CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Following the conclusion of the 2023-24 boys’ high school basketball season, it’s time to honor players representing Montgomery County schools with the Clarksville Now All-Area Boys’ Basketball Team and Player of the Year.
There’s a variety of talented individuals who make up each high school team, but these players separated themselves from the rest. All statistics were contributed by Clarksville-area coaches, and the players are listed by school in alphabetical order and graduating class.
Clarksville Now All-Area Boys’ Basketball Team
Senior Guard: Cam Phillips, Clarksville Academy – Phillips was a lethal shooter for the Clarksville Academy Cougars during the 2023-24 season. The senior averaged 17.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game during his final season of his high school career.
Senior Forward: Kellen Howard, Clarksville High – Howard was Clarksville High’s leading scorer this season as he showcased his ability to score from anywhere on the floor. He averaged 16.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Senior Guard: Drew Yarbrough, Montgomery Central – Yarbrough led the Montgomery Central Indians in scoring this past season with an average of 15 points per game. The senior also averaged 3 assists and 2.5 steals per game during the 2023-24 season.
Senior Guard: Ta’carey Monday, Northwest High – Monday did it all for the Vikings throughout his high school playing career and 2023-24 was no different. The 1,000-point scorer averaged 18.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game this year.
Senior Forward: Ahmad Harvey, Northwest High – Harvey was Northwest High’s second leading scorer on the team with an average of 14.6 points per game. He also got it done on the glass and defensively, averaging 7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.
Senior Forward: Jacob Edwards, Rossview High – Edwards was a key piece in Rossview High’s final four, state tournament run during 2023-24. Edwards showcased his ability to score on all three levels of the floor, with an average of 16.7 points per game. The senior also averaged 7 rebounds per game while shooting 39% from behind the arc.
Senior Forward: Landon Hankemeier, Rossview High – Hankemeier affected all phases of the game as he averaged 15.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for the Hawks. Defensively, he averaged 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. The senior was also named district 14-4A MVP.
Senior Guard: Quamond Linsey, Rossview High – Linsey served as the primary ball handler for the Rossview High state tournament team during the 2023-24 season. Throughout this season, the senior point guard averaged 7.1 points, 4.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game. However, Linsey went on to average around 20 points per game in district and region tournament play. He was named region 7-4A MVP.
Senior Guard: Cam Ward, Rossview High – Ward showcased this season that he was one of the best defenders, if not the best defender, in all of Clarksville. However, he was just as effective on offense. The senior averaged 13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game during the 2023-24 season.
Underclassmen
Junior Guard: Trae Rideau, Clarksville Academy – Rideau led Clarksville Academy in points during his junior season with an average of 21 points per game. He also averaged 4.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game.
Junior Center: Jacoby Cox, Kenwood High – Cox was a consistent inside force for the Knights as he almost averaged a double-double. The junior averaged 10 points and 9 rebounds per game.
Junior Guard: Cam’Ron Dowell, Kenwood High- Dowell was another elite defender in Clarksville this past season as he averaged 3.1 steals per game, which ranked 1st in class 4A and 11th in the entire state. The junior also showcased his ability to score as he averaged 10 points per game.
Sophomore Guard: Kameron Bowers, West Creek High – Bowers served as West Creek’s primary ball handler this season, while helping lead the Coyotes to a district championship. The sophomore guard averaged 17.8 points, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game.
Sophomore Guard: Jaquez Scott, Northwest High – Scott played a part in one of the best backcourt duos in Clarksville as he played alongside Ta’carey Monday for Northwest High. He averaged 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2 steals per game in 2023-24.
Freshmen Guard: Armani Smith, Kirkwood High – In his first year with the program, Smith made an immediate impact for the Kirkwood High boys’ basketball team. As a freshman, the combo guard averaged 15.7 points and 5 rebounds per game.
Freshman of the Year
The Kirkwood High boys’ basketball program will be in good hands for the next three years as they’ll be retaining Clarksville Now Freshmen of the Year, Armani Smith. In addition to averaging 15.7 points and 5 rebounds per game, Smith led a first-year Kirkwood High team to the district championship game, while finishing as the runner-up to Rossview High.
Team of the Year
The Rossview High boys’ basketball team has been named Clarksville Now Team of the Year for their historic run during the 2023-24 season. This season, the Hawks were able to punch their ticket to the state tournament, which was the first time ever in program history, and win their first-ever state tournament game.
With their state tournament success, the Hawks were the first team in Clarksville to win a state tournament game since 2018. Rossview head coach Johnny Jackson and the Hawks had a season to remember.
Clarksville Now Players of the Year
For the first-time, Clarksville Now will be honoring two student-athletes with the Player of the Year Award.
Rossview High senior forward Landon Hankemeier and Rossview High senior guard Cam Ward have been selected as the recipients of the award for 2024.
Hankemeier played a pivotal role in the Hawks’ final four run from this past season. The senior forward was a constant scoring threat while acting as the defensive anchor for Rossview High boys’ basketball in 2023-24. Hankemeier earned the district 13-4A MVP and scored in double digits or higher throughout the district and region tournaments. In his final high school basketball season, he averaged 15.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
Ward played another pivotal role for the Hawks as he was their lockdown defender and averaged the third most points on the team. Throughout the year, the senior was tasked with shutting down the main scoring threats for opponents, which included the time he guarded Mr. Basketball finalist Jett Montgomery in a state tournament semifinal game. In addition, Ward’s scoring capabilities and electrifying dunks made him just as special of a player on offense. During the 2023-24 season, Ward averaged 13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Tragically, Ward suffered heart failure and died on the basketball court on March 29.
Honorable Mentions:
Tahj Davie – Clarksville Academy; Sheldon Huber – Clarksville High; Maurice Moore – Fort Campbell High; Chance Austin – Kirkwood High; Prophet Basden – Kirkwood High; Christian Fox – Montgomery Central; Jayden Young – Northeast High.
Christian Brown contributed to this report.
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