It’s never too early to think about the future, and fans of Meridian and West Lauderdale boys basketball can get a glimpse of the future this weekend.

The Mississippi Express 14U Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team features five players who will one day attend Meridian and one player who currently attends West Lauderdale Middle School, and this weekend, the team will travel to Millsaps College to take part in the inaugural Junior High All-Star Game. The event is being dubbed the Future Dandys, as some of the players in attendance are expected to one day be Dandy Dozen selections for the Jackson-based newspaper, The Clarion-Ledger.

The team was formed three years ago as part of the larger Meridian-based AAU network that’s supported by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Rodney Hood and the rest of the Hood family, who run the local Boys and Girls Club. Neil Henry, who coaches the 14U Mississippi Express, said it’s been fun to watch the players grow in their skills over the last three years, and he expects great things from them going forward.

“They were new to the community, but they’ve grown and blossomed into a good group of players, and now they’re getting recognized at the state level,” Henry said. “It’s getting easier (to coach them) from a standpoint of them knowing the game. The skill sets for their age is pretty remarkable.”

The team consists of six players: Jonathan Vaughn, Jederion Lewis, Brandarius Bolero, Xzorion Creer, Deontae Robinson and Parker Henry, Neil Henry’s son, who attends West Lauderdale Middle. The younger Henry said he’s excited about this weekend’s tournament, and playing against AAU competition in general has helped him elevate his game.

“It’s the best competition in the country,” Parker Henry explained. “Every week you get to play against the best teams with future NBA players.”

Vaughn said the elder Henry has done a good job coaching him and his teammates, and he enjoys working with him on improving as a player.

“It’s fun,” Vaughn said. “The practices are chill, but we work hard.”

Though Neil Henry said he’s the best baller in the gym when they’re all together, Vaughn begged to differ.” 

“That’s not true at all,” Vaughn said. “Out of all of us, I’m the best on defense. From the 3-point range? Probably BB (Boler).”

Playing for Mississippi Express has allowed the team to travel to cities like Dallas, Memphis, Jackson, Birmingham and New Orleans, and a trip to Atlanta is in the works. Lewis said he isn’t a fan of riding in the car, but once they get to the big city, it’s well worth the trip.

“It’s boring,” Lewis said of the long drives. “I don’t like sitting too long. The best is at night, because we get to joke around. The cities are great. We get to see new things and a lot of new people, and we’ve developed friendships — but there are no friends on the court.”

Creer said he and his teammates get along well, even if they do give one another a hard time on occasion. 

“I pick up my teammates when they’re down,” Creer said. “Most of us grew up together and play on the same team, so we’re all like brothers. They’re all cool.”

One of the best parts about playing AAU ball in Meridian is occasionally getting to see Hood at the gym during the summer, when the NBA season is through. Boler said Hood is an inspiration to every young basketball player in the city.

“I watch most of his games on TV,” Boler said. “I think if he can make it from Meridian, many other people can do what he does. When he comes in the gym, you get surprised, because you get to see an NBA player watch you play and practice.”

In fact, Neil Henry said Hood and his family deserve a great deal of credit for supporting teams like the one he’s coaching.

“These kids wouldn’t have this opportunity without the Hood family,” Neil Henry said. “Their availability to help organize the program, it’s been the biggest asset to help keep these kids occupied.”