Like a lot of his peers, Julius Cosby has often dreamed about the possibilities of being able to combine the top talent at Vicksburg High and Warren Central.

“If we can put all these kids together, we can create powerhouses,” said Cosby, an assistant football and basketball coach at Warren Central.

With his current project, Cosby isn’t just dreaming. He’s trying to create a Warren County super team capable of taking on some of the best teams in the country.

Cosby is spending the summer as head coach of the River City Thunder, an AAU basketball team comprised of players from Warren Central, Vicksburg High and St. Aloysius.

Its roster includes three members of this year’s Vicksburg Post All-County team and a half-dozen starters on their various high school squads.

The Thunder has finished second in three of its four tournaments this summer, and will next head to the PrimeTime Sports 2015 National Basketball Championship in Dallas from July 22-26. The tournament will feature nearly 900 teams from around the country ranging in age from elementary school to high school.

The Thunder competed in the tournament’s high school division last year — the bracket contained 72 teams — and won two out of three pool play games. It then lost by five points to the eventual fifth-place team in its first elimination-round game.

“We went last year and didn’t finish how we wanted to. This year should be different, because we’re used to it now,” said guard Shaunterrence Walton, a rising senior at Warren Central who’s in his third year with the Thunder.

The Thunder AAU program was started about five years ago by Anthony and Cassandra Lumpkin. The program’s alumni include last year’s Vicksburg Post player of the year Mario Doyle and former Vicksburg High standout Edward Davis, both of whom have gone on to play junior college basketball.

When the Lumpkins moved on, Cosby took over as the volunteer coach. Although he is the ultimate authority during games, he said he gives his players a lot of say on everything else.

He said players have final say on roster moves and what tournaments the team plays in. It’s an effort to both give them ownership of the team and ensure that it remains a tight unit with great chemistry on the court.

“You play better with people you’re familiar with. There’s a couple of them that play on high-level teams in Jackson, but they like this one because of the camaraderie,” Cosby said, adding with a laugh, “We go on trips and they all want one room. It makes no sense. You have eight kids in a room just laid out everywhere on the floor asleep.”

The Thunder doesn’t play a lot of home games. Its four tournaments so far have been in Shreveport, Atlanta, and twice in Monroe. The long road trips also help to improve chemistry and break down the sense of rivalry between Vicksburg and Warren Central.

“Everybody gets to know each other and how they act,” said forward Kirk Parker, who is heading into his junior season at VHS. “You just have to deal with some things because that’s how people are. We make adjustments.”

While the long road trips are great for team chemsitry, they also provide a major obstacle — money. Driving several hundred miles and staying in a hotel room or two for a few days isn’t cheap, and the team is trying to find ways to raise funds.

Sponsors such as Cook Tractor, Hobie’s Sports and Cannon Toyota have helped a lot, Cosby said.

“They’ve been great. If we’ve needed something, they’ve done it,” Cosby said. “I hope I’m not leaving anybody out. Every little bit counts.”

The Thunder is also using tried and true methods of fundraising like an upcoming car wash in the Taco Bell parking lot and a shootathon, alongside 21st century methods like an online fundraising account at gofundme.com/ave374.

“I just want people to support the team,” Cosby said.

When they get to the national tournament, the Thunder will again have to make it through the pool play round and two more mini-tournaments to play for the really high stakes.

After pool play, the 72-team field is cut in half to form four nine-team brackets. The winners of each one advance to the championship bracket, while the runners-up go into a consolation bracket.

Winning it all would be a tremendous accomplishment for the Thunder. With so many teams and so difficult a road, however, so will going and showing they can hang with and beat some of the best teams in the nation, regardless of the final outcome.

“It’s a big atmosphere. That’s where everything is on the line,” Parker said. “You want to be in the top five. Don’t just say you’re good. Show people you’re good.”