The future of the state, hoops wise appears to be in solid hands. Here is a list of the top 25 players from this weekends 14 and under state AAU tournament at Seymour High School.
The list will be alphabetical and the potential schools were dictated to us by the participating coaches of the teams so obviously those can change before the next school year.
Will Adams (Science Hill)
Smooth guard who averaged around 16 per for the event. Good at changing speeds and equally tough from the outside or breaking one off on an unsuspecting defender. Will need to give more effort on the defensive end.
Leron Black (?)
Arguably one of the best in the event and this guy is only a seventh grader. His tenacity around the rim and ability to finish in traffic was astounding for his age. He could be the next big thing from the Volunteer state.
Matt Butler (Memphis East)
Slick shooting guard who hit big shots and had a controlled tempo to his game. Would love to see him be more aggressive on offense as he shoots very well and has good handles.
Jamaal Calvin (McCallie)
One of the best deep shooters in the event and a sweet penetrator when that was the call. Loved his speed and has a good build, he could be a very good one before he's done.
Sam Craft (Bolton)
Nice shooter who played with a confidence that showed throughout the event. He can handle and makes good decisoins with the ball.
Markel Crawford (Melrose)
Every team needs a guy like this. He can score, is a very good on ball defender and makes all the tough plays that help a team win, which his did.
Kaseem Davidson (Oak Ridge)
Played hard every time he stepped on the floor. Didn't do anything extremely well but always found the ball in his hands in tough times and came through for his squad. Loved him.
Asa Duvall (Brentwood Academy)
Very smooth player with good rythem to his game. His outside shot was adequate and he had a nice first step and finished well. Can be a very good player if he works on his strength and consistency on his shot.
Brandon Farmer (Springfield)
Long athlete who can run and jump all day long. He was good with the ball in short mid-range and always got his hands on the offensive glass. You win games with players like this.
Alex Fountain (Wartburg Central)
Athletic swingman who is added strength away from being devastating. He can shoot mid-range and jumps well. He has shot blocking ability and will see his scoring rise with an added left hand on his drives to the glass. Love his future.
Blake Golden (Knoxville West)
Very effective player around the rim. His short runners and ability to get offensive boards despite not being very big make him a must have. Will need to work on his ball skills and outside shooting as he gets to the high school level.
Rashad Gray (Oak Ridge)
Whomever gets this Oak Ridge job has a nice core for the future. Athletic and tough, Gray makes things happen, is relentless in his pursuit of the ball and has no fear.
Shannon Hale (Science Hill)
Very effective in the low block and showed he could shoot the mid-range shot as well. Has wonderful timing on his blocks and will fight for boards. He will need to be a fixture in the weight room for the next few years and you will see his game blossom.
Jordan Hall (Lenoir City)
Was a terror from deep for most of the event. Has a quick release and can score off the dribble or in transition. Has a good feel for the game and plays with intelligence. A very good player is about to come out of this kid.
Rian Hall (Oak Ridge)
The school may change but the results won't. This kid is a warrior and any coach would love to have him. He never lets up and plays defense like his life depends on it. Great going to the bucket off the dribble but really needs to work on his shooting form and release.
Frank Herron (Memphis Central)
Big guy who played better as the event progressed. Has good hands and runs very well. Will need to give effort the entire time he's on the floor and his production will rise dramatically. Has good hands and is athletic.
Nick King (Memphis East)
Sweet lefty who can score inside or out. Played a bit tired this weekend but you could see flashes of brilliance in this young man. Good size and skill will make him a player who stays at the top of the rankings for many years.
DreShawn Looney (White Station)
Solid guard who has the ability to shoot and played well in the finale on Sunday. Will need to be more consistent in his decision making and his offensive game will follow suit.
Cameron Payne (Lausanne)
Sic lefty stroke and a Memphis toughness that only those city guards possess. He was the leader of this team on the court and made great decision with the ball. I can't wait to see him progress as the years move along.
Kenny Robertson (Ensworth)
Ultra quick guard who was in constant motion on both ends of the floor. Was very good going hard to the bucket but will need to work on his shooting to become a complete player. Wonderful and tough defender on the ball.
Brock Rowan (Stone Memorial)
Very smart player who has a deadeye stroke when his feet are set. Shot very well and kept his squad in games when they seemed out. Makes smart plays and is a very smart defender in the passing lanes with several tips and deflections.
Burton Sampson (Knoxville Webb)
Smart player who has a funny release but effective shot from the outside. Smart inside with his ability to use both hands around the bucket. He will be a very good high school player with his basketball IQ.
Devan "D.J." Thornton (White Station)
A player who understands his role and makes teams more competitive. Can score off the dribble and shoot ok from outside. He will be a valuable asset down the road for the Spartans.
George Thurgood (Brentwood Academy)
Tough inside player who knew his role and played within himself. He will need to add a bit of a mid-range and work on strengthening his hands. His body is tailor made for busting inside and he's no doubt a fantastic football star of the future.
Johnathan Williams (Southwind)
J3 is a smooth athlete who can run and jump and has some inside scoring skills. His lefthanded game gives defenders trouble and he uses his quickness to score inside. Has to develop some go to moves and get stronger, when this happens were looking at the future of the class.
