Scott Keyes
Sports Scene
Former Boston College and Saginaw High product Josh Southern is back roaming the sidelines with head coach Julian Taylor and the Trojans, the same team he helped lead to a Class A state title in 2007.
Southern finished his four-year career at Boston College in 2011, where he averaged 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game as a senior.
After graduating from BC in 2011 with a degree in Communications, the 6’10” inch Southern was drafted in the fifth round of the NBA Developmental League Draft by the Texas Legends.
After injuries plagued his stay in Texas, Southern was planning on playing in Europe the following season, but visa issues and injuries forced him back to Saginaw to reevaluate his future basketball plans.
“The options of playing in Europe are still available to me, but once I get the injuries behind me I take things day by day and hope for the best,” he said. “I really have a lot of things to consider in the coming months.”
But in the meantime, Southern has found a home back at the High helping Taylor and working with the Trojans’ big men in the post.
Taylor said having Southern back has been a blessing. “Josh has been there and knows what it takes to get to the next level. The kids are listening to what he has to say, and they are learning a lot. Josh has been a huge asset to the team this season.”
Prior to press time, Saginaw High was 12-1 on the season, with its only loss coming to Saginaw Arthur Hill January 4.
Since the beginning of the season, 6’6″ freshman Algevon Eichelberger, Jr. has been one of the biggest surprises for the Trojans. Taylor is a firm believer that Eichelberger’s emergence since the start of the year can be attributed to Southern’s help with the guys in the post.
“Josh has brought a lot of confidence to our guys in the post,” Taylor said. “The guys believe in what he is teaching and they buy into it. They are really taking things to the next level.”
Eichelberger and Joe Powell provide a dominant 1-2 punch in the middle for the Trojans. At one point this season, Eichelberger was leading the state in blocked shots.
“Algevon has a tremendous upside,” Southern said. ‘Even though he is a youngster, he has tremendous knowledge of the game, and he is only going to get bigger and better. He is such a good kid to work with.”
Taylor and Southern both believe that if the team’s big men continue to improve, anything is possible, including making another run toward a state championship. But another meeting with their crosstown rival is looming larger than ever, with Saginaw Valley League implications on the line.
At this point in the season anything is possible.