Hilltopper Hysteria showcases WKU’s depth
By Wally Hughes
WING PLAYERS
Dec 18, 2013; Bowling Green, KY, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers guard Trency Jackson (3) goes for the ball against Southern Miss Golden Eagles forward Jeremiah Eason (30) during the second half at E.A. Diddle Arena. Western Kentucky won 68-65. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
The wing positions, which are used interchangeably in Harper’s offense, will be led by seniors T.J. Price and Trency Jackson. Price, the team’s leading scorer the past two seasons, averaged 15.5 points per game last year and enters his final season on the Hill 25th on the school’s all-time scoring list. The all-conference performer is the team’s best player and can take over a game at any time. He is lethal from long-range, currently ranking fourth all-time in three-pointers made at WKU, and can also create his own shots off the bounce. Like most star players, he’s not afraid of the big shot when the game is on the line.
Senior guard Trency Jackson compliments Price on the wing with his speed and athleticism. Jackson transferred from Texas Tech and made an instant impact last year, joining the Toppers for the second half of the season and averaging 10.2 points per game. Defensively, Jackson is a game-changer, using his athleticism to lock down the other team’s best perimeter threat. He also brings a different dynamic to the Topper offense, using his speed to wreck havoc on opposing defenses by becoming a one-man fast break.
Backup minutes at the wing positions will likely be distributed among Sprewell, redshirt junior Nigel Snipes, and freshman D.J. Clayton. Snipes has the experience advantage having played meaningful minutes as a freshman, but was used sparingly last year after a MCL injury forced him to redshirt his sophomore year. Sprewell has experience as a junior college transfer, while Clayton is a long and athletic, albeit raw, prospect that will undoubtedly play a larger role in future seasons. Expect Snipes and Sprewell to be the primary backups, unless Clayton’s intangibles are just too good to leave him sitting on the bench.