Observations, News and Notes: Volume II

The holidays bring lots of action to the prep scene with events all over the Tennessee landscape. Teams are venturing into district play and things are heating up as conference titles and playoff position is being realized. Lets see what's going on around the state.

 

 

TEAMS TO CERTAINLY RECKON WITH?

McKenzie (West Tennessee)
The Rebels are one of the best teams in the Class A ranks anywhere in the state and stand at 17-1 thus far. Mr. Basketball candidate Lucas King (McKenzie) leads an experienced squad that made the trip to state last year and is hoping for a duplicate to that feat.

Knoxville Catholic (East Tennessee)
The Fighting Irish currently stand at 13-3 with only one loss against a Tennessee squad. Led by sophomore guard B.J. Edwards (Knoxville Catholic) they will be a handful come tournament time.

Edwards, currently a top 50 recruit according to ESPN, has offers from majority of the SEC and is a dynamic player capable of getting 30 any night.

Inside the Irish boast more size than most college programs with D1 recruit 6'8 senior post Akeem Odusipe (Knoxville Catholic) and 6'11 sophomore Handje Tamba (Knoxville Catholic).

The Irish were put to the test this past Saturday as the welcomed national power IMG Academy to the home court. Catholic held their own against IMG and thus built a tremendous amount of confidence as they prepare for the stretch run to state.

Pearl Cohn (Middle Tennessee)
Over in Nashville the Firebirds of Pearl Cohn are ready to announce their presence with authority. Led by Tennessee State signee Marcus Fitzgerald (Pearl Cohn) and Tyrone Marshall (Pearl Cohn), this dynamic 1-2 punch has them standing at 9-2 on the year with intense district action in their future.

WHO TO WATCH FOR AND MILESTONES GALORE

Marvin Hughes (McGavock)
Huge milestone for the rising senior as he surpassed the 2,000 point mark for his career.

Dalton Marsh (Red Boiling Springs)
The big man forever etched his name in Bulldog folklore surpassing the 2,000 point plateau for his career. The Missouri Western signee is on pace to be a serious contender for the Mr. Basketball crown in Class A this season.

Trey Morrow (Scott)
Rising sophomore is one of the better players on the East Tennessee landscape this season. He has led his Highlander squad to a 16-2 record with narrow losses to Alcoa and Fulton, both state powers. Morrow is averaging 22.2 per game on the season including a 27 spot in a win over Kingston recently.

Camden McElheny (Sevier County)
Congrats to the rising senior do-it-all forward for the Smoky Bears as he etches his name in mountain folklore adding his name to the 1,000 point club. Congrats young fellow.

Jalen Montgomery (Lausanne)
Really turned some heads at the Memphis Hoop Fest with his length and ability to score the ball. He remains one of the top unsigned seniors in the Class of 2020 in the state.

Kameron Jones (ECS)
One of the better young guards in the Memphis area, Jones is a rising junior who recently slipped past the 1,000 point barrier for his career with a sterling 34 point effort against FACS.

Felix Okpara (Hamilton Heights)
The loss of Bayron Mateos to New Mexico seemed to be a tough blow for the boys at Hamilton Heights but has awoken the sudden emergence of rising sophomore post Okpara. A thin inside presence who has a long way to go offensively but can be a rim protector and alter shots for his squad as he takes on a much larger role on both ends of the floor.

Mason Wyatt (Cumberland County)
Big ups to the rising senior guard who surpasses the 1,000 point mark for his career. Congrats young baller.

Reed Kemp (Franklin)
Who is having a better 2020 than this young man. Starting the new year with massive games of 44 against Cane Ridge, 30 against Centennial and 29 against Dickson County.

Bill Eads (Fairview)
Congrats to rising senior and Tennessee Prep Hoops Nashville Fall League veteran Eads for pushing past the 1,000 point plateau for his career. Congrats young man.

Isaiah Shaw (Davidson Academy)
Rising junior who along with his younger brother Caleb Shaw (Davidson Academy) have helped lead the Bears to a 13-4 mark and have caught the attention of everyone in DII for their toughness and ability to score the ball. Watch for them to be a tough out come tourney time.

Grant Strong (Clay County)
One of the top rising sophomore in the Mid-State, Strong is the leading scorer for the Bulldogs who currently stand at 15-2. He was at his best the past few weeks including 21 and 13 against Jackson County, 27 and 8 against Pickett County and 23 and 11 against Macon County.

