6’5” and 195 pounds, LeVon is an undersized forward but what he lacks in size he makes up for with effort.  “I think he is the best rebounder in his class, the 2010 class, in the state of Tennessee,” said Nashville Celtics Head Coach and Austin Peay alumnus Charles Clark.  “He’s long, agile, and athletic.  He gets every rebound against a 6’10”, or another kid his height, or an athletic guy, or a big slug that’s just pushing him around.  He gets more balls and rebounds than anybody.”

Relentless rebounder.  Hardest worker on the court. 6’5”.  Starting to sound a little like former OVC Player of the Year Drake Reed.  Here is what Coach Clark had to say when asked about the comparison.

“I think he’s more skilled than Drake from the standpoint that Drake was self-made.  He really got in the gym and worked and worked to get to where he was.  I think LeVon comes in with a little more skill and definitely more athletic ability.  If he gets Drake’s work ethic, he could definitely get to that level.  But not a lot of kids have Drake’s work ethic.  He worked his tail off.  But LeVon could be that workhorse type of player.”

Just to clarify, Coach Clark’s comments were comparing LeVon to Drake as an incoming freshman.  Like most young players, Tate will have to develop and improve all aspects of his game before he can even be mentioned in the same breath as the Drake Reed that finished his career with three straight First Team All-OVC Selections, but the young man does have potential.

Defensively, Tate’s athletic ability and versatility allow him to guard three positions.  “He can guard a three, four, or a five man.  Especially in the OVC where he’s dealing with undersized post guys,” Coach Clark said.  His non-stop motor and rebounding prowess may allow Tate to contribute immediately.  He could be used to rest starters, providing valuable rebounds and fouls off the bench.  To do this though, LeVon will have to hit the weightroom.

Coach Clark describes Tate’s offensive game as developing.  “He scores well with his back to the basket.  He passes well and shoots the midrange jumper really well too.”  Some schools may overlook LeVon because he is not the first option on either his high school team or AAU team.  The featured player on his Siegel High School team is Kerry Hammonds II.  Hammonds was a finalist for the Class AAA Mr. Basketball award this past season and has offers from Tulane, Richmond, and Middle Tennessee State.  When playing with the guard-heavy Nashville Celtics, LeVon deferred to players like previously mentioned Casey Prather, Austin Hollins, and Division II Class A Mr. Basketball finalist Meiko Lyles. This shows that Tate, while talented, is a team player who will do whatever he can to help the team.

When playing on a team with guys who can do this (video features Casey Prather, but Tate is #42 in green), or playing against guys who can do this, it is easy to see how a coach may miss the guy down low busting his tail and pulling down rebounds.  Several schools have reached out to Tate, including East Tennessee State which has been the most active.  Belmont University, David Lipscomb University, Savannah State, and Middle Tennessee State have all shown some interest.  Carson-Newman College, a Division II school, has also been in contact with Tate.  According to Coach Clark, there is mutual interest between Austin Peay and Tate.  The level of this interest and what becomes of it remains to be seen.  What is known though, is whoever lands LeVon will be getting a relentless rebounder and defender with a tremendous amount of potential.

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*ASPUGovs.com is an independent site, not affiliated with Austin Peay State University in anyway.

*All images are from the Siegel High School athletic website.
*We would like to thank Coach Clark for taking the time to speak with us.