The first weekend of the July "live" period featured a dissention on the beautiful scenery that makes up the Spartanburg/Greeneville, South Carolina for the Summer Havoc event sponsored by the fellas at the Phenom Hoop Report.
Several teams from the Volunteer state made some huge splashes including the Tennessee Fury who won their respective division bringing home the crown. The Fury blazed through their particular bracket in spectacular form finishing 7-0 winning their games by an average margin of 28 points per game.
TENNESSEE FURY 17U
The Fury got the ball rolling quickly with a 75-44 trouncing of the 3 Ball Elite Red. Connor Arnold (Grace Christian) led the scoring charge with 20 followed by a host of Fury talent including Luke Smith (Knoxville Catholic) with 13, Nick Rogers (Farragut) with 11 and Ty Patterson (Knoxville West) with 10.
Victim #2, the North Carolina Courage to the tune of 61-28 with balanced scoring led by Arnold with 14, Bowden Lyon (Science Hill) with 11 and the precocious Smith with 10.
The Fury closed pool play at 3-0 with a 64-30 trampling of the Upward Stars. Arnold led the charge with 13 followed by Smith and Lyon with 11 each.
Bracket play featured more of the same as the Fury used 14 from Smith and 10 from Rogers to ground the CC Flight 64-36.
Smith went game high 25 in the quarter-finals as the Fury tamed the Upstate Warriors 75-54. Lyon added 11 in the victory.
Semi-final action saw the Fury collect 17 from Rogers and 16 from Josh Releford (Science Hill) in an 87-57 downing of Team Elevate. Nate Jackson (Science Hill) proved to be one of the best on ball defenders on the Fury roster keeping every opposing guard in check during the Summer Havoc run.
Rogers again took the scoring lead with 19 as the Fury captured the title with a 71-53 boiling of the Low County Elite. Lyon added 14 while Smith pitched in with 13 in the victory. Spencer Lowe (Maryville) was a stalwart the entire event, sacrificing his scoring to keep possessions alive with his relentless pursuit of the basketball. The rising senior snatched 14 boards in the title game victory.
TEAM COREY BREWER/WACG 17U
Representing Tennessee, Team Corey Brewer had a spectacular run at Summer Havoc finishing 5-1, winning their pool and making the coaching community take notice of several potential talents on a deep roster.
Grayson Murphy (Independence) brought everyone to their feet with his 26 point effort in the opening 81-48 trouncing of Team Wall. The dynamic point guard was at his best in front of the masses, scoring off the dribble, best lay-up maker in the event. Caleb Hollander (Home School) scored 11 in the win and showed off his new svelte body and improved defensive effort. John Carter (Summit) pitched in with 10 in the win.
Murphy and Hollander scored 16 and 15 respectively as TCB busted the Impact Elite 62-41 moving to 2-0 in pool play action. Carter had another solid game scoring 10 for the deep and talented roster.
Carter dropped 19 as TCB finished pool play unblemished with a 74-35 blasting of the Atlanta Lightning. Tariq Silver (Northwest) added 11 points in the victory.
The word was out as bracket play began. Rather than feel the wrath of the TCB the Alabama Magic chose to forfeit and the Nashville crew climbed to 4-0 for the event.
Murphy led a group of four with 20 points as TCB put it to Team Wall for a second time 78-53. Hollander added 16 while Carter pitched in with 11 and Tate Pierson (Brentwood Academy) added 10.
The competition level rose considerably as CP25 SE Elite managed to end the TCB run with a hard fought 53-50 loss. Murphy and Hollander led the charge with 15 each.
Elon Smallwood (Ravenwood) had several moments of clarity and played his way into the consciousness of college coaches across the Southeast. Smallwood showed he could score from the perimeter and was solid using his handles to create scoring opportunities inside the paint.
Contributions were heavy throughout the event from the TCB bench including A.J. Bowers (MLK). Imani Starling (Ensworth), JaQuan Brooks (White's Creek) and Jalon Cambridge (PJPII).
TENNESSEE TIGERS 17U
A tough opening round game set the tine for the Tennessee Tigers and their solid run at Summer Havoc. The Tigers fell in a tough one to the Kentucky Grind 58-56 with Caleb Hodnett (Aaron Academy) leading the way with 15 markers.
Hodnett exploded for 29 points as the Tigers swatted Team F.L.Y to the tune of 68-55 moving to 1-1 in ppol play action. Seth Clark (McCallie) added 13 points and double digit boards in the win. The Tigers continued their winning ways with a 57-39 crowning of the South Carolina Kings to finish pool play at 2-1.
Laino Walker (Springfield) was brilliant scoring 19 as the Tigers began bracket action with a 62-57 win over a slid South Carolina Hornets squad.
Hodnett scored 13 and Max Shulman (McCallie) scored 10 as the Tigers fell in a tough one 54-50 to the Charlotte Nets.
Garrett Sanderson (Alabama) played well the entire Summer Havoc experience. His leadership and court savvy makes a high difference in the success of the Tigers. Great kid with a coaches mentality.
TENNESSEE TRAVELERS 17U
Tajoin Jones (Oak Ridge) set the tone early and often as the Tennessee Travelers opened Summer Havoc with an 84-73 win over Save Sports. Jones dropped 33 points while his Wildcats contingent of Shaquan Gibson (Oak Ridge) and E.J. Bush (Oak Ridge) scored 23 and 21 respectively.
Jones led the scoring charge again with 20 but the Travs fell to a very good Atlanta All-Stars group 67-61. Gibson and Bush added 18 each for the Atomic City crew.
The Travs finished pool play at 1-2 with an overtime last second buzzer beating loss to the North Carolina Athletics 79-78. Bracket play began on a high note with a 64-62 win over Infinite Skills behind the continued scoring of the Oak Ridge trio.
Jones closed out a fantastic weekend with a 29 spot as the Travelers again met the Atlanta All-Stars falling 67-58. Gibson added 16 in the tough loss.
TEAM NLP 16U
The young Chattanooga crew started things the right way with a 60-57 victory over Team Wall. Michael Hampton (Brainerd) scored 19 while Jessie Walker (Brainerd) pitched in with 18.
Walker took scoring honors with 19 as NLP moved to 2-0 in pool play action with a 69-44 win over the Tennessee Tigers. Hampton added 15 in the win.
Hampton exploded for 25 as NLP got a running buzzer beater to finish 3-0 in pool play with a 70-69 win over Impact Elite. Walker added 21 in the exciting win.
NLP started bracket play with a solid 70-66 win over the South Carolina Kings before falling to Ball 4 Lyfe 58-49. Walker and Jaylon Baker (Baylor) scored 17 each for NLP in the loss.
Jason Jitobah (Hamilton Heights) continues his upward mobility. The big man snatched double rebounds in nearly every game while blocking shots at a near double digit rate as well.
TENNESSEE TIGERS 16U
The record does not indicate the level of play for the 16 and under Tigers at Summer Havoc. Gray Michael (Franklin Classical) led the scoring charge with 22 as the Tigers fell in a strange game 74-73 to the Impact Elite. Austin Jackson (Rossview) and Will Midlick (Rossview) added 12 each in the narrow loss.
Jacoyah Webster (Columbia Central) scored 11 markers as the Tigers fell to Team NLP. Webster and Michael scored 11 each as the Tigers came up just short in a 48-45 loss to Team Wall.
In the opening round of bracket action Team Carroll, led by Class of 2019 point guard Keyshawn Davidson (Oakland) got past the Tigers 56-39. Midlick led the scoring for the Tigers with 10.
