When high-scoring All-State guard Kevin Sims moved on to Tulane and all-star Andre Pitchford transferred to Provine, many predicted a rebuilding year for Forest Hill High School.

As the 26th annual Jackson Public Schools/Pepsi Holiday Tournament tips off this week, however, the youthful Rebels have emerged as a surprising Class 5A state championship contender.

The JPS event, which runs today through Thursday, isn’t the only holiday hoops tournament in the Jackson area. In Rankin County, the ninth annual Northwest Rankin Holiday Classic tips off Wednesday and winds up Friday.

With no seniors on its roster, Forest Hill (13-2) has climbed to No. 6 in The Clarion-Ledger Super 10 boys basketball rankings.

“When you lose a dominant player like Kevin, I think a lot of people thought we didn’t have a player like that and we’re too young,” said Rebels coach Clay Norton, whose team won 26 games and came within a victory of its first Boys State Tournament appearance since 1994 last season.

“We’re awful young. We start four juniors and a freshman. The kids are really stepping up. I really think we’re better than we were last year. We’re more athletic.”

While 6-foot-5 forward Terrell Kennedy is Forest Hill’s only returning starter, he has received plenty of support from fellow junior Joshua Moore, who is enjoying a break-out season with a team-high 18.3 points per game.

Kennedy adds 18.2 points and 11 rebounds for the Rebels, who already have impressive wins over two-time defending 4A state champion Lanier and 5A contender Provine.

“Joshua is one of the best pure shooters I’ve seen since I’ve been in it,” Norton said. “He can just flat-out shoot the basketball.”

Third-ranked Lanier – led by Dandy Dozen senior guard R.L. Horton, who’s averaging a JPS-best 31.3 points per game – Provine and Wingfield are other boys teams to watch.

On the girls side, top-ranked Murrah (12-0) dreams of its first perfect season since a 36-0 finish in 1997-98 and the program’s seventh 5A state title.

“I’m not sure about that,” Murrah coach Anna Jackson said of the Lady Mustangs’ bid for an undefeated season. “We may not be quite as talented at some positions as that team was. We’re talented, but we’re a lot younger than that team.”

Dandy Dozen junior forward LaSondra Barrett paces Murrah with about 19 points and 10 rebounds per game. Her supporting cast includes junior Janice Okeke and sophomores Brandi Simmons, Tanecka Carey and Sarah Crisler.

Barrett, who averaged 18.3 points as a sophomore as Murrah reached the 5A semifinals, has expanded her role this season.

“LaSondra is an excellent on-the-court leader. She’s constantly talking to her teammates,” Jackson said. “She’s doing a lot more with the basketball this year. She’s facing the basket and starting the fast break.”

Source: ©2006 The Clarion-Ledger