East Flat Rock – As of late last week, the fund drive organized by EHHS assistant basketball coach Josh English has raised $1,455. The target amount is $9,000, which includes $6,000 for Brewer’s $5,000 registration fee and additional spending money, and $3,000 for East head coach Marquintus Jones, who will serve as head coach and chaperone for the U.S. under-19 squad.
The organizing group, PhD Hoops USA, is “paying for some” of his expenses, Jones mentioned. This will be his first visit to Europe. “My family will not be traveling with me. I want to concentrate on the guys and winning gold,” he said. Jones described it as an “honor to be able to travel abroad to compete against other countries. I’m really excited for the opportunity.”
The basketball tournament is scheduled for June 19-22, with the nine-day trip starting on June 15.
Coach Jones anticipates a competitively “even playing field,” with his squad favored to place in the “top three.” The United World Games are the “largest youth tournament in Europe,” featuring 35 nations and around 12,000 youth athletes competing in various age groups across 15 sports, as noted by PhD Hoops USA.
Jones was selected to lead the PhD Hoops USA squad by the organization’s founder and director, Richie Schueler. He mentioned that he knows Schueler through the “college coaches’ fraternity.” Schueler, based in Los Angeles, is a Fox and ESPNU basketball analyst who played for Evansville and helped coach Austin Peay into the 2003 NCAA tournament. He is also a USA Basketball Gold licensed coach.
His PhD Hoops initiative “benefits both basketball players and coaches across the world” through International Basketball Federation competition. The upcoming tour includes group sightseeing excursions. PhD Hoops describes it as a “travel experience combining the thrill of international basketball competition, skill development, and an immense cultural education to last a lifetime.”
Historic Feats
Jones selected Brewer for the ten-player U.S. team, recognizing him as Henderson County’s career male public high school scoring leader and a top 20 scorer statewide. Point guard Brewer averaged 16.3, 19, 25, and 28 points over his four seasons with the Eagles, also contributing six rebounds, 5.5 assists, 3.5 steals, and one block as a versatile senior. Both Brewer and Jones are favorites for WNC district top player and coach honors again. Coach Jones takes pride in the 2024-25 squad (27-1), which won more games than any in program history, joined the 1991-92 state runner-up West Henderson Falcons as the only Henderson County team unbeaten in the regular season, and won the last three Mountain Seven conference tournaments.
Intensity, Confidence
Coach Jones is a brilliant in-game tactician who motivates with a blend of warm support and intense competition. “It’s going to be hard to instill what I do with my own team at East since I won’t have much time with this team. I will instill my (man-to-man) defensive strength and strategies,” he explained.
Yet he added, “I will keep it simple on offense,” focusing on patient passing. Key elements include “staying under control and taking care of the ball, sharing the ball, really attacking the basket, and taking great shots.” Brewer excels at slicing through defenses to draw fouls from larger opponents.
Coach Jones prefers to seize early leads, as East did in a decisive playoff-opening victory. “We wanted to hit first. Be stifling defensively and give them no confidence.”
The other players on his all-star squad were selected by PhD Hoops directors. PhD Hoops USA states that “we use an advanced recruiting process to identify the best talent and fit to represent the USA (and PhD Hoops USA) on an international stage.” Jones noted, “I’ve only met a few players over Zoom” conference calls.
This squad does not include McDonald’s All-Americans from big cities but rather stars from overlooked areas who are still seeking basketball scholarships, Jones explained. “It’s definitely an under-the-radar world event.”
Eagle Nest
This achievement is a feather in Brewer’s and Jones’ caps. Many Eagle fans wonder how much longer their coach will stay before he might be lured away. “I love it here at East,” Coach Jones said. “It will definitely have to be the right fit for me to go anywhere. East is my home.” He is married with two young daughters.
Jones remains close friends with East principal Brandon Scott since their time together when Jones played for Limestone College and Scott helped coach him. “Relationships mean everything to me,” Jones stated. “My connection with principal Brandon Scott is more like family.”
The web link to support Brewer and Scott is: https://givebutter.com/4Et6IT.