TheEgoHasLanded

The posters on this site might not know much about him, but LSU and UT know about him. Arkansas, NCSU, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, etc. Highly, highly recruited individual who is very classy. He is incredibly nice and well mannered for someone his age and stature, Mike will succeed no matter where he goes.

I would say the Travis Stephens team of 96 (Clarksville NE) would be one of the best teams to ever hit the field from what I have read...didn't they have three 1000 yard rushers on one team? Lost to BA if I recall in the semi's.

I really believe the cream rose to the top....A very good point though Gomab, I thought your team played very well...well controlled, took good shots, I was very impressed. Good luck at nationals.

Just the order I predicted congratulations to the teams participating...Memphis proves once again that it is the best in basketball...

You answered my question with a question. To answer your philosophical question... I wouldn't be complaining if they went to one classification total. Do you know why I wouldnt be? Because it is not a numbers issue, it is a participation and turnout issue. That is why some schools like Germantown, Farragut, and Brentwood are stellar in some sports...yet struggle in others. What changed the game from no-classification to multiple classes? The exponential growth in state championships has far exceeded the population growth I realize that football is a different issue. Players health actually comes in to play because of depth and size. You yourself gave great examples of how schools like USN, Elliston, Lausanne can compete in some sports...football is a numbers game, and because that, their should be classifications. Kids can actually get hurt...otherwise I would say divide it up and the best man win. When I was a senior we played Brentwood Academy, and I believe it was 7 point game at halftime. In the second half, they really put it on us...they also had 40 more players than us... I have been around AAU basketball for over 10 years now, and no one ever complains because some teams have more money, taller players, better players, better facilities, better coaches, or flashy jerseys. Everyone competes for one prize...I think it's nice that way. The emphasis on sports has also changed the game. AAU was not around 50 years ago, and I bet there weren't nearly as many schools, players, or coaches around then as there is now (even if you took the ratio of people living to those who played, I bet now it's much greater). College and pro sports weren't as big.

Ballerz defeated the Zags who didn't have their big men by about 13. Ballerz second team lost to the tournament favorite YOMCA 17's by about 6. The Y didn't seem like they were playing very hard. The predicted order of finish, in my opinion would be... 1-Y 2-Bulldogs 3-Ballerz all three of those teams already have bids to play in the nationals, meaning the 4-6th place teams have a realistic shot at going to the nationals as well.

Elliston Baptist - 2 state championships in bowling Lausanne -- state boys championship game in basketball Univ. School Nasville -- soccer championship game yellowdog, you are correct...however that is still not fair. CPA in 2000 would have beaten most of the 5A schools in football...obvioulsy we would not have that CPA team playing 5A schools year in and year out in all sports, just because one year they were good. I bet the Cloudland teams that were beat 4A Cherokee would have competed well against some 4A schools, but not all of them. How would Cloudland do if they played Hillsboro, Maryville, East, Melrose and the rest of the 4A schools. By the thought process you have proposed, we do not need any type of classifications, because once in a while, a schools team will do pretty well, thus justifying their placement for all sports, both girls and boys.

I could care less what they do...but I will add these two cents. Schools like: Name: Elliston Baptist 74 people Lausanne 154 people supposed to compete against: MBA (all boys) 870 CBHS (all boys) 1722 all of these numbers I got from the TSSAA site. I don't see how those schools are supposed to compete against other D2 schools with larger enrollments and the ability to give out more financial aide in sports like wrestling, basketball, baseball, track, etc. That would be like a 1A school, playing an 11A school! (74 to 870...and actually thats not accurate cus the 74 is co-ed and not all boys!) I'd like to hear how that is justifiable.

They want them to stay in DI (Which there is no such thing by the way) because then they don't worry about private schools joining together and leaving. Absolutely no doubt in my mind.

The super 7 schools would do fine against the MS schools...I already admitted that MUS has handed it to Prep lately...but South Panola and Moss Point have been better the last few years than any other public school in TN besides possibly Maryville. Germantown doesn't play those MS schools, just as, they usually don't play MUS, or CBHS? It's not cus CBHS doesnt want to play them...its cus GHS chooses not to.

My opinion is that MS football is better than TN. I am also from Memphis. Olive Branch and Southaven would probably beat the majority of the 5A Memphis schools, but not all of them. I dont know where you classify SBEC, who won the last D2-A state championship and competed in the two state championships before that...They are located in MS, but play in TN.

The private schools in Mississippi are much smaller than the ones in TN. The largest, and probably the best athletically is Jackson Prep, which does not have as many MALE students as, say MUS. It is not a coincidence that the private schools are smaller, and the public schools are larger (since most kids choose to go to public over private). I'm telling you, pound for pound, the publics in MS would beat the publics in TN. Moss Point High School has a better tradition (just one example) than any other PUBLIC school in TN...I'd say MBA might have been better nationally the last few years though...but this is public to public. One must realize, that the largest city in MS is Jackson, which probably has around 350-400,000 so population must be taken in to account.

Thus the reason that their 5A publics (which I believe are larger) would destroy us.

One thing Memphis offers that Chattanooga doesnt... A phenomenal opening ceremony. There is no campirson...its sad that some of the teams were eliminated at that point, but its better to do that, then start the whole thing another day earlier, where kids and parents end up leaving and staying at a hotel even longer.

