attila

I heard today they are at 100 teams and full. Great event that showcases the best players and teams in the state. Preview of the state tournament!

I will give you my opinion and there is truly no way to know this without playing. I have had the privilege of watching every 1-A state champion since 1976 I am an old timer. Here is my top 5 class A teams of all time: 1. Perry County 1997. Shooters/scorers everywhere. Big/quick. Underrated defensively. 2-3. BGA 93-94 Pettus, Fleming, Vsn Landingham. Beat the heralded non champ Goodpasture with Maddux, Mercer, Howard. 4. 2014 Mitchell very deep team can’t remember all the names old age. 5. Tie: 1985 Bolton, 2008 Union City. Bolton Sylvester Gray of Bolton. MJ Brown Union City. Fun to watch teams. What a lot of people forget or don’t know is that Perry County team had 4 players in Haston, Jones, Brown, and Hamm that would have been the best player on any of the above teams not named Perry County. But all of those teams were fun to watch and well coached. That is my opinion and I approve it.

I asked the question to start a debate and it has definitely created discussion . I actually like both venues. But Tech should be considered I think because: currently better arena easy access off of I-40 to arena has a lot of new hotels in last 2-3 yrs average fans with no school ties will attend community will get into it, not sure still the case in the boro probably won’t move from m’boro but good to discuss

Which venue would be better as a host? Both good arenas centrally located, Tech’s gym looks better and more updated than MTSU when watching the D-2 tourney a couple weeks ago.

Which venue would be better as a host? Both good arenas centrally located, Tech’s gym looks better and more updated than MTSU when watching the D-2 tourney a couple weeks ago.

The UC reporter is great they do a great service to the athletes there. But until the Gannett news mafia with their mob boss Kreager are out of the mix of naming the finalist and winners it will remain the same. It should be a coaches vote and coaches committee that determines it. It should be handled better and there’s no question about that!

Excellent camp and very well ran. A ton of college coaches attend. They love seeing the players in this environment with their hs teams!

This discussion is very good. I looked at margin of victory for last night’s sectionals and average margin of victory was 16.7 ppg, contrast that with 2019 average margin of victory of 11.3 ppg. There were some blowouts sure, but there are every year. My feeling is that the whole state has been a little down the last couple years in boys. Some perennial powers have been just ok. Don’t see us going back to 3 classes, just like football will not drop classes to make it more competitive. Athletics in Tennessee need 4 classes across the board for all sports but again just don’t see it happening.

The best should be to come from this group. A lot of talent. Hope this isn’t like the 90’s for WC. This should be a valuable experience for them. They need a tougher schedule to challenge them. Skill work for all, and quit reaching defensively so much. But much more upside to them than down. Will be interesting to see them in a year.

This is a great question. I have seen coaches that win every year and make the state tourney regularly that aren’t great coaches but have excellent talent. I see coaches who coach less talent and are competitive against everyone but may win only 10-12 games every year. I look at these things: 1. They play with effort and purpose. 2. Fundamentally sound. 3. Player development.. 4. Game plans that give them a chance to win. 5. Their in game adjustments succeed. 6. Play with discipline. 7. Togetherness This is how I judge a coach. Championship are great but that isn’t all that goes into being a good coach.

Unfortunately we may never see the great players finish hs in state anymore. Many players and parents think it is better to leave and go to ‘prep schools’ to expand their game. Makes me wonder how we produced player like Penny Hardaway, Shawn Marion, Kirk Haston, Thaddeus Young, Trenton Hassell, etc with such poor coaching and competition. Lol it’s a different world!

Here is the issue with this thread, Cookeville and Upperman have very little history of playing each other in basketball, look back 50 years of playing rarely if at all. With Sparta/Cookeville there is a history for 80 plus years, even over 40 years ago when they were separated by classifications then they still played. I know Cookeville can’t or won’t control their student section, not many schools do. But with the talent and tradition of White County they should never back down from playing any program. It’s a failure of the leadership at both schools that they aren’t playing.

This is typical for this program. This place is unreal and will not stay out of a coaches way. Wouldn’t advise any coach to take this job, they will be unemployed again within 2 yrs

Hard to believe these teams are missing out on the BCAT camp at Lebanon this week during the NCAA live recruiting period 15th-17th. Well over 50 colleges were in there recruiting. At least 4 SEC head coaches in the house today!

The BCAT HOOPFEST team camp in Memphis June 16-17. This camp is during the NCAA live recruiting period specifically for high school teams. Some of the best teams and players in the state will be there. Games at P7 Sports Academy, Briarcrest Christian, and St. George School. Team list is posted at www.bcathoops.com

Come over to Lebanon for the BCAT HOOPFEST team camp June 15-17. This camp is during the new girl’s NCAA live recruiting period specifically for high school teams. Some of the best teams and players in the state will be there. Games at Lebanon, Mt Juliet, Wilson Central, and Cumberland U. Team list is posted at www.bcathoops.com

That correct about great school environment. But the high school coaches, players, and parents need to know the NCAA has sanctioned recruiting camp for high school teams only June 15-17 this year. The BCAT is running it in Tennessee at Lebanon. Currently 65 teams are committed to play. These have usually been for boys only but the NCAA passed it for girls this year. Boys camp have been very well ran and huge successes.

Who else beat Bradley in those years?

I will give you a little more on ‘97 Perry County, these players were great, not all played college basketball because they played other sports in college. They Averaged 30 pt wins in the state tourney. Averaged 86 ppg in the state tournament. In every game they lead by over 40 before subbing in the 4th. Beat Union City the AA state champ during the season and numerous AAA schools. They played no one out of their district in class A. They were a matchup nightmare for anyone: Haston 6’10 All-America at Indiana for Bobby knight. 1st Round NBA draft pick Charlotte Hornets Hamm 6’8 tremendous skill great scorer recruited at high level Jones 6’6 without question the best all around player. Could shoot, handle, rebound and defend any player/position on the floor. If not mistaken played overseas Warren 6’5 big and strong could score and pass Rhodes 6’4 Deep three range an outstanding shooter Brown 6’1 Fastest and one of the quickest kids I have ever seen. Handled outstanding and could score from anywhere. These were not the only guys, I’m sure there are several missing but for their size they were fast, quick and played very fast. Plus they were an outstanding defensive team as well. I saw the 08 Union City team and the ‘15 Mitchell team. I would say if they both played ‘97 Perry County 10 times I would bet PC every time by 10-15 pts.

This argument can go on forever. But let’s just consider this: the 4 classes have allowed a few teams to make state that haven’t been in years that is true and a positive in my view. What is also true is I have watched every state tourney boys and girls for the last 30 years and what is also true in my opinion is the talent around the state in the public schools is down, I would say WAY down from past years. Between the best players going to the private schools or to out of state prep schools it may get worse. Some of these teams look like glorified AAU teams and just not very well coached or taught the game. Just an observation.

They lost 6 times, that ends the conversation for me.

If Blount county has open enrollment out of middle school, that is a choice. If they are actively recruiting the hall of other high schools that is a problem.

Wouldn’t exactly say that they are urban but since they won they must be

Exactly how would you classify Alcoa? Are they rural or urban?

Well it’s two traditional powerhouse programs that have made many trips to the tourney. I would say the Fulton has just outplayed Haywood by shooting 70% in the first half.