Before we start the 17 and under preview, I want to thank all the coaches who took time to send rosters and make certain their teams were represented. Thanks again.
Nashville Celtics
Our initial preview begins with the talented Celtics. Leading things off big Chase Dunn (Livingston Academy) will be one of the primary distibutors and scorers for this talented group. The deep backcourt will feature much improved Ricky Williams (Liberty Tech), Leo Davis (Alabama) and Zane Gibson (Baylor).
Williams is the perfect compliment for Dunn as he can run the point and is a terror on the defensive end of the floor. Davis and Gibson will go mostly from the duece.
Versatility highlights the wings on this squad, that group includes Drew Barham (CBHS), Chris Reaves (Bolivar Central), Chris Caudle (Alabama), Jon Hood (Kentucky) and Casey Prather (Jackson Northside).
Barham is drawing rave reviews from coaches for his size and deep stroke. Reaves is another intruiging prospect with his quickness and good size for his position. Caudle is can play anywhere the coaches require his need and Hood is one of the nations top 100 players and is being recruited by everyone in the Southeast. Prather, only a Class of 2010 resident, will be the focal point for numerous coaches as they stalk his every move this summer.
The value of being able to play multiple positions will serve the Celtics well as inside they will look to Drew Kelly (Centennial) and Patrick Shaughnessy (Grace Baptist).
Kelly is not limited to the interior as he can step outside and knock down a perimeter shot but is very crafty inside with solid fundamentals and post moves. Shaughnessy is a ball of energy and is improving his offensive game.
Mid-State Ballerz North
The Ballerz will field three squads this summer this particular one will be called Ballerz North.
The strength of this squad will be in their interior players led by Derrick Walker (Covington), Collin Crane (Karns) and Daniel Rial (Dickson County).
Walker is a hard nosed competitor who scores off the bounce and attacks the rim. Crane can bang inside while having the skill to knock down the jumper. Rial works hard inside and will bang on the glass.
In the backcourt numerous contributors include Jordan Rorex (Anderson County), Deonte Twilley (Shelbyville), D'Alvin Brown (Covington) and Terrence Williams (Brighton).
Rorex and Twilley will take the reigns at the point ,yet both Brown and Williams will be looked upon to score. Backcourt depth will come from the likes of Malcolm Adams (Covington), Will Ballard (Stone Memorial), Earl Sanders (Mississippi) and Raymond Claybun (Covington).
Several players will battle for minutes on the wing including Tyler Cross (Anderson County), Zach Zabowski (Knoxville Halls) and Cameron Fox (Stone Memorial).
Memphis Hoopers
Talent rich Memphis fields a great deal of squads but the Hoopers have cracked the elite status with a talented and deep roster of some of the areas best talent.
Very deep at the guard spot the Hoopers feature Lewis Jones (Carver), John Milewski (ECS), Gentry Hines (Raleigh-Egypt), LeMelvis Davis (Wooddale) and Tonye Smith (Treadwell).
Jones is a certain sleeper who will have a great breakout summer. Milewski is tough and gritty talented and Davis is a fun player to watch. Hines will get the opportunity to be the go to guy and should flourish in that role.
The marquee player for the Hoopers will be 6'9 Reginald Buckner (Manassas). The uber talented youngster will be the focal point for the Hoopers. Other talent surrounds Buckner including Terrence Stringfellow (ECS), John David Little (Mississippi), Dinero Wash (Hillcrest), Reggie Brown (Mississippi) and Cantrell Peterson (Treadwell).
Stringfellow is long and getting much better while Peterson, only a sophomore, is a rebounding machine.
