KevB1990

Congrats to jeff county for a great tournament run. Rumor has it that Coach Sinard wants back in. More rumor says that Coach Duncan is very unhappy at Greeneville even though they are leaving the imac. Finally it has been heard that Coach Gordon has had enough at West and is ready to get out after his team quit on him in the district. Lots of talk what do you think happens?

What's Rick's deal? I mean he coaches for a while, they bring in someone else, he kicks off a player who broke rules then Sinard is back in...that was back about 5-7 years ago. Then he walks away again, they struggle, he wants back in...can he make up his mind?

As far as Duncan, he's probably going to win 2-AA and Region 1-AA the next four years if his talent level doesn't fall off drastically. It's going to be extremely tough for the teams that have been in 2-AA and 1-AA for the forseeable future to hang with a long-time AAA school that has always been pretty decent if not very good. Him leaving now is probably in protest of the alignment, which as far as I'm concerned is six to one and a half dozen to the other. Would he rather go to Harrogate and Maynardville once a year or Erwin and Mountain City?

They might've lacked a lot, but ya gotta remember the regular season counts for seeding and sometimes the matchup is the key. I was worried more about Grainger in a third game with G-P than I was with the Gap even though CG beat Grainger at home a few weeks ago by one.

That definitely makes the regional task more difficult for the Grizz...they'll either have to travel to Mountain City or Erwin for the first game.

If Heather quit then I'm extremely disappointed. I'm sure it wasn't just her decision...then again I've not been involved with the teams on-hand since 2006 so there's no telling what all has transpired since I moved.

I'm just really disappointed. I would imagine it's not like her to quit. It looks like it's been an up and down season for everyone, but you gotta persevere.

If he tried coming in from Knoxville through Maynardville he might've gotten lost. Coming in through Tazewell is a long way and coming from Forge Ridge is extremely windy.

Yeah that's what outside observers don't see. He's been getting that for quite a while. How many times do you see a guard get doubled everywhere he goes?

I think if I heard right that scenario is the one being discussed right now for UT chill. The McBees could swing one year's tuition and wait for Skylar to get put on scholarship in 2010. That's all contingent on what Wake winds up doing...a full ride from them is probably the deal sealer.

Great to see Farmer light it up. It's nice when your ace is having a bad night and there are others capable of picking up the slack.

That's 4-0 against the IMAC this year and 5-0 overall against AAA schools. Not too shabby.

Don't think you'll have to worry about Skylar missing a pair of dunks. If he misses one I'd say he'll just pull up for three the next time he has a breakaway.

Unicoi will be fine. Everyone is gunning for them in District 1. When it's all said and done there will be a rematch between Unicoi and Rutledge/Grainger in the Region 1 tournament to see who gets a slightly easier time with a home game between the Knoxville schools...because it's going to be hard to beat either one regardless of the location.

They have seen him play a few times this year, but Bruce Pearl has been to 2 games (Grainger/Union Co. and Grainger/Carter). I overheard his mom talking to some people last night and she said that they have not offered him anything yet, but that Skylar really hopes they do. I'm like you I don't know what else Skylar can do to show Bruce that he should get him at UT. I've heard that UT is where Skylar really wants to go, and being from around here I would like to see the Vols get a hometown boy. Because like you said he can flat out play and dropping 44 points on anyone should prove that hands down.

That's 100% correct. Skylar really wants to go to UT, but he's holding on until the late period is over because they've not offered him yet. If they had he would've already jumped on it. His other option is to be a preferred walk-on, which in my opinion is a slap in the face because several other schools (Wake included) are still looking at him right now. He's getting a lot more pub lately and games like this one, the one where he torched Harlan County for 39 and the Union County game a couple of weeks ago are making it increasingly interesting. Wake's coaches have told him to shoot it more, which is a good idea, but he's counted on for passing and rebounding along with scoring 25-plus a night.

Skylar would have to improve his defense & become more physical, maybe add a little more muscle also to be able to play at Wake or Tennessee. The kid can flat out play though no question about that.

Take a look at him a little more closely. The kid has been working out like crazy since his freshman year. He was an option quarterback as well so he's taken a lot of punishment. He's plenty tough.

If McBee goes to Wake then Pearl should be questioned for his complete lack of sense. This is a no-brainer. The kid wants to stay in state, play a half hour away from where he's lived all his life and is a legitimate D-1 player. If he was a Bertlekamp or a Bayne or a Haslam there wouldn't be any of this rigamarole.

I hope Skylar goes to Wake. Pearl doesn't deserve a kid like this.

Skylar goes for a career-high 44 against Carter. So much for getting locked down I guess. That's the highest output for a Pioneer/Grizzly since 1988 when Greg Phillips dropped 42 on West Greene.

Grizz win 71-53. The overview will have to come from some of those in attendance. Way to go boys! /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

I think so...amazing ain't it? Makes you appreciate the good years.

Anyone with any sense knows CPA will be tough should they make the boro (I think they will). I hope we (LA) make it there again. IMO, AA is wide open. What I really dont get is, and I know its just polls, but AE gets blowed out by 40+ and drops one. It will sort itself out soon enough. Good luck to all!

