Mid-State Ballerz
Talented group made amend for their poor early play this weekend at the Riverdale Hoops Classic by running away with the championship game in true Ballerz fashion.
Wing talent will be Ballerz staple with the next big thing from Liberty Tech Tarius Johnson leading the way. The non-stop athlete powered in 18 in the title win on Sunday with his never quit motor.
Demarius Smith (Kenwood) another long talented athlete gives the Ballerz a sic one-two punch on the perimeter.
Guard play will be rich and deep with newcomer Thomas Greer (West Carroll), Jacob Lloyd (Martin Westview), Keneal Windom (JCM) and Chris McClurken (Dickson County). Greer has a scorers mentality, while Lloyd and Windom can fil it up as well. McClurken can run the point and has some grit to his game. Depth at all three perimeter spots will come from T.J. Smith (Livingston Academy), Wesley Rather (Oliver Springs), Tony Flagg (Jackson Northside) and Cordero Williams (Liberty Tech).
Smith can run both guard spots, along with Rather. Williams and Flagg will run primarily from the two.
Size issues will certainly come into play in the larger tourneys with only 6'4 Tevin Coleman (Bolivar Central) listed as an inside player.
Running the point will fall into the hands of quickness personified Quentin Lee (Ripley), LaColten Bester (Mississippi) or McClurken.
Talented young group should have a nice summer.
YOMCA Team Memphis
Size, depth and talent are generally adjectives that describe the respresentative at every age group for the Memphis Y...this will be no exception.
Back in the game my man Spencer Johnson brings the YOMCA Team Memphis led by point guards Julian Burton (White Station) and Darryl Marshall (Ridgeway).
Burton and Marshall will handle the distribution duties and score some in the process. On the perimeter look for great summers from the likes of Rashad Harris (Raleigh-Egypt), Nicholas Mason (Fairley), Marvell Bryant (Whitehaven) and Darrian Gray (Overton).
Marquis Wilson (Wooddale) will bring toughness and the inside/outside threat to go along with size most 16's can't handle.
Quinton Alton (Fairley), Nathaniel Rucker (Melrose) and Antwan Cathey (Trezevant) all pass the 6'6 mark on the measuring tape.
Then you add the final ingriedient Ronald Brown (Raleiogh-Egypt) and you have one of the top 16 and under teams not only in the state, but in the entire Southeast.
Tennessee Tigers
Great depth in the 16 and under classification brings us to another solid, deep squad the Tennessee Tigers.
The Tigers possess good size and interior ability with Justin Claybrook (Hume Fogg), Michael Bradley (Tyner Academy), Reggie Gilmore (Tyner Academy) and Dezmond Johnson (Overton).
Bradley has improved steadily all season, Claybrook can play tough inside, Gilmore is long and can score and Johnson is a beast inside. Not many 16's will match their intensity in the paint.
Out front the Tigers have a solid shooting core led by Carter Sanderson (Lipscomb) and Blake Bell (Lipscomb).
Making sure the right people have the ball Cory Stanton (Springfield) is devastating out front and a host of talented slashers and wings led by David "X-Man" Sanders (MLK), Perry Horkins (Harpeth), Deshaun Kizer (Lexington) and David Woodard (East Robertson) will always keep the Tigers close on the scoreboard.
This is a very solid group who will give whomever they play a definite run for their money.
Tennessee Stormriders
This group comes from the East out to prove they belong with the big boys.
Running the show for the Stormriders the unsung hero of the Fulton state championship run Robert Boyd (Fulton). The 6'1 combo guard can score and is a devastating defender. His role will be to get his teammates into the offense and create for himself if nothing is there. Depth in the backcourt will come from the likes of Donavon Whiteside (Knoxville Webb), Jameal Steele (Austin East) and Greg Wade (Knoxville Central).
On the wing the Riders will feature Robert Austin (Oak Ridge), Antonio Dailey (Austin East), and Jyimen Ross (Austin East).
The Riders inside game will be in the hands of this trio led by Caleb Barrett (Knoxville West), Nick Kelly (Bearden) and Chris Wilson (Knoxville Central).
Tennessee Future Stars
Nashville based group battled hard at the Riverdale Hoops tourney this past weekend, showing they could compete with anyone that is put in their path.
Leading the way in the backcourt a group consisting of William Carouthers (Stratford), Danny House (McGavock), Dontay Majors (Antioch) and Kemonte Jackson (Stratford) will man both perimeter spots.
On the wing the Stars look to Ricky Wade (McGavock), Tony Amaker (Hunter's Lane) and Jospeh Wilbert (Hunter's Lane) for scoring and defensive work.
Two big post presences man the interior. Mike McCoy (Glencliff) and Antonio Kelly (Stratford) both stand in the 6'4 to 6'5 range and can score and control the boards.
