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Email me at coachshul@hotmail.com with more info... check out our website at unapproved website . com for more info...

Midstate Ballerz Elite 16's still has some room... Email coachshul@hotmail.com or go to unapproved website . com for more info. Look forward to hearing from you

Look for Vic to have a HUGE summer with the Midstate Ballerz Elite 17s... Vic is a 6'5 wing with the strength, athleticism, skill set, and upside to become a very good Mid Major D-1 player...

Ricky Taylor from Haywood Co will be a finalist next year...

Though Mitchell is clearly favored, don't count out Crockett Co. Ron and Shaun Johnson may be the most underrated seniors in the State. I was very, very impressed with these two, and think that if they didn't sign football, they would be Low to Mid Division 1 players in Hoops...

Congrats to Ken as well on a fantastic high school career. I had the privelege of coaching Ken the last 3 summers in AAU, and as great a basketball player that he is, Ken is an even better person. Very few kids I have coached have played with as much passion as Ken, and was as good of a kid off the court... Ken will likely go on to a top notch Juco next year, and then play at a great Division 1 school after that... Congrats again to a great player and great person!! Coach Shulman

Email Coachshul@hotmail.com if interested in the remaining open roster spots for the Midstate Ballerz Elite 15u and 16u teams (current freshmen and sophomores)... The Ballerz 17u and 16u teams each won 40 games last season, have put 34 kids in Division 1 schools in since the Class of 2002 (and counting!!)... Email if interested... Coach Shulman

Congrats to Bynum!!!! Also, don't put any cred into the Street and Smith's Honerable Mention lists. They are a joke. Bynum, Culpepper, and Miller are on the list, as are Vincent Barnes (Tn prep # 56), Terrance Oglesby, Nick Luttrell (Tn prep #91), and Derrick Grandberry (Tn prep #36), but NO Gerald Robinson (#3), Juwon Long (#4), Omar Wattad (#5), Broderick Gilchrist (#7), Josh Sain (#8), etc... They also have Mo Miller listed too as a Junior (08), as well as on the senior list... And in 08, Rivals Top ten, and Scout Top 30 wing Scotty Hopson is not listed at all... Anyways, this was a bit off topic, but the S and S list was a joke Back to the topic--Congrats to Bynum, and good luck on his senior year...

Darnell Wilkes, 6'7 wing, was originally at Kenwood in Clarksville, then moved to Missouri. He is now back in Middle Tn... Cecil Coleman, 6'6 F/wing is from Tampa, Fl... Rober Elam, 6'5 F is from South Carolina... Kaymon Garrett, PG, is a freshman from Nashville, Top 10 in state in 2010... Kalen Jones, I think previously attended McGavock... Though young, with no seniors, Pioneer will be well coached and very talented.

I know Pioneer Christian is not TSSAA, but the thread said "Top 10 Teams in the State"... And pioneer could be one of them by season's end, with a coach that can win (Reed) size (Wilkes 6'7, Cecil Coleman 6'6, Robert Elam 6'5), and guard play (Garrett, Kalen Jones). Again, with no seniors, watch for this team to be very very good by next year!!! Also, not sure of supporting cast, but St. George's could be very good, especially be next year, with two of the Top 10 Class of 08 players in the State and nation, in 6'4 G Elliott Williams and 6'7 Lawrence Bowers... Crippler, yeah actually i heard something about that. Let me know if you hear if it is fact that Mason tranferred. If true, Fairley becomes more of a player as well, with a tough, defensive oriented system, and Mason to go along with underrated 6'5 wing William Green... Also, does anyone know if 6'6 post Dasmine Cathey is playing this year for Ridgeway?? I know he is one of the state's best football prospects, but if he is coming back for another year of hoops, then Ridgeway becomes just that much tougher- Cathey is a beat down low in the post...

