Former Vols basketball star's daughter, 12, already has offers from Ole Miss, MTSU

Twelve-year-old Cori Allen hasn't taken her first shot as a player on the West End Middle School basketball team, but she's already received her first college scholarship offers.

That's right offers, as in more than one.

Allen, the daughter of former Whites Creek, Aquinas Junior College and Tennessee basketball star Corey Allen, shined so brightly early this week at the National Exposure Basketball Fall Classic in Smyrna, that she received offers on the final day from Ole Miss and Middle Tennessee State.

Ole Miss coachMatt Insell and his fatherRick, the hall of fame coach at MTSU, were among 70 NCAA Division I college coaches who attended the showcase where Cori Allen, a seventh-grader, played up with the 10th grade Tennessee Flight Silver AAU Team.

"I really didn't believe my dad when he told me about the offers because I'm kind of really young," said Cori Allen. "I knew all those coaches were there, but I would've never thought I would get a DI offer like that. I was pretty proud of myself."

The two coaches delivered the offers through Tom Insell, Rick's other son who is CEO of Tennessee Flight Select and the National Exposure Basketball Fall Classic. NCAA rules prohibit coaches from speaking directly with players as young as Cori Allen and their parents about scholarships.  

Cori Allen has not yet replied to either coach concerning the offers and can't sign with a college until her senior year of high school. She did say she has always wanted to play at Tennessee because that's where her dad played. 

NCAA rules also prohibit coaches from commenting publicly on prospective athletes until the athlete has signed a national letter-of-intent.

Tennessee Flight Silver coaches suggested Corey Allen have his daughter, who turned 12 in June and is already 5-foot-8, move up to play on one of the group's two 10th-grade teams.

"Playing with the older girls meant that she would get more exposure; more people would see her," said Corey Allen, who played basketball professionally in Argentina, Italy and Greece. "I didn't know if she could handle it, but she went out there and held her own and played pretty good. I was a little skeptical at first, but it all worked out."

Some of the other colleges with coaches and assistants represented at the Classic included Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, Florida, Ohio State, Maryland, Belmont, Tennessee State, Boston College, Western Kentucky, Chattanooga, Tennessee Tech, Austin Peay, Murray State and Marshall.    

"I wasn't nervous by having all those coaches there and I wasn't intimidated by playing with older girls," Cori Allen said. "I went in with the right mindset. That was that I could play as well and even better than anybody no matter what age group. Once I got on the court I didn't pay any attention to how old anybody was out there."

Others who have played for Tennessee Flight Silver include three-time Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year Crystal Dangerfield (Blackman/Connecticut), Alexa Middleton (Riverdale/Tennessee/Iowa State), Isabelle Harrison (Hillsboro/Tennessee),  Shacobia Barbee (Riverdale/Georgia), Victoria Dunlap (Brentwood Academy/Kentucky), Jasmine Hassell (Wilson Central/Georgia) and Anastasia Hayes (Riverdale/Tennessee).  

Cori Allen is zoned to attend Hillsboro High School starting as a freshman in 2019-20.

If she continues to develop on the court at the pace at which she is currently progressing her father said he may send her to a private school.

"That's a decision we'll have to make later," Corey Allen said. "It just depends on if she continues to play well and those kinds of things."

Vandy ranked No. 2 by D1Baseball.com

Vanderbilt’s baseball team is the No. 2 program in the nation according to the D1Baseball.com’s bi-annual rankings. Florida is No. 1.

Vandy, which posted a 36-25-1 record in 2017, has won four NCAA regional titles in the last five years.

The Commodores were No. 1 in the inaugural rankings in 2015 when they finished as the national runner-up.

Local golf course drops Nathan Bedford Forrest from name

The name of Forrest Crossing Golf Course in Franklin has been changed in order to disassociate the course from Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest.

The new name is The Crossing Golf Course. The 7,000-yard course opened in 1987.

Forrest has become a controversial figure because of his involvement with the Ku Klux Klan.

A panel of state officials rejected a plan on Sept. 1 to remove a statue of Forrest at the state Capitol. 

Austin Peay only team in the state to win

Austin Peay, which was strapped with the nation's longest losing streak earlier this season, upset No. 18 UT-Martin 7-0 on Saturday to claim its third straight win.

Perhaps more surprising, the Governors were the only NCAA team (FBS or FCS) in the state to win.

Other results: Georgia 41, Tennessee 0; Florida 38, Vanderbilt 24; Florida Atlantic 38, MTSU 20; Central Florida 40, Memphis 13; Western Carolina 45, Chattanooga 7; Jacksonville State 34, Tennessee Tech 7; Furman 56, ETSU 35; Eastern Illinois 19, Tennessee State 16 (2 OT).

