MMcCroskey

Happy to pass that along when I can get my hands on it . . . not sure when they will do the matchups though.

Melrose (last years winner) didn't do it for ya, huh? If anyone would like to look at last year's media guide: http://www2.btcs.org/ths/arbysclassic/mediaguide.pdf (if that is "downhill," that sure was one heck of an "uphill" they took to get there lol)

Ok, hot off the presses: Dobyns-Bennett HS Gate City HS Gatlinburg-Pittman HS Greenville HS Hampton HS Science Hill HS Sullivan East HS Tennessee HS Clear Creek HS (League City, TX) Columbia HS (Decatur, GA) Hunter Huss HS (Gastonia, NC) Mentor HS (Mentor, OH) Mill Creek HS (Hoschton, GA) Southwind HS (Memphis, TN) Sumter HS (Sumter, SC) Tabernacle Baptist Christian Academy (Freeport, Grand Bahamas) Urspring School (Ulm, Germany) Wasilla HS (Wasilla, AK)

Will do my best to run down a complete list, but I heard there is one team coming in from Germany and another from Alaska! Should be another stellar tournament!

It was me that said: "Don't know if Gatlinburg counts as NE TN, but I would keep an eye on Davis Soehn of GP." Seemed straightforward enough, and not all that big a stretch to put Sevier County in the mix (can't say we seem to be SE TN, and never heard anyone ask about Mid-East TN lol) I still think its remarkable at the constant school shuffle in so many other schools over the years, but GP picks up some transfers and all heck breaks loose. Knox County trades players like most kids trade baseball cards lol. GPs prospects for the future, while certainly diminished with the loss of this current senior class, is not all that bad. Junior Matt Hinton is turning into a beast of a 5 player. Davis Sohen (So.) and Clay Leatherwood (Fr.) have both been highly ranked in their respective classes by the now infamous "unauthorized website." Brandon Stewart (Jr.) is making great progress as a PG as well. Looking up and down District 3AA, it seems alot of programs will be losing some key seniors after this year.

Maybe I was unclear, it wasn't the points per se for Sevier County that I was spotlighting, it was the fact SC won with a more balanced scoring attack. A very good win indeed for SC, no doubt.

That loss to Sevier County this week has to sting big time. I must admit, I would not have predicted that. Then again, first games of the season can always be tough. Basketball is a tournament sport for sure. Top 2 players for Central scored over 20 points, but it dropped off fast from there. Sevier County top scorer had 15 as I recall, and only one other player above 10.

Devin Schmidt led Sevier County in scoring (15 I think) in the opening win at home against a very good Central squad, so there can be no doubt he is a talent to watch. That said, the tone of that post tells me someone is still a bit tender after the recent Sevier County Jamboree this past Monday, where GP dominated their quarter of play against Sevier County, as well as taking the 3 point competition and the dunking contest. This is the same GP team that Davis Sohen is good enough to start for. It is also unfortunate that we won't get to see Sohen and Schmidt play head to head (at least this year) because Sevier County refused to schedule GP this season. Hmmmmm . . .

Gatlinburg-Pittman is coming next week . . . you will have a good indiction of what you have then, if not sooner.

Sorry, my home computer decided to blow a graphics card, so I have been limited on posting time lol. Sevier County Jamboree was held last night at Sevier County, and it was the "GP show" - total domination of Sevier County by GP in their one quarter of play. Mo Barber easily took the dunk contest, and my son Jon won the 3 point competition. GP opens tonight at home with Hancock County, but we will really start seeing what GP is remotely capable of Thursday when they travel to a decent AAA Jefferson County. BTW, I REALLY think y'all are overlooking Fulton. Jaeland Lawson's addition with Galen Campbell (dont forget Thomas, Queener and Cason) makes them VERY much in the hunt - small, but very dangerous.

Don't know if Gatlinburg counts as NE TN, but I would keep an eye on Davis Soehn of GP. That said, Shannon Hale is a definite DI prospect at this point - as strong as they come. Got to watch him work in the Pilot Rocky Top League this fall.

BTW, keep an eye on Davis Soehn (Soph.) of Gatlinburg-Pittman - he is a real solid 6'2"+ and has one heck of a long shot. He isn't even a pure shooting guard, per se - has alot of upper body strength to add to his game. He will be in the starting rotation of a talented GP team.

He averaged over 44 points throughout the All-Star fall league - I'm gonna take your word that he is not a pure shooter , but putting up those kind of points - WOW. If he indeed has a complete all-around game, this young man is definitely going places. I did notice his team was not in the finals though. Either way, he is obviously talented, and I hope I get the chance to see him play this year. I noticed another CPA kid was named to the All-League list, so there is the answer to the question what else CPA has to bring to the table . Gonna be a GREAT year in AA ball across the state, it seems.

Considering recent league play, I'm not sure how this list could leave out Bradshaw (Jr) from CPA.

Normally complaints about a referee's calls are a bit of sour grapes, but having watched that crew all game, I will EASILY admit, even as a GP supporter, those refs made some of the worst calls, and I mean over and over (although not only for GP). The way that game ended was horrible. Both GP and UC deserved better (and I even posted that up here on CoachT at the time). Several of us from GP's side commented after the game that it was a shame that game couldn't have been called a "draw" and left at that. Let's hope this year we get better. I have nothing but respect for the effort refs put in, but that game got out of control and only got worse as the game progressed. I also agree with you that District 3AA is gonna have some GREAT basketball! Best of luck to all concerned!