Wow, this district is so down from years past. The league lost a lot of talented seniors from last year, and even then, only one team was any good... Columbia used to be LOADED every year, but a steady downfall in talent culminated with Wadele Williams last year (a Final four birth)... Shelbyville will be very good again by next year, and could compete this year, but they are going to be but a shadow of what they were last year. Losing Twilley and Stewart were obviously HUGE, but losing Ragland and Johnson means that the 4 players that carried them all year in every facet of the game are gone. Ragland and Johnson were good roll players. I just can't see this team winning the district, no matter how bad this district will be this year, though Thomas does a great job and they do have the best young talent in the league. Not that I have a better answer for the winner. Though I don't know much about them, Cass Barnes alone makes Tullahoma my favorite to win this year. Columbia was bad last year, and lost their two best players. Shelbyville lost 95% of their production (and that is counting Gross coming back). Coffee county wasn't very good, and lost their best player. Lawrence Co used to be very good every year as well, during the from the Tucker Bryant, Mitch Webb, Josh Haislip days to the Mr. Basketball days of Mitchell... But they are also in a major drout right now... So I don't know---maybe Shelbyville can compete for another district title, by default?? I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the district completely swept in first round of region this year, and I'm a Shelbyville fan...

Baseballa.....Outstanding Post!!!!!! Wow!!!! Detailed, well-thought out, and you even have my sleeper pick of Craigmont as well!!! Can't argue with your top 5. Ridgeway, with Nick Walls, Martino Brock, Jason Jones, Derrick Mason, etc is going to be flat out tough to beat. The scary thing is Brock, Mason, and Jones all return next year too!!! White Station will be good too, with Miller, Bynum, Buggs, Cade, Durham, etc leading the way... MLK may be a bit high... Oakland will make a run at the Top 10, with one of the state's best coaches in King, a great backcourt in Allen and Wade, and a much improved 6'8 Kit Carlton in the middle... Mt. Juliet, like Craigmont, is a sleeper team. They have a great coach in Allen, an oustanding duo of PG Craig and 6'6 wing Dixon, and size inside with 6'6 Payne, plus role players... This team could make noise... Metro's Whites Creek and Antioch will also push for Top 10 status... Clarksville High could be very good and should put up a great record this year, and would make a run at top 15... Look for Memphis Overton to be a sleeper team. Ronald Sampson is an explosive wing. Derrick Warren is a very underrated PG. Sergio Kerush should dominate the HS level on the block with his athleticism at 6'5. This team has the pieces to be very good... Haywood Co and BTW could both surprise, though both may be a year away with great Junior Classes, Haywood led by Taylor, Greer, and Jones. Senior Comaige is a scoring machine; BTW led by Ware and (the other small guard I can't remember his name). 6'9 Sr Hampton makes BTW a real threat this year. Though RE is going to be great, don't count out Hamilton as the best team in AAA just because they lost Williams and Watkins. No team in the state has a better trio than Strong, Gilchrest, and Hunter. Add in 6'6 wing transfer Donald Harris, who can really stroke it, and Hamilton is still loaded... Also, little known Pioneer Christian has a chance to be put in the Top 10 discussion. Though no seniors on the team, 6'7 high major wing Wilkes leads this bunch, who will be at the Liberty Play day, and also plays Oak Hill this year. Watch for Freshman PG Garrett to become one of the states best guards in the future....

Baseballa.....Outstanding Post!!!!!! Wow!!!! Detailed, well-thought out, and you even have my sleeper pick of Craigmont as well!!! Can't argue with your top 5. Ridgeway, with Nick Walls, Martino Brock, Jason Jones, Derrick Mason, etc is going to be flat out tough to beat. The scary thing is Brock, Mason, and Jones all return next year too!!! White Station will be good too, with Miller, Bynum, Buggs, Cade, Durham, etc leading the way... MLK may be a bit high... Oakland will make a run at the Top 10, with one of the state's best coaches in King, a great backcourt in Allen and Wade, and a much improved 6'8 Kit Carlton in the middle... Mt. Juliet, like Craigmont, is a sleeper team. They have a great coach in Allen, an oustanding duo of PG Craig and 6'6 wing Dixon, and size inside with 6'6 Payne, plus role players... This team could make noise... Metro's Whites Creek and Antioch will also push for Top 10 status... Clarksville High could be very good and should put up a great record this year, and would make a run at top 15... Look for Memphis Overton to be a sleeper team. Ronald Sampson is an explosive wing. Derrick Warren is a very underrated PG. Sergio Kerush should dominate the HS level on the block with his athleticism at 6'5. This team has the pieces to be very good... Haywood Co and BTW could both surprise, though both may be a year away with great Junior Classes, Haywood led by Taylor, Greer, and Jones. Senior Comaige is a scoring machine; BTW led by Ware and (the other small guard I can't remember his name). 6'9 Sr Hampton makes BTW a real threat this year. Though RE is going to be great, don't count out Hamilton as the best team in AAA just because they lost Williams and Watkins. No team in the state has a better trio than Strong, Gilchrest, and Hunter. Add in 6'6 wing transfer Donald Harris, who can really stroke it, and Hamilton is still loaded... Also, little known Pioneer Christian has a chance to be put in the Top 10 discussion. Though no seniors on the team, 6'7 high major wing Wilkes leads this bunch, who will be at the Liberty Play day, and also plays Oak Hill this year. Watch for Freshman PG Garrett to become one of the states best guards in the future....