Alex Mitchell (Community)
Special shout out to one of our favorite guys. Mitchell was a four year participant in our Tennessee Prep Hoops Nashville Fall League and had the honor this past week to surpass the 1,000 point barrier for his high school career. Congrats Alex.

BIG SCORING EFFORTS
East Tennessee
McHale Bright (Tennessee) 47pts vs. Volunteer
Caleb Milen ( Polk County) 32pts vs. Sequoyah
Kobe Parker (Jefferson County) 32pts vs. Seymour
Ty Hurst (Carter) 31pts vs. Karns
Quante Berry (Bradley Central) 30pts vs. Ooltewah
Deiron Petty (Ooltewah) 29pts vs. Bradley Central
Ben Diamond (Sullivan South) 29pts vs. Sullivan North
Brock Thompson (Unicoi County) 29pts vs. Elizabethton
Dawson Wagner (David Croockett) 28pts vs. Jellico
Nico Ashley (Elizabethton) 27pts vs. Stone Memorial
Logan Goodman (Scott) 27pts vs. Alcoa
Traven Jackson (Karns) 27pts vs. Campbell County
Kaleb Meredith (University) 27pts vs. Sullivan Central
Trey Morrow (Scott) 27pts vs. Kingston
Eric Rivers (McCallie) 27pts vs. Howard
Tyler Nordin (Bearden) 26pts vs. Good Hope
Joe Anderson (Maryville) 25pts vs. Hardin Valley
B.J. Edwards (Knoxville Catholic) 25pts vs. McCallie
Robbie Geron (Farragut) 25pts vs. Maryville
Reid Satterfield (Greeneville) 25pts vs. Jefferson County
Jacobi Wood (Cleveland) 25pts vs. Cookeville

Middle Tennessee
Reed Kemp (Franklin) 44pts vs. Cane Ridge
Ryley McClaren (Eagelville) 41pts vs. Moore County
Ryley McClaren (Eagleville) 39pts vs. Huntland
Braydee Brooks (Macon County) 38pts vs. DeKalb County
Andrew Mathis (Friendship Christian) 36pts vs. Ezell-Harding
Truman Christie-Mizell (Currey Ingram) 35pts vs. Carroll Academy
Montre Street (McGavock) 35pts vs. Hunter's Lane
Jordan Ciara (Jo Byrns) 34pts vs. Merrol Hyde
Grant Slatten (White County) 34pts vs. Warren County
Kaleb Powell (Beech) 32pts vs. Somerset (KY)
Ryley McClaren (Eagleville) 31pts vs. Ardmore (AL)
Robbie Rusciano (McEwen) 31pts vs. Jo Byrns
Grant Slatten (White County) 31pts vs. Warren County
Taylor Groves (East Robertson) 30pts vs. Jo Byrns
Reed Kemp (Franklin) 30pts vs. Centennial
Brandon Miller (Cane Ridge) 30pts vs. Glencliff
Michael Payton (Montgomery Central) 30pts vs. Lewis County
Isaiah Poore (Centennial) 30pts vs. Spring Hill
Noah Smith (York Institute) 30pts vs. Macon County
Aiden Williams (Harpeth) 30pts vs. White House
Clay Baugus (Wayne County) 29pts vs. Perry County
Truman Christie-Mizell (Currey Ingram) 29pts vs. NTYA
Reed Kemp (Franklin) 29pts vs. Dickson County
Andrew Mathis (Friendship Christian) 29pts vs. NCS
Tristan Scaife (Franklin County) 29pts vs. Giles County
Durstin Adams (White House) 28pts vs. Harpeth
Zach Ammonette (Pickett County) 28pts vs. Jackson County
Clay Baugus (Wayne County) 28pts vs. Collinwood
Ryley McClaren (Eagleville) 28pts vs. Cascade
Isaiah Shaw (Davidson Academy) 28pts vs. Hume Fogg
James Williams (Kenwood) 28pts vs. Clarksville
Durstin Adams (White House) 27pts vs. Cheatham County
Jaden Lyles (Lipscomb Academy) 27pts vs. Ensworth
John Odoms (Henry County) 27pts vs. Rossview
Isaac Rankhorn (Montgomery Central) 27pts vs. Lewis County
Gary Smith (Columbia Academy) 27pts vs. Columbia Central
Grant Strong (Clay County) 27pts vs. Pickett County
Caleb Wilson (McEwen) 27pts vs. Bruceton
Kevon Blankenship (Station Camp) 26pts vs. Mt. Juliet
Tyler Dudley (Perry County) 26pts vs. Wayne County
Devin Kline (LaVergne) 26pts vs. Stewart's Creek
Chaz Lanier (Ensworth) 26pts vs. Lipscomb Academy
Tyrone Marshall (Pearl Cohn) 26pts vs. Tyner Academy
Evan Eursher (Lighthouse Christian) 25pts vs. Cane Ridge
Derek Murphy (Nashville Overton) 25pts vs. Hillsboro
Kadarius Price (Ezell-Harding) 25pts vs. Friendship Christian
Antwan Williams (LaVergne) 25pts vs. Stewart's Creek

