Cards build team chemistry in summer

Brent Kuhl fully understands the importance of summer basketball, particularly for his Potts Camp Cardinals who had their struggles in his first season at the helm.

“The summer helps a lot in developing team chemistry,” the head coach said. “We will give everybody playing time, so we can see what they can do in our summer work building up to next season. Going into my second year here, they understand what I want.”

The Cards went 7-20 in 2025-26 but played much better at the end of the season, Kuhl said. Entering the Region 2-1A Tournament as the fifth seed, Potts Camp placed third in the district tournament before being eliminated in the first round of the state playoffs by Pine Grove.

“Our district was really good,” he said.

District foes are West Union, H.W. Byers, Blue Mountain, Ashland and Hickory Flat. And last year’s regular season schedule included larger schools like Byhalia, Holly Springs, Independence, Kossuth and North Pontotoc.

Three seniors and a junior, with lots of experience, will be leaned on heavily in 2026-27. Those Potts Camp team leaders are Jeremiah Nelson, Braxton Totten, Colton Melton and Malachi Brownlee. Most of the roster will be sophomores, and Kuhl said one of those, Tyler McNeil, is a big-time scorer.

“We will have a few guys carrying the load who have played a ton of basketball,” he said, “and our younger guys are coming along. We are so much better defensively than when I first took over, and we are working to find our identity offensively.”

The Cardinals are hosting summer league games on Tuesdays. Last week they faced Falkner, Ripley and Holly Springs, and Kuhl said his squad played well. Games were slated for Tuesday of this week and then will wrap up with a full slate Tuesday, June 23, from 9 a.m. To 6 p.m. Teams joining them next Tuesday will include Hickory Flat, Mantachie, Byhalia, Independence, New Albany and Holly Springs.

Kuhl is also head coach of the Potts Camp Lady Cardinals. He said it’s a completely different story for them in summer workouts leading up to a new season.

“We have a team full of seniors but not a lot of playing experience,” he said. “The summer is extremely important for them – being on the floor, gaining experience and playing together.”

The Potts Camp girls finished 7-17 in 2025-26. A pair of “really good” seniors, Alyssa Clifton and Akira Woods, will lead the way in 2026-27, Kuhl said.

The Lady Cards went to Tupelo Christian Preparatory School on Wednesday of this week for summer games versus TCPS and Falkner. They will return to TCPS Wednesday, June 24, for more competition.