Whites Creek will be very good, but they did lose arguably their best player in Wil Peters, along with starters Rouse and Jordan. Grahm and Harper will lead this team... Antioch is very talented but still could be a year away from their big run. Mcadoo, Williams, and Upton are all Juniors. Hatcher is a senior though. Should be the most athletic and most size of any team in middle TN. Has anyone hear if Tahj Wells is still at Antioch?????? And of course Oakland will be outstanding. Great backcourt in Allen and Wade, but watch for the much improved Kit Carlton (6'8) to really help this team... Riverdale should be good as well in the same district, with all-everything wing Kevin Smith, scorer Scott Thomas, and a good supporting cast led by EJ Wilcox, Joey Lee, etc... Watch out for my pick, Mt. Juliet... This is a sleeper team, but will surprise a lot of people. Coach Troy Allen is an excellent coach, and they boast one of the top wings in Middle TN in Jeremy Dixon, as well as one of the Top PG's in Demond Craig. 6'6 Corey Payne adds size and strength down low. This team could really surprise this year... Also watch for Clarksville High. With Tyrone Caldwell as one of the State's top 08 PG's, as well as break out years from Lavonte Henderson and Shawn Merriweather, this team has a chance to be very good...

I was surprised to see how few had Jewaun Long as a AA Finalist or winner. The reigning AA State MVP may be the best player in AA, and clearly has the best team of those mentioned... I don't know if I've ever seen the AA and AAA races this predictable before HS practice has even started, especially in AA. I can't see anyone other than Long, Robinson, and Culpepper in AA getting the nominations, and Miller, Oglesby, and Wattad in AAA. That's not to say there aren't others worthy, especially in AAA, but the 3 mentioned have to be heavy frontrunners... That being said, in AAA, also look out for Oakland's Allen, Hamilton's Strong, Gilchrest, or Hunter, Greeneville's Wiggins, and Riverdale's Smith. In AA, Ricky Taylor and Phillip Jurrick, are both a year away. No one will touch Long, Robinson, and Culpepper this year, who happen to be 3 of the Top 5 players in the State... In A, DeMario Williams is a lock as finalist. McMasters and Skogen seem to lead the rest. True, you need to watch for UC's Brown as well... But this class is not loaded like it has been in the past, with Webb, Doaks, Weddle, etc... In D-II, Brandon Brown is a potential favorite, but watch for a possible Memphis winner this year, possibly Elliott Williams of St. George's or Leslie McDonald from Briarcrest. McDonald is a Top 15 player Nationally in his class, and Williams is a Top 100 Nationally...

Mt. Juliet is my surprise team this year. Led by 6'6 wing Jeremy Dixon, 6'6 post Corey Payne, and PG Demond Craig, Mt. Juliet will be a contender to make a deep run in March...

No one in the State can jump with Riverdale's Kevin Smith. No one. The kid has flat out unbelievable hops... Also, diminutive UTEP signee Randy Culpepper has major hops as well, at 5'9...

