PeachStateBasketball.com Program Preview – West Virginia Thunder

Scott Johnson has helped make the West Virginia Thunder one of the nation’s most well recognized independent club programs.
*Photo by D.J. Galbiati

A few years ago, the West Virginia Thunder program was an intriguing collection of talent. They came onto the scene of travel basketball as an obscure group of girls who ran razor sharp sets and shot the lights out.

By: @JLHemingwayPSB

Program Director:

Scott Johnson

Program Headquarters:

Huntington, W.Va.

TeamPSB Events They Will Attend:

July 23-25 Summer Invitational (Marietta, Ga.)
July 26-27 Elite 32 Summer Jam I (Marietta, Ga.)

Notable Players:

***All rankings and star grades courtesy of ProspectsNation.com

Shayna Gore – 2015
Shayna Harmon – 2016
Michelle Johnson – 2016
Taryn McCutcheon – 2016
Madison Morris – 2015
Sarah Price – 2016

The current 2014 team played for the late coach Larry Lambert but now are coached by Scott Johnson. In this year’s rising senior class they boast three ELITE150 caliber players. Mychal Johnson of Huntington, W.Va., is the leader of this group and committed to play for the Irish of Notre Dame. Playing side by side Johnson in the backcourt is Dayton commit, Jenna Burdette of Coolville, Ohio. Griffin Dempsey of Huntington, W.Va., who recently verbally committed to Charlotte, makes up the final part of a deadly trio of long range bombers for the Thunder.

With a highly successful 2014 team now exiting the travel basketball scene, this will not mean the end for the West Virginia Thunder program. In fact the Thunder program has multiplied in numbers and has two very talented teams that are already drawing looks from several college coaches. The 2015 team is headlined by two players who have already given their verbal commitment to Marshall University. Shayna Gore of Stollings, W.Va., is a crafty guard that does a number of things well on the court. She is joined by forward Madison Morris of Huntington, W.Va., who does a great job of controlling the glass.

The 2016 team has a host of prospects that are already on the ELITE100 watch list when ProspectsNation.com expands its rankings in a few years. Shayna Harmon of Ashville, Ohio may be the most promising prospect of the bunch due to her natural ability to shoot and handle in the half court. Alongside of Harmon in the backcourt is Taryn McCutcheon of Washington, W.Va. She is a play-making point guard that continues to make strides with her play. Finally, Mychelle Johnson of Huntington, W.Va., is the defensive stopper of the group while Sarah Price of Owingsville, Kent., provides both size and skill in the paint.

Keil Moore, who serves as Director of Scouting for ProspectsNation.com, says “The West Virginia Thunder are one of my more favorite programs to watch during the summer. Every team executes very well and every player has a polished skill set. I am excited to watch the younger teams and their development over the next few years.” You can catch the Thunder with TeamPSB in Marietta and Augusta, Ga. next week.

ProspectsNationTV: Brandon Clay talks about West Virginia Thunder 2015 from Real Deal in the Ville

ProspectsNationTV: Mychal Johnson Feature Player Eval

ProspectsNationTV: Griffin Dempsey Feature Player Eval

ProspectsNationTV: Jenna Burdette Feature Player Eval

Jonathan Hemingway is the Assistant Director of Scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com. The service is used by more than 150 colleges and universities nationwide. He also serves on the selection committee for the Elite Basketball Academy Fab Five and Super 64 Camps. He has been involved in the community since 2002 as a coach, camp director and evaluator. You can reach him via email at [email protected] and follow him on twitter @JLHemingwayPSB