Ex-Vandy star Jenkins signed by Atlanta Hawks

Former Vanderbilt star John Jenkins is back where he started in the NBA.

The Hendersonville native signed earlier this week with the Atlanta Hawks, who drafted him 23rd overall in 2012.

Jenkins spent three seasons with the Hawks and played in 98 games.

He missed much of the 2013-14 season with an injury and later played for Dallas and Phoenix. He was waived in January.

Cavs sign, then cut former MTSU star Williams

The Cleveland Cavaliers signed former MTSU forward JaCorey Williams on Tuesday and then cut him on Wednesday. 

The 6-foot-8 Williams, who transferred to MTSU from Arkansas, was cut to make room on the roster for veteran Dwyane Wade.

Williams averaged 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds last season and helped lead the Blue Raiders to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He was the Conference USA Player of the Year.

Local football players are semifinalists for Campbell Trophy

MTSU kicker Canon Rooker, Tennessee safety Todd Kelly Jr., Vanderbilt kicker Tommy Openshaw, Tennessee Tech receiver Dontez Byrd, Cumberland offensive lineman Chandler Peebles and Bethel offensive lineman Cole Andrews from McEwen are semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy.

The award recognizes the nation’s top football scholar-athlete regardless of level or division.

The National Football Foundation named 181 semifinalists earlier this week. The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Nov. 1 and the winner on Dec. 5.

Tennessee’s Peyton Manning won the trophy in 1996, and the Vols Michael Munoz won it in 2004.

Ex-Titans GM Floyd Reese speaking at Lipscomb luncheon

Former Titans general manger Floyd Reese will be the featured speaker at the Jim Wood Gold Bisons luncheon at Lipscomb on Wednesday (11:30 a.m.).

Reese spent a total of 20 years with the Titans/Oilers as a coach and front office executive. He was the general manager from 1994-2006 and is currently co-host of the afternoon radio talk show Jared & The GM on The Game 102.5-FM.

For reservations contact Paul Nance at 615-966-5967 or paul.nance@lipscomb.edu.

Darryl Strawberry, Clark Kellogg speaking to local FCA chapters

Two local Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapters have lined up impressive guest speakers for their fall fundraising banquets.

Former major leaguer Darryl Strawberry will be the featured speaker at the Northern Middle Tennessee FCA banquet on Oct. 19 at Long Hollow Baptist Church (6 p.m.).

For tickets call 615-275-6871 or visit nmtnfca.org.

Former Ohio State and NBA star Clark Kellogg, now a college basketball television analyst, will speak at the Greater Nashville FCA banquet Nov. 6 at Music City Center (6 p.m.).

For tickets call 615-889-8808 or visit fcanashville.org.

Former hoops stars featured at local clinic

Some former big-name college basketball players will serve as instructors at the Reality Check Youth Sports Camp & Combine at Pearl-Cohn's gym Oct. 11-12 for grades 1-12.

Ron Slay (Pearl-Cohn/Tennessee), Mingo Johnson (Overton/Memphis), Jeremiah Crutcher (Hunters Lane/TSU), Marcus Kinzer (Glencliff/Tulane) and Spencer Richardson (Maplewood/Volunteer State) are some of the instructors. 

To register call 615-593-7189, 615-243-4767 or visit jseworld.org.

Kippy Brown to speak at Martin Methodist luncheon

Longtime college and NFL coach Kippy Brown, who played at Memphis, will be the guest speaker at the Martin Methodist Redhawk Athletic Luncheon Wednesday (noon) at Hickory House restaurant in Pulaski.

In 1974 Brown became the first black quarterback to play for Memphis.

He began his coaching career at Memphis and moved to Tennessee from 1983-89 during a time in which UT became known as “Wide Receiver U” because of the many high-profile pass catchers the Vols produced.

Brown returned to Tennessee in 2009 on Lane Kiffin’s staff and served as interim coach after Kiffin’s sudden departure. 

If you have an item for Midstate Chatter contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 and on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.

Sports on Nashville TV

The top five local ratings for sporting events from Sept. 18-24:
1. NFL: Titans-Seahawks 22.6
2. NFL: Texans-Patriots 13.6
3. College football: Vanderbilt-Alabama 12.5 
4. NFL: Raiders-Redskins 11.4 
5. NFL: Lions-Giants 9.9 
Each rating point is equal to 10,307 Nashville homes.
Source: Mark Binda, WTVF-5 programming & research director