Wouldnt it be awesome if the private schools broke away from the TSSAA formed their own association and crowned a champion. Then at the end of the season...they square off against the champion from the MPSAA to determine a real winner?

there is a YOMCA 16s team that features willie, a center from Jackson, and Pierre...they also have James Hooper who graduated this year from BTW. Williams might be eligible for 17s because seniors who are going to a prep school are eligible. I also believe that former WSHS Courtney Pigram is on this team... They competed at the 17U substate as 16s coached by Easterwood, did they decide to move up? Thaddeous Young did not play for this team either at that point...he was still playing for hoopers...

I have yet to see this team compete, and I didnt even know they had a team. They picked up those three players, but I was under the impression Young was playing 16's...I saw him playing for the MemphisHoopers 16s and now he's playing for a 17U that I didnt even know existed? Pierre was also playing 16s, did this 17 year old team just form?

Oh, I'm not saying Idlewild is a national contender. I do think they are probably one of the top 5 teams in the state, but they didn't even qualify for the state tournament. Their players are always having to skip games and practices to attend to other matters...work, church, injured, etc. Which is fine. They dont have enough big men. Obviously I am bias to them, but we realize that without having full time commitment from everyone involved, its tough to continually succeed. This whole thing is about the kids, If the kids are having fun, and learning, then that is all that you can ask. I simply answered your question as to why I think this might be the best year for TN Summer basketball. I do think if Idlewild has all their players...including 6'6 320 pound Michael Oher (all state in basketball and top 100 football player) they would be even stronger but he broke his hand. He scored 45 points in two games and was 5/6 on three pointers in the AAU substate (unfortunately he was not present for the first game against the Bulldogs). Good luck to all the teams in the AAU state tournament, I believe TN will be well represented.

Sounds like this entire thread is going no where. That might be attributed to some of the posts...in fact it is, you can choose for yourself which ones are logical and which ones are pointless.

lost in all of this mess is the fact that these two teams could easily play each other again...Wouldn't that be a good one. That would then prove that Church of Christ schools are in fact the best at baseball... (JUST KIDDING, BEFORE SOMEONE STARTS SOMETHING)

private schools provide a quality education to all students, it doesnt matter if you are a minority or not. I do not understand the point in that post and I actually find it offensive. Why isn't there a split between public schools that offer advantages that others dont...ie, open zones, better facilities (Mitchell High School in Memphis is nicer than any D2 school), great academics (White Station according to the Sunday edition of the Commercial Appeal is the 334th best school out of 737 according to Newsweek) which put them in the top 2 percent nationwide. 91 percent are going to a 4 year college. The average ACT score was a 23 and the average SAT was a 1236. Is it a coincidence that they have the best basketball team over the last 3 or 4 years in the state? Tough to say, they also had one of the best basketball coaches in the city. They offer advantages that no private school can match...a free education for all students that is both challenging and rewarding but most importantly, free. We should split them off, since they have an unfair advantage.

if these players are leaving...why are they participating in sports for Alcoa. I believe there might be some recruiting rules involved with spring practice, I think like three practices or something like that...of course I might be completely wrong (i believe it used to be something associated with that). Also, if these players are so key, they are probably rising 11th or 12th graders and would have to sit out a year. I doubt many seniors would be sitting out their senior year. I could care less about Maryville, Alcoa, or anyone else, I'm just raising the questions...both of you guys could be completely correct.

Those pesky Bulldogs might not be so pesky, but rather good. Idlewild has lost to them every time they've played them ranging from 5 points to 27. I'd be willing to bet Idlewild could play with the rest of the teams from the state, outside of Memphis where unquestionably the two MOST TALENTED teams reside...whether they are the best, thats another story. Dallas Mustangs have not faired well against TN teams, that's at least 3 teams from this age group that have beaten the talented Mustangs...Their PG Byron Eaten is a Top 100 high school football prospect that reportedly runs a 4.4 according to Lemming. I believe the reason this year has been so successful is because that there might be less teams? Memphis does not have as many teams at 17 as they do at 16,15...obviously the talent looks much better. The trotters, rebels, bellevue, second presbyterian, and a few other perennial AAU teams do not extend to 17. The Bulldogs have gotten many of the Rebels players and become even better (Kinnard, Stafford). The other reason is because the talented 16 year old teams are playing up...If Thaddeous Young of Mitchell was playing for a 17 year old team instead of going across state lines to get a summer education...I'd say it's stronger than ever. Gomab, I have heard that J.P. Prince is playing for the Y, but I have yet to see him in a uniform...have you heard anything? Same with 6'7 Colin Cunningham of WSHS...I know for sure they aren't on pump n run.

uhh what was that?

The best O-line in 4-A would be Memphis East...both of their tackles are high D-1 players. One of whom is a top-100 player regardless of position according to Tom Lemming and the other is a top 150 player. They also return Cassius Vaughn who possibly was the best runningback last year in the city as a sophomore... Of course, I am assuming that East is still in 4-A... Here is a link to the ESPN story...Malcolm Rawls is the kids name and their other tackle is highly coveted as well. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/...tory?id=1782098