West Tennessee
Jonathan Lawson (Wooddale) 36pts vs. Lausanne
Kameron Jones (ECS) 34pts vs. PACS
Jamari Jackson (PCA) 33pts vs. KIPP
Moussa Cisse (Lausanne) 31pts vs. Vashon (MO)
Jamari Jackson (PCA) 30pts vs. Oakhaven
Lucas King (McKenzie) 30pts vs. Crockett County
Ashton Travis (Douglass) 29pts vs. Oakhaven
Marcus Hayes (Oakhaven) 27pts vs. Douglass
Ronnie Parrott (KIPP) 26pts vs. PCA
Kennedy Chandler (Briarcrest Christian) 25pts vs. Center Hill
Bobby Parks (Harding Academy) 25pts vs. CBHS

HOLIDAY HEROES AND MEMPHIS HOOP FEST SHINING STARS

The new year begins with several events including the prestigious Memphis Hoop Fest at Briarcrest Christian. Who caught our eye over the holidays.

Johnathan Lawson (Wooddale)
Lawson has come into his own this season and is rapidly moving up the national charts. His length is his strength and he is so creative around the bucket. He has excellent vision, is a adept passer, especially in the paint and will be a major candidate for Mr. Basketball honors in Class AA.

P.J. Smith (Goodpasture)
If you love the game then this cat is for you. Small guard, yes, but he brings an intangible to the game that few possess. He has vision beyond his years, he has a natural feel for tempo and knows when to attack and when to lay back. His shot is good enough to merit danger and his first step is trifling to opponents. He has a will to win and compete and has enough dog in him to bring titles back home.

Will Montana (MBA)
I was so impressed with this kid. His bounce and attacking style are fun to watch and a handful to guard. He can shoot the outside shot with great success and he handles the ball well enough to be a danger off the bounce. He looks for cutters and rewards open teammate with easy scoring chances and despite a gambling nature, he is a very good help defender. He triggers the break and often finishing himself with a flourish.

David Dixon (MAHS)
Big kid was a handful inside at the Hoop Fest and will be a major cog in the wheel as MAHS vies for another trip to the state tournament this March. Class A beware as this squad has some dangerous pieces including the dynamic Dixon. At 6'7 he has size, he can score on the block and isn't afraid to launch from outside the arc, when his focus is on, this will be a tough team to beat come state tourney time.

Mousee Cisse (Lausanne)
The hype is very, very real. This kid is mega special and his stats only tell part of the story. 31 points, 23 rebounds and 7 blocks according to the stat sheet. More like 15 blocks but who's counting. He dominated this game and was the most talked about player at the hoop fest. Lausanne has become the odds on favorite in D11/Class A without question.

Kaleb Powell (Beech)
Its a pleasure to watch this kid compete. Rising junior guard plays with effort and emotion at all times. He fights for possessions, he has a winners temperament and he has the skill set to score buckets. His outside shooting is solid when fundamentals are followed, he drives hard to the bucket and has a penchant for creative finishes. He was one of the highlights of the holiday weekend for these eyes.

Kennedy Chandler (Briarcrest Christian)
You could seemingly list Chandler on each and every list and he would be deserving. His play at the Hoop Fest was marvelous. He was instrumental in controlling the tempo as the Saints bested national power IMG. He was outstanding at the most prestigious event of the season, the City of Palms in Florida and he draws the attention of every high major coach in the land with his combination of savvy, speed and leadership. A special once in a lifetime talent folks. Make it a mission to watch him play before his eligibility in high school has competed.