The start of the AAU/Summer scene begins in earnest this Saturday with the annual Knox Vegas Heat Invitational.
Teams from all over the Southeast bring their best to KnoxVegas to compete for the crown.
Headlining the Tennessee contingent in the 17U division will be the all powerful Team Thad group from Memphis.
Team Thad brings one of the strongest backcourts in all of summer basketball led by Jalen Fisher (Bolton), Jordan Bone (Ensworth), Demonte Person (Kingsbury) and Nathan Hoover (Arlington).
Micah Thomas (Briarcrest) and Clayton Hughes (USJ) are a very formidable duo on the wing.
Chattanooga Elite brings one of their better teams into the fray led by some solid backcourt players including Ryan Montgomery (Chattanooga Central), Patrick Good (David Crockett) and Brad McCurdy (Bradley Central).
The Elite have upgraded their interior with the addition of Todd Lansden (CSAS) and 6'9 newcomer Brice Stanley (Cleveland).
Other Tennessee teams in the 17U division include the NSA Celtics, Knoxville Warriors, Dream Elite, Tennessee Raiders, Tennessee Future, Tennessee Elite, Tennessee Legends and Tennessee Triple Threat.
In the 16U division the Tennessee Vision led by the incomparable Luke Smith (Knoxville Catholic) head the field which includes the likes of the Tennessee Legends, Chattanooga Elite, EOTO, Tennessee Zags and the Nashville Beat Gold, who will feature high scoring guard Austin Fisher (Clarksville Academy).
Heading for a showdown in the 15U world, EOTO and the Chattanooga Elite could be on a collision course come later this weekend.
EOTO will be led by the dynamic trio of KaJuan Hale-Ligon (Austin East), Chase Ridenour (Knoxville Webb) and Silas Clark (Cumberland County).
Jr. Clay (McCallie) leads the Chattanooga Elite Grey squad, which is a combination of the two talented squads from last season, the Elite and Tennessee United.
The remainder of the 15U roster from the Volunteer state includes Team NLP, Team Nashville, Nashville Beat, Clarksville Select, Free Agents and the Chattanooga Elite Navy.
