#5 - Shelby McEwen
He is Oxford's best returning player on the Boys Basketball team leading Oxford in most every category leading the team in points, 2-point FG Attempts & Makes, Offensive Rebounds, Total Rebounds, Blocks, and Efficiency Rating. He was also 2nd on the team in Free Throw Attempts (David Dennis) and in 3-point FG% (Dennis), and had the fewest Turnovers among last year's normal starting 5. He also had the third highest +/- on the team.
One thing he could work on: his Free Throws. I did mention he was second on the team in total Free Throw Attempts - he was 5th on the team in Free Throw Percentage (59%) among 7 who qualified for the stat. It needs to improve if Oxford wants to beat the likes of New Hope and West Point and finally win its first 2-5A Tournament Championship in 4 years. According to the stats tabulated, McEwen only had 2 fewer FT attempts than Dennis. If McEwen can make a few more free throws, it could mean the difference between a 1-seed and a much easier opponent in the division tournament or a 2 or even a 3-seed and face someone tougher. It could also mean a 2-5A division crown or advancing further in the 5A playoffs. He does a great job getting to the line, it is a matter of following through once getting there.
He is the obvious leader of the team. The Callaway thorn and the tough division Oxford plays in has prevented more success than the Chargers have been able to achieve. This year with only the loss of one senior last year, experience will play a role for Oxford with the likes of Cortez Jones, Josh Gibbs, David Dennis and others that may get Oxford to avoid the Callaway side of the draw with a 1-seed and make it to the Big House for the first time in a while.
**Editor's Note: This is the seventh of 12 Dandy Dozen Seniors I am releasing which will be done every Friday. They will be done AT RANDOM until the top two are released. You can see a schedule of which number will be released next HERE. #3 will be released next week.