The Midstate Ballerz Elite 17s had a great showing this past week at the Adidas Atlanta Summer Kickoff, winning their pool (Atlanta Celtics finished 2nd), and then advancing all the way to the championship game, with tourney wins over Clayton Stars, Adidas Carolina Celtics, and Arkansas Hawks, before falling on a last second shot to Georgia Hurricanes. Great showing, even while missing Ken Bingham, Deveyon Hunter, and Kevin Smith. Juwon Long was outstanding. Matt Smigielski, Antwan Long, Josh Sain, and Jeff McClain had outstanding performances that had college coaches (200 D-1 coaches the first day) clammoring for more information. Jeremy Dixon and Shawn Merriweather really showed flashes as well (before Dixon went

I agree that the Ballerz Elite 16's are a tough team to figure out, but some seem to forget is that they are without arguably their most important player, Tyrone Caldwell. Tyrone is the guy who really gets this team in sync and is the missing piece in the chemistry puzzle. In addition to tyrone, this past weekend, the Ballerz were also without Tyrone Cutter, 6'7 Justin Hearn, and instant energy off the bench Erik Wisdom. Last weekend they were without 5 players, and the weekend before at TOC, without both PG's (Caldwell and Primm) in addition to Rayshawn Walker and Wisdom. This is a very talented group, but with all the injuries and distractions, the team has not jelled. This however is a very dangerous team come July if everyone comes back healthy...

Josh Henley has had a great summer, and is not being overshadowed... He has made the transition to the perimeter very well, and is continuing to work on his guard skills. Due to injuries and a limited guard roster, Josh even ran some Point Guard in North Carolina at TOC. Josh has had a few games where he's knocked down 3 threes. Josh has started every game for the Ballerz Elite, and plays with so much heart and passion-he's a coach's dream...

Lackluster state tournament capped off by a CLASSIC Championship Game!!! Memphis Tigers, who had played with no effort the entire tourney, losing in the process to the Ballerz Select and barely beating the Ballerz Elite (who only had 7 players) by 6, finally decided to come play ball, and show the state how talented they are... The championship game came down to a Ballerz 3 point lead with 20 seconds left. Two missed free throws that could have iced it led to a long NBA range fade away trey by Broderick Gilchrist with 7 seconds left. The Ballerz could not convert, and the Tigers won a spirited, passionate game in overtime by 4... Great title game between two very good teams!!! The rest of the tourney was lackluster to say the least. The three Ballerz teams were missing a combined 15 players for most of the tourney, including Juwon Long, Antwan Long, Jeremy Dixon, Tyrone Caldwell, Latavious Williams, Justin Hearn, Kevin Giltner, Reggie Bomar, Qu'varius Howard, and Anthony Sampson, among those three teams. The Tigers, who may be the best team in the State, played with no effort at all for four games. The contrast was STAGGERING to see, and completely surprised me and all those in attendance for the Finals. Memphis Y started the weekend strong, but got blown out in the semis and then fell to the Thunder. Ballerz Select was as up and down as any team could be, beating the Memphis Tigers, but losing to the Stallions. The Rage lost to the Ballerz and Y by 40 each, but was tied with Thunder going into the fourth quarter before losing. The Stallions were the only team that played with intensity in every game, beating the Ballerz Select, and playing close games with the Ballerz Elite, Tigers, and Ballerz 16's before losing. My hat goes off to the Stallions for the effort and team ball. Isiah Harris and Demond Craig were very good all weekend long for the Stallions... As for some other individuals: Ricky Taylor, Haywood Co, 2008 (YOMCA): complete stud. Top 10 player in the state at the minimum. Does it all on the court, all with a smile and joy for the game like Barry Stewart... Donald Harris, Houston, 2007 (YOMCA): major sleeper. Must get stronger, but a sleeper D-1 prospect. 6'7 G that can shoot. Must put it on the floor better though... Octavious Swarn, Carver, 2008 (YOMCA): 6'5 F showed signs of being a big time player. Had a great weekend before running out of gas in anticipated match up vs. McAdoo in 3rd place game. Nonetheless proved to be a top 15 or 20 player in State at this time. Very strong and athletic, and plays much taller... Tyshaun Edmonson, UHA, 2008 (Ballerz 16's): Dropped an unreal tourney high 45 points on Saturday!!! This tied the Ballerz program record for points in a game held by former Mr. Basketball Demarco Polk. This kid has a chance to be very very special... John Primm, Dickson Co, 2008 (Ballerz 16's): quickly trying to make a claim as the top PG in 2008. Strong, smart, can shoot, and flat out defend. Good size. The kid is going to be special... Wil Peters, Whites Creek, 2006 (Thunder): the kid is such a pure scorer, and reminds me more and more of for Jackson NS guard Ramon Williams as a scoring 2G in a PG body. The kid continues to make me a believer, and is an unbelievable competitor... Broderick Gilchrist, Hamilton, 2007 (Tigers): High Major PG. Has the body, the quickness, the pure outside shot. Must be put in the same breath as Mo Miller, Gerald Robinson, Juwon Long, Terrance Oglesby, and Randy Culpepper when talking elite players in 07. The kid is special and very underrated... Myron Strong, Hamilton, 2007 (Tigers): I have always loved his game, but I started to doubt after watching him until the state finals. Then Myron decided to play! Wow this kid is good, but I have to question why he doesn't play hard all the time. Almost as quick as Gerald Robinson but a better outside shot. Another high major must be put with the names above... William Green, Fairley, 2007 (Tigers): very underrated athlete. Tall (6'5), long, and though inconsistent, can knock down the outside shot, especially in the clutch. Very tough competitor. Very good Mid Major prospect... Ryan Donald, Houston, 2007 (Tigers): another sleeper D-1 prospect. 6'5 with a good body and great athleticism. Good slasher. Not sure how well he shoots it, but definitely an intriguing prospect... Kevin Smith, Riverdale, 2007 (Ballerz Elite): vastly underrated guard. At 6'5 and amazing athleticism, Kevin does all the little things on the court, which sometimes gets overlooked. Kevin is a fantastic passer with great vision, and has outstanding handles. Kevin ran some PG this weekend with Juwon Long, Antwan Long, Ryan Westbrooks, and Matt Smigielski out for all or part of the weekend. Kevin is going to be very special... Antwan Long, Liberty Tech, 2007 (Ballerz Elite): the single most underrated player in the state. All he does in high school and AAU is make plays. He is the BEST perimeter defender in the state, bar none. Antwan has made the transition to the Point and 2G positions, and is starting to garner some D-1 looks. Though not a good outside shooter, Long does everything else on the court: rebound, score, defend, post up, penetrate, create for others, etc... Cataurius Taylor, Brighton, 2007 (Ballerz Elite): Cataurius had an outstanding weekend starting at Point for the absent/injured Juwon Long. Cataurius capped off his weekend with an outstanding performance in the finals against the Tigers, especially when Long had a tough time playing due to injury. Cataurius had 11 in the second half alone, and had an amazing on the ball steal against Strong that had the crowd in a frenzy. Cataurius has played himself into mid major D-1 recruitment and looks to a big July schedule...