Mo Barber is the main basketball player known at GP, but his brother Walt (who is the football player) will be playing for GP as well. Both are great kids. I believe the reference for Union County is to Phil Cox and Chase Buckner. The heights used on these rosters is not always measured in bare feet . Both are very good players, especially Buckner; but if UC is to make any serious noise, they will likely need some additional standout play from others.

There is a good discussion going on under another thread Top 10 Pre-Season AA Teams that includes CPA. Your team is one of the early favorites to make alot of noise this year! Bradshaw from CPA is a scoring machine it seems.

I believe that's why I asked for some details lol - being from East TN, you are exactly correct about me knowing little about Manassas other than what I can read about here and on other websites. Seriously, fill us in on what is happening with those players - AAU play, fall leagues, camps, etc. Who is showing good improvement from last year? I know I'm seriously interested to hear about it - that's why we are here!

Can you tell us a little more about what these two teams will be bring to the coming season, because at first glance, both have limited depth, especially Hillcrest (talented point guard, but what else?). Manassas would be the best to make some noise - how good is that Junior center, Baker? Seems if they are to make a run at the top 10, he will have to be very solid to compliment their guards.

I think you may be underestimating Fulton a bit. Jaeland Lawson's transfer from Bearden changed alot. They are deeper than just Campbell and Lawson; with seniors Queener, Thomas and Cason - add in Junior Jackson and Sophomore Reeves. They are always well coached. This is a deeply talented team. Rocky Top is a showcase league, with many coaches in attendance every game, so some degree of "showing off" is to be expected. I think Fulton, although size might prove a challenge, is actually the team to beat in District 3, along with Carter (who return 4 of their last year starts, if I'm correct, along with the rest of their bench). The wild-cards are AE and GP. I am obviously too biased to give a fair take on GP, but I would love to hear more about what AE is bringing to the table this year around an obviously talented Brandon Lopez and Sophomore Dajon McGill.

I am obviously biased, so I will leave the analysis of Gatlinburg-Pittman to others; but I will say this: GP is playing in the Arby's Classic in December, and I think this will show one way or the other how good this team really is. Carter should be given much respect, they really only lost one starter off last years team. Everyone knows about Lester Wilson, but it will be the play of Braylen Bennett (JR) and Zach Ballinger (SR) that will determine how far this team goes. Fulton lacks size, to my knowledge, but the transfer of Jaeland Lawson from Bearden makes them a threat because Galen Campbell is a scoring machine, and he now has a top ranked PG to set him up. Thomas, Queener and Cason are all ranked seniors, albeit further down the list - but experience counts. And they are always well coached. I can see why anyone would have them in their top 5. Austin East is a real wild-card in District 3 - Brandon Lopez is a known entity and obviously talented, and they have a very promising freshman in Emani Miller and Sophomore Dajon McGill, but what else they can bring to the table is a big question mark. Again, lack of size and experience might be an issue. Livingston Academy looks to have a real balanced attack with their big Junior center - the play of their 2 ranked Sophomores will be the difference for them, but they should be in the mix. Bolivar has ALOT of reloading to do, and so far, I haven't heard of any names that stand out, but tradition is definitely in their corner. Marshall Co. seems to lack depth, but Kendren Johnson might be good enough to overcome that challenge, and I believe they have a Sophomore PG that could make some noise before all is said and done. Maplewood looks very solid, but they seem to be needing top play from 2 Sophomores - that's a hard call in pre-season ranking. CPA has Bradshaw (talk about your scoring machines), but what else? They seem a bit young, with no senior leadership that I know of. I leave out Chattanooga (and I really could be way off the mark here) because their Rocky Top fall league had little to match up to the ET Pilot Rocky Top league. Maybe football got in the way, but I think the Chattanooga area is just not up to the same par with the rest of the state in AA, with the possible exception of Red Bank - they seem to be the team to watch from that area. I honestly see a real possibility of 2 teams from District 3 in the final 4 simply because District play there will really prepare the eventual top 2. That said, Liberty Tech, from all I understand, has to be the team to beat; and pre-season #1 pick for what my 2 cents are worth. Talented, experienced, and a tradition of winning gives them the early nod.

Gotta say, I'm with Eda on this. How could anyone possibly downplay a 52 point/20-22 game by ANYONE at anytime, less on in an all-star league. And to hear he has the athleticism to dunk as well . . . incredible. BTW, sorry I misspelled Craig's name in the heading - I was probably so blown away by seeing the stats on that performance I missed a keystroke lol. I hope I get the chance to see this kid play.

Craig Bradshaw (Junior?) was listed as scoring 52 points in the Nasheville Rocky Top League on 20 of 22 shots. He was either fouled alot, or most of those were 3s. That's just unbelievable! Anyone wanna fill those of us not familiar with this gentleman in? That's some show!

I want to throw in bigtime with BigOllie . . . both this site AND Andre Whitehead's site are the best resources in TN for men's basketball coverage! In my opinion they compliment each other perfectly, with very little overlap. It would be nice to see both sites cooperate, all things considered, but since the thread discussing the state rankings was pulled from this site, I must assume there is not a "spirit of cooperation." If true, that is regrettable. Still, a BIG thank you to both Coach T and Andre Whitehead for ALL you both do to help these kids get exposure!

I was just wondering if we could borrow Coach Lollar for my son Jon lol. Again, grats on raising such a great son.