After playing their way to the Elite 8 in The Basketball Tournament, the Jackson UnderDawgs were recognized during the Jackson City Council’s monthly meeting at City Hall, Tuesday.
The UnderDawgs fell to the Golden Eagles, a team consisting of Marquette University alumni, at WinTrust Arena in Chicago.
“About four years ago we started a basketball team and named it the Jackson Tennessee Underdawgs,” said head coach Dexter Williams, “We are called the Underdawgs because (team) isn’t made up of nationally recognized names, ex NBA players or players with phenomenal overseas basketball careers.
“This team is mostly made up of local Jackson kids who understand the importance of not only hard work, but teamwork as well. Much of this was taught to them in the public schools of Jackson-Madison County.
“We have a 13 man roster and 11 of those young men attended elementary, middle school and high school right here in Jackson, Tennessee. Only two of our players are not from Jackson.”
1. Jaylen Barford – 2014 South Side High School – University of Arkansas
2. Odgra Bobo – 2003 Jackson Central-Merry – Oakland Community College
3. Josh Sain – 2007 Liberty Tech – Middle Tennessee State University
4. Anthony Sampson – 2007 Liberty Tech High school – Freed-Hardeman University
5. Jewuan Long – 2007 Liberty Tech High School – Murray State University and Jackson TN’s FIRST EVER TSSAA Mr. Basketball Winner
6. Antwan Long – 2007 Liberty Tech High School – Lambuth University
7. DeVon Jones – 2007 Liberty Tech High School – University of North Florida
8. Tarius Johnson- 2010 Liberty Tech High School – Eastern Kentucky University
9. Micheal Ward – 2002 South Side High School – Jackson State Community College
10. Jeremy Weddle – 2004 South Side High School – Lambuth University
11. Jeremy Simmons – 2007 Jackson Central-Merry – Volunteer State Community College & Iowa Wesleyan
12. Torye Pelham – 2006 Central Park Christian, Birmingham, Alabama – Southern Mississippi University
13. Allen Durham – 2006 Wyoming Park High School – Grace Christian University – both schools are in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Head Coach – Dexter Williams – coached and taught at Northeast Middle School 2000-2003, coached boys basketball at Liberty Tech 2003-2010, Principal at Tigrett Middle 2010-2013
Current Director of Schools for the West Carroll Special School District
Assistant Coach – Chris Cole- 2001 South Side High School – Lambuth University
General Manager- Darius DeBerry- 2007 Liberty Tech High School – basketball manager at Lambuth University
“We began playing in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) in 2016,” Williams said, “It’s a basketball tournament that pays $2 million to the winner. You have to be voted in, in order to play in this tournament. You’re also seeded based on the number of ex NBA players and current over seas players that you have on your roster.
“In 2016 we upset the number one seed, but lost in the second round. In 2017 we lost in the first round. We lost in the second round in 2018.”
The UnderDawgs were seeded 56th our of 64 teams in this year’s tournament.
“All of the games in Chicago were televised on ESPN and ESPN2,” Williams said, “Millions of people across the country watched us play while wearing the name “Jackson” across our chests.
“We want to thank the city of Jackson for showing up in huge numbers in Memphis … Your support means everything to the players and coaching staff.”
(PHOTO: From right to left – Dexter Williams, Jackson UnderDawgs head coach, Antwan Long, general manager Darius DeBerry and Jeremy Weddle)
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