Tennessee Travelers
Excellence has personified this program for many years and this year will prove no exception to that rule.
The Travelers boast three player towering around the 6'9 range, Jay Reynolds (Maryville), Joe Meady (Knoxville Carter) and Josh Johnson (Virginia).
Reynolds gives maximum effort every time he's on the floor, Meady is improving and Johnson is a superior athlete still learning the game. The most polished of the Travs inside players will be 6'6 Kyle Teichmann (Brentwood).
Possessed with superb post skills, Teichmann should have a breakout summer this time around.
On the wing depth and athletic skills are the calling card for a host of ballers including William Moore (Chattanooga Christian), Jordan Short (Greeneville) and Robert Wade (Maplewood).
Moore is coming off aknee injury and itching to get back on the hardwood. Short will relish the experince of playing against the stiff competition and Wade, only a rising sophomore, will get the most of this opportunity to run with the big boys across the countryand show he can compete.
Backcourt skills are tradiitonally a Traveler staple and with the likes of James Gallman (Fulton), Emmanuel Andrews (Shelbyville), Steve Cook (Chattanooga Christian), Kelten Stewart (Wilson Central) and Jalen Steele (Fulton) this will continue to be a hotbed of talent.
Gallman is coming off a sensational run for the Class AA state champions and is ready to increase his college resume. Andrews and Steele will be playing up and more than ready for the jump in competition, look for both of them to have fantastic summers. Cook could be the sleeper of the group with his ability to run the show and his improved offensive package. Stewart will provide capable backup for all the backcourt spots.
Memphis YOMCA
The summer is finally here and this group has been waiting since last summer's Peach Jam to make that transition into the nations elite.
The YOMCA played in the 17 and under diviison last season as 16's and more than held their own with some of the nations best, they will be unquestionably ready to make some histroy of their own this season.
Inside the Y will feature Ferrakohn Hall (White Station), Johnny Williams (Briarcrest) and Corderio Macklin (Ridgeway).
Hall showed he had hardly missed a step after transferring to The Station and making his presence known at the state tourney. Williams is shaping his body and has the skill set to be a high major player. Macklin is steadily improving and showed out well helping Ridgeway to the Class AAA title.
The most talked about member of this squad will certainly be 6'5 Leslie McDonald (Braircrest). The reiging DII Mr. Basketball and nationally ranked Top 20 player will have plenty of coaches attending games that this squad appears in.
Joining McDonald on the wing are talented swingmen Ian Clark (Germantown) and Marlon Brown (Harding Academy).
Running the show for the Y will be 6'2 Gregg Wooten (Braircrest). Steady and smart the quintessential point will get plenty of help from the likes of Jeremy Holmes (Raleigh-Egypt) and Everick Morris (Mississippi).
Memphis Magic
"The Real Thing" Joe Jackson (White Station) leads this young squad into a summer of tough and intense competition. With majority of the roster only rising sophomores the Magic will play up in the 17 and under circuit.
Jackson will be the marquee atrraction but has plenty of solid hoopers surrounding him including Mario Bass (Kirby), Terrence Durham (Craigmont), Justin Harrell (Hamilton), Kris Brewer (Ridgeway) and Aparecio Peggins (White Station).
In the frontocurt the Magic will look to talented inside/outside threat Carlos Denton (Hamilton), Zach Jones (Craigmont), Tarik Black (Ridgeway), Chris House (Kirby) and Frankie Bougher (CBHS).
Denton has chance to be very good, while Black showed mad skills during his run at the state tourney. House will provide quality minutes and Jones is a talent very ready for a breakout summer. Bougher sat out this season after transferring and has good size and skill.
