The 6th annual Tennessee Prep Hoops Best in State tournament proved to the deepest and most talented group we have ever showcased at Stone Memorial High School here in early July.
One of the top 15 and under squads not only in Tennessee but in the nation took the floor with confidence and swagger and surely loved up to the hype.
BMaze Elite 15U finished 3-0 and showcased some seriously good players for the Classes of 2021 and 2022.
BMaze Elite opened up with an undermanned Chattanooga Elite squad and rolled to a 76-36 win. Four players finished in double figures led by Brian Edwards (King's Academy) with 16.
Charlie Rice (Maryville) a Class of 2022 kid added 14 while Trey Curry (Bradley Central) concluded with 12 and Tyriek Boyd (Georgia) finished with 10. Handje Tamba (Knoxville Catholic) didn't fill up the stat sheets on the offensive side of the floor but his length and presence caused havoc in the paint. This Class of 2022 player stands at 6'11 and likes to be a disruptive force on defense.
Pressley Patterson (Knoxville Catholic) led BMaze with 12 as they moved to 2-0 with a hard fought 52-43 win over the Free Agents. The Class of 2022 product was fearless when it came to shooting the ball and his confidence level rose as he kept knocking down shots. Edwards added 11 as the only other player in double digits.
The showdown loomed large as BMaze was set to face another unblemished bunch in EAB 2021 from the Middle Tennessee arena.
Edwards was magical with 25 points as BMaze came away with the tough victory 88-85 in what was an epic showdown in the 15 and under age division.
Curry added 17 while Quante Berry (Tennessee Prep Academy) finished with 14, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Clarksville Academy) added 13 and Pressley finished with 12.
Edwards would finish as the top scorer at 17.3 points per contest while Curry came in at 12.3.
I PICK FIVE TO TALK ABOUT
Edwards is a 2021 kid with a load of talent, he plays with a smooth gate and can score from every level and then some. He has quickness and a feel for the game plus he has an outstanding stroke, look out for him to make some noise in the class not only here but on the national scene as well.
Curry has the body of an upperclassman and knows how to put the ball in the bucket. He plays with aggression and is simply fearless on both ends of the floor. What position will he eventually become most comfortable at, that remains to be seen.
Berry is another kid with great size and skill. He loves going to the bucket and has a decent stroke as well. his awareness is paramount for his continued development. Defining a position will come with time as is the same for most in the age demographic. He sure is fun to watch though.
Boyd is a slick lead guard who gets his team into their offense and is unselfish enough to distribute and be a secondary scoring option when he could really pile up the points if he wanted. His decision making is great for his age group and his maturation will only enhance his value once he gets to the next level.
Rice is youngster who has yet to participate in a high school game yet his game is at a mature level. He grasps what is going on, he can score in a variety of ways and he has enough gumption to run the show if needed. He found ways to score and if the situation called for it, he found ways to help others score. Once his body catches up, he will be special.
