Not alot of people can say they have had to overcome so many things at such a young age.

Lets take my man William Moore (Chattanooga Christian) for example. 

The 6'4 wing had things going his way during a solid junior season a few years back before a devastating knee injury sidelined him for the summer.

With support from friends and family Big Will made it back and was having a superb senior campaign. Averaging in upwards of 30 points per game when the unthinkable happened. 

He injured his opposite leg and was forced to miss his senior year.

We had Will as our diary participant and he was able to make one entry before the injury befalled him. We decided to discontinue the diary this past season in his honor.

As Will went through rehab he had tough decisions ahead about his future in hoops. Rehabilitation was going well and the strength was coming back so Will decided to get his game back before embarking on the road to a four year school by attending Chattanooga State.

A member of the TJCCAA and coached by former Tennessee player Jay Price, Chatt State will give Will the competition and help him get back to the player that he once was.

My friend I wish you nothing but the best and I truly value the friendship we have forged over the past four years.

 

Staying in the TJCCAA and moving all the way across the state. D'Alvin Brown (Covington) and Derrick Walker (Covington) will remain teammates as they will play for legendary Memphis coach Verties Sailes and the Saluiqis of Southwest Tennessee Community College. 

Over at Dyersburg State, Freddie Currie (Spring Hill) will continue his college career at the West Tennessee campus. 

Jumping the border, Tony Payne (Bolton) takes his game over to Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The Tigers are coached by Ira Peterson.

Finishing in the final four always dictates to getting some good new recruits and Connors State is no exception. The Cowboys and venerable coach Bill Muse completed the 2008-2009 campaign as a final four finisher of the NJCAA and for their reward Cadario Macklin (Ridgeway) will make the long journey to the Warner, Oklahoma campus. 

 

Finishing as a finalist for the coveted Mr. Basketball award is a wonderful accomplishment.

Now lets top that with a ride to North Alabama.

Wes Long (Summertown) takes his hot shooting stroke to the DII school.

A member of the Gulf South Conference and coached by legendary mentor Bobby Champagne, the Lions finished the 2008-2009 campaign at 18-10 falling just short of an NCAA bid.

After helping lead his Grace Christian Rams to two staright state tourney appearances, Ryan Slusher (Grace Christian) had a big decision to make.

Where would he play on the next level?

After months of deliberation the 6'6 wing has decided to join Coach Jim Boone and become a member of the Pioneers of Tusculum.

Tusculum is located in Greeneville and plays in the South Atlantic Conference.

The Pioneers finished 20-11 last season and made a trip to the DII NCAA Tournament.

Slusher is a talented athlete who has great vision and can shoot the outside shot, once he realizes defense will keep him on the floor on the next level he will be just fine.

 

 

A unique title for this article but better understood with a bit of explanation.

Jay Reynolds (Maryville) will don the Blue Hose of Presbyterian College come next fall. 

The 6'9 post man fit the bill for the Independent school who has only toiled in the D1 ranks for a few seasons.

Located in Clinton, South Carolina, Presbyterian is coached by Gregg Nibert and had the highest RPI of all the major independents in the ranks of the NCAA.

Reynolds will provide consistent effort on the boards and the defensive end and has improved his scoring to the point where he could be considered a threat.

A fantastic student who played his summer basketball for the Tennessee Travelers, Reynolds is a perfect fit for the Blue Hose according to their coaching staff.

Jay is also the 23rd member of the Class of 2009 to pledge his wares to D1.  

 

Tyler Cross (Anderson County) has chosen to play his college basketball down the road at Carson Newman College in Jeferson City.

The 6'4 Cross was an all-area player for the Mavericks and has the size and athletic ability to earn some early playing time for Coach Dale Clayton.

Cross joins Joe Meady (Carter), Collin Crane (Karns) and Trey Carruthers (Harpeth) as members of the Eagles incoming recruiting class. 

Up the state in Bristol, Tre Webb (Tennessee High) will hop the border and attend Virginia Intermont College. The Cobras are located just over the Tennessee/Virginia border and participate in the AAC. 

Webb is a 6'4 wing who can shoot and has the athleticism to play for the Cobras immediately. He joins fellow Tennessean Charlie Hardwick (Heritage) as new members of the school. 

Lets take a look at the facts.

Thus far in this recruiting season, Coach Jason Shelton and the Lions of Freed-Hardeman have treked numerous miles and countless hours, watching players to bring back to the TransSouth school. A recruiting class that could be the envy of the league could not be far off their collective minds.

Thus far they have pledges from James Haddix (Franklin), DeAngleo Williams (Spring Hill), Jonathan Milewski (ECS), Kyle Teichman (Brentwood) and Michael Young (Franklin). 