bluedevil and whoever else is concerned... This play was NOT EVEN CLOSE to being dirty!!! In fact there was very little contact at all!!! I feel bad for McAdoo and really do hope he is okay, but this was not even close to being a dirty play, so these stupid rumors on these boards need to stop. Period.

Interesting quote, since the Ballerz seem to do a pretty darn good job getting kids in school at the next level... Interesting.

Great weekend for the Ballerz... 17u Elite really made a name for themselves going 3-1 at the King of the South, with impressive wins over Tallahasee Wildcats, Atlanta Celtics Gold, and St. Louis Gameface. Great write up on Unapproved Website. Juwon Long was outstanding, as was Josh Sain, Deveyon Hunter, Jeff McClain, and Matt Smigielski, among others... 17u Select advanced out of pool play, and finished 2-2 for the King of the South. Riverdale's Scott Thomas and Tee Burnett, along with Jackson Southside's Ralph Strayhorn, and Bowling Green Ky's Rondale McMillan were among those that really played well... 16u Elite won a tough substate... bunch of threads already on this... 16u Select lost in OT and by 6 to two Memphis teams, while playing with only 6 and 5 players. Victor McLin and DaQuan Brown were outstanding... But above all, getting those 17u kids a third straight weekend of exposure in front of Division 1 coaches was worth more than any win we had over the weekend!

Marcus Jefferson was outstanding for the Thunder... The Ballerz were very balanced. Giltner looked very good. Wisdom provided a nice spark off the bench. L.Williams was outstanding defensively. Edmonson is a budding star. Cutter continues to flat out make plays. Hopson: wow. Ken Torrey from Memphis has talent, but his attitude seemed to really hinder his game... Scott Newton was tough as well...