Parkview's Kameron & Cameron: Like Names, Like Talent

If there's a time for close friends Kameron Russell and Cameron Neysmith to work their magic together, it's this week.

Their struggling Parkview basketball team needs them to click more intuitively than usual when the postseason begins with the Region 8-AAAAA tournament on Parkview's home court. The Panthers open region play Tuesday against Central Gwinnett. .

As two of the Panthers' better players this season, it's logical to expect Russell, a forward, and Neysmith, a guard, to step their games up a notch. And in a sport where intuitively knowing your teammates' whereabouts is key, expect a lot from both seniors, who've played together since being seventh graders at Pinckneyville Middle.

"We know what each other likes and what each other can and can't do," Neysmith said. "We know each other's game. We can talk to each other [and be] very direct."

Russell and Neysmith, who met in a music class in seventh grade, played together at Pinckneyville and the YMCA. Both came to Parkview from Norcross High -- the 6-foot-4 Neysmith two seasons ago, the 6-6 Russell this season. They're best friends, often hanging out at each other's homes and even taking spring break trips together.

As tight friends, their paths to prominence at Parkview are strikingly similar: Both began high school at Norcross; both had familiarity with Parkview coach Keenan Temple, who previously was an assistant at Norcross; and both have earned starting roles for the Panthers (11-13, 6-10).

They diverge, however, in their specialties. Russell has become one of Parkview's most relied upon scorers by averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds a game. Neysmith -- who averages just seven points, five assists and five rebounds -- has emerged the Panthers' defensive specialist.

"Kameron gives us a dynamic we didn't have," Temple said of Russell's first season on Parkview's varsity, after failing to make Norcross'. "He's been an unexpected treat, an unexpected pleasure. We didn't have a guy who could get up and down the floor, blocks shot and dunks."

While Russell averages a double-double, Neysmith has become Parkview's defensive stopper.

"Cameron's our best on-the-ball defender," Temple said. "He's a solid kid and hard to get around. He gets in front of people and locks them down. When he gets on a guy, that guy usually doesn't score much the rest of the game."

Neysmith said solid defense is key to generating good offensive opportunities.

"You have to be focused at all times," he said. "You have to be in the right position and have your eyes on the scoreboard and know what's going on at all times."

Russell, who spent his sophomore and junior years away from school ball, is somewhat surprised to have emerged a top scorer for the Panthers. He was particularly pleased with his game-high 25 point in a recent 67-66 overtime loss to Shiloh.

"Some nights, like against Shiloh, it seem like everything I put up goes in," Russell said. "To come out and start scoring a lot feels good."

Russell said he feels expected to score, especially for a Panthers team that hasn't reached the state playoffs since 2008.

"Sometimes, I can take over," he said.

As one might imagine, two players with the same-sounding name makes instruction challenging for a coach. But that's nothing new for Temple, whose roster also includes senior guards Marcus Meadows and Marcus Hector.

"When I'm yelling to Kameron or Cameron, I don't know at first that they know who I'm yelling at," Temple said. "But usually, though, by the time I'm done, they know."

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