Add to the list Jonathan Williams (Rossview). 

The 6'5 Williams brings an interesting combination of outside shooting skills, a big body and a talent that is just waiting to be freed (get it) to the Henderson school.

He moves well fo rhis size and will have a chance to get in college shape after a season under the watchful eye of the Lion staff. Great things are expected from this young man and I have no doubt he will deliver....and soon.  

 

 

Some programs don't restock they reload.

Maryville College, one of the most successful DIII programs in the country, is one of those programs in reload mode.

The Scots continually bring in solid talent and help them mesh with existing players to make their annual pilgramage to the NCAA Tourney.

Headlining this class is talented 6'4 wing Dustin Baxter (Upperman). His ability to score from the inside or out will be just what the doctor ordered for venerable mentor Randy Lambert. 

Not venturing to far from the campus the Scots grab Maryville shooter Ryan Click (Maryville). He of the game winning three at the state tournament a few years back as a sophomore, expanded his game dramatically this season showing more ball skills and thusly will be an immediate participant in playing time for the Scots. 

Lucas Woodruff (Heritage) makes an even shorter journey to the Scots campus and his hustle and determination will earn him some minutes as time rolls along. 

Leaving the county but just barely the Scots wind thru 13 curves to snatch Carlton Logue (Seymour). At 6'4 Logue will use his tremendous skill level to earn some playing time and become a very vaulable acquisition in time. 

Now hopping down I-40, Coach Lambert nabs himself a nice shooter in Caleb Bunch (Wartburg Central). His effectiveness translates very well into the penetrate and shoot style employed by the Scots. 

If you have never made the trip to Maryville College for a hoops event I encourage you to do so, it's a site to behold for all fans of the orange ball.  

The list is getting shorter and the stakes are getting higher as the recruiting game nears it's proverbial end.

Ferrakohn Hall (White Station) can tell all the folks about his unbelievable March and now his exciting April.

In March the 6'7 Hall helped lead the Spartans to a state title and now the talented wing/power forward can tell how in April he signed with Big East member Seton Hall.

The Pirates, coached by Bobby Gonzalez, welcome the athletic forward to the fold after several months of deliberating over which school he should attend, Hall chose the Hall.

With his signing Hall becomes the 23rd member of the Class of 2009 to sign D1. Congrats to Ferrakohn and his family.

 

We have learned of a few more junior college signees as well.

Gentry Hines (Raleigh-Egypt)

The talented guard has chosen to play at Kilgore Community College in Texas. The Rangers will love the talented Hines and all he can potentially bring to the game.

Zach Zabowski (Knoxville Halls)

Zach has declared to play at Walter's State Community College in Morristown. The Senators are coached by the venerable Bill Caryle.

Terry Leake (Whitehaven) 

The talented Memphian will take his under appreciated game to Marion Military Institute in Alabama.

Tony Childs (Rossview)

The big 6'6 Childs will stay closer to home anbd attend Columbia State Community College and play for my man Malcolm Montgomery.  

The junior colleges are usually the last of the progression to start signing players.

After all has been established about who is eligible and who hasn't signed where the JUCO's stake their claim.

C.J. Crittendon (Dyer County) will make the quick trip over to Mineral Area Junior College in Missouri to continue his playing career. The talented Crittendon could be a major player for Mineral with his ability to distribute, score and his penchant for playing great on the ball defense. Look for him to pop up on a D1 roster in the next few seasons. 

Chris Mason (Melrose) will take his shooting and scoring talents to the Show Me state as well as he has inked with Missouri-West Plains Community College. 

Chris House (Kirby) will stay closer to home as he has signed with the hometown Saluqies of Southwest Tennessee Community College, the lone TJCCAA representative in this years Junior College national tournament. 

Melvin Morgan (Bolton) will skip the state line but in the other direction and head to continue his playing career at Itawamba Community College in Mississippi. 

The pipeline gets a new member.

Check out the Missouri Tigers roster and you'll find a couple of players who once toiled in the Tennessee prep ranks, Keith Ramsey (Siegel) and Laurence Bowers (St. George's). 

With some superb workouts in the past few months and a world of unlimited potential the Big 12 power has dipped into the Bluff City and grabbed another hoopster, Tyler Stone (Memphis Central).

Stone had a good year this season helping Central to a strong region finish but his work in the individual workouts impressed the staff at Missouri and after a weekend visit the 6'6 wing/power forward gave his verbal commitment to Mike Anderson and the Tigers.

Stone is the 22 player in the Class of 2009 to pledge the D1 ranks.