Often overlooked, undermined and ignored, Tupelo High School’s Boys Junior Varsity Team is the only basketball team at THS that had gone undefeated until Jan. 10. Kevin White has been coaching the THS JV boys for three years, but this is his first year leading the team as head coach.

“I think the biggest difference between this year and previous years is that since I have been the head coach, I have the responsibility of it,” White said. “I don’t see a whole lot of other people take pride in playing their JV. My guys are as just as skilled as these varsity players they just need to gain experience. I think our preparation is a lot more advanced than what is it for the rest of these JV teams because I take it as serious, as if it were my varsity team.”

Up until their battle with the Yellowjackets in Starkville, this season’s record was 8-0 and 19-1 for the summer.

“These guys have been playing together since sixth grade, lost five games in four years, so around 90-4,” White said. “Really fun to see guys working together like that. They don’t care who scores the point, as long as it gets made. That’s true team right there.”

Sophomores Tyjil Hereford and Stephon Stewart are both sophomores playing their first year for JV and varsity. They shared their experiences.

“Its hard transitioning from JV to varsity,” said Hereford, a point guard. “You have better and bigger players. With JV, there’s people your age. On varsity, you’re playing against people that’s older. It’s gonna be tough, but we work hard to try to get a position.”

Some people would think being underestimated would be a disappointment, but White has a different outlook.

“Something I see with us and a lot of other JV teams is that nobody really puts an emphasis on JV and that is why we are so successful,” White said. “I tell these guys every day that we’re one step closer to being on the varsity team. Because they are about to pick up the slack here on the varsity side and they’re gonna be the starters and guys we rely on every year until they graduate.”

“It was hard work every day… to give relentless effort every day,” said Stewart, a shooting guard.

“The biggest thing I want to see is the confidence that these guys can step up to the varsity side and play. seen that in couple of guys: Tyjil Hereford, Jayvon Humphreys,” White said. “These guys have not have any really pressure. They’ve always been the really good guys on the floor and its just been easy for em. Now they have a little test to it. I ask to win by 20 points at least, and they really try to exceed those goals.”

JV Boys will next play against Grenada’s Chargers in Grenada on Feb. 16.