A-E lost to AAA's top team by 40...which I wouldn't confuse with any AA team outside of Memphis or Fulton.

I've had to run the clock, keep the book and do the public address. It's OK so long as you don't get caught up in the game as a fan.

If he is better than McBee I sure like to see Leslie play. Will he have a game near east Tennessee or will we have to wait till the state Tournament or until he gets to Chapel Hill to get a look at his game? /dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

Look, I'm big on Skylar. I've known him since he was a baby. Whether or not he's as good as McDonald is a moot point. Both are being recruited by or have been signed by two of the top teams in the country that are both in the ACC and pretty much in the same vicinity of North Carolina. I'm sure they might've crossed paths in summer ball, but I wouldn't get ultra defensive when it comes to comparisons to players from Memphis. And I'm hopeful that the Grizzlies make it to the state tournament, but that means getting through either Fulton or Austin-East in the sectionals not to mention Unicoi County in the regionals. It's a tough road ahead and I know there's not a defense that Skylar hasn't seen thrown at him, but Lord only knows EVERYONE knows who to concentrate their help defense on when they play Grainger.

They are and he is. It's the same formula for success that the 1995-98 Rutledge girls used with his big sister and a big reason why the 1999-2002 Rutledge boys were so good when his big brother played. All the McBee kids have that "it" factor being the kids of a coach and just because they are extremely talented.

It's also a fact that Skylar spends a couple of hours just about every morning before class in the gym working the "it" factor and making "it" better. He's a worker and knows that to be a good player can be because you've been taught by a good coach/parent. But to be great takes lots and lots of work and lots and lots of love for the sport and the willingness to give all you've got to be successful.

Grizz have their seven-game win streak snapped on the road at Harlan. It was a tight contest like back in December at Grainger with this one ending up a one-point loss. Anyone have a report?

Oh we know who he was there to see... /biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

That said I hope he's more than impressed with that performance. 32 on the road with a lot at stake and probably against a double team most of the night.

Grizzlies get a sweep of Union with a solid win on the road. That gives them some breathing room and no worse than a tie for the regular season title. They'll be the top seed in the tournament because they have the highest number among the teams that could tie them (Union and CG) and have the head-to-head sweep of the Pats.

I'll have to admit that's the first I've heard about Skylar playing baseball, or even entertaining the idea of playing baseball. Like Luvdagame said already there's plenty without him on the baseball team. I mean for goodness sakes Rutledge was always in contention and did about everything they could on the baseball field except get past the sectionals. Now with newer facilities and quite possibly more interest at Grainger there's potential there for a carryover of the success from the Rutledge days.

I've not talked with Coach Bishop or Coach Tate though to get the skinny. I'm sure that the Skylar rumor is a lot like the Daniel Singleton rumor from five years ago at Rutledge when some thought his uncle, then head coach Wallace, was going to get him to play as a senior. It's a good topic for discussion, but probably not something that will happen.

As far as the rest of the district, the Sevier County teams (both of them this year I suppose) will be the main competition. Pigeon has been very tough to beat since they broke through with the Cannon family in the early part of this decade. The extra inning championship game at West Greene where the Tigers were the first team to beat Jason Gray in nearly two years was a classic and a heartbreaker rolled into one.

You have to remember for every JuJuan Smith you have 4 Eddie DeBro-type players...

Who all is looking at him now? It would be a nice pick-up for UT if he decided to walk-on.

Wake Forest is very interested in him and they're talking about a scholarship and not walking on. My advice to UT is to quit holding out for him to still be available at the end of the late signing period and offer him a scholarship or he'll head elsewhere. He really wants to play at UT, but I'm hoping he opts for the place where he can play AND get his education paid for in the process. He's also had offers from UAB, Indiana State, Tulane, MTSU, ETSU, and several other D-I schools.

Now that all the nonsense posts following a big road win have been dealt with, the Grizzlies are sitting in a great spot in the district at 6-1 with three left to play. The week off before playing Union County in Maynardville could be a good thing and then again could be a detriment. When you're on a roll you like to keep playing.

/popcorneater.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":popcorneater:" border="0" alt="popcorneater.gif" /> IrishBBall, thank you for your post. Skylar is a classy young man. He is as you described everywhere. It is indeed sad that fans, coaches, officials, etc. find it necessary to bash a player just because of his abilities. Claiborne County is an excellent place to play ball. The fans get behind their team, and harass the good players like Skylar....and that is expected. It's all part of the game. I may have come off a little harsh on the Claiborne County group as a whole, buy my focus was on the individual who instigated things with the original post. By the way, much thanks for the time you put in in AAU and the other leagues. It often goes unappreciated and unnoticed.

Those who can't do like to bash when someone that can isn't "lighting it up." I think Bulldog fan should be happy that Skylar didn't go for 30-plus like he's capable or they would REALLY be whining.

You just aren't going to find a better kid than Skylar. All the haters are counting down the days to when he graduates because they can go back to playing the Grizzlies straight up instead of double and triple-teaming him.