2017 Arby's Classic Basketball Tournament

[Chinadog]

Looks like some good teams will be at the Arby's Classic next week. Should be a great week to watch some basketball.

More information here: http://www.arbysclassic.net

 

THE 35TH ANNUAL ARBY'S CLASSIC TEAMS

Bearden High School, Knoxville, TN 
The Bulldogs were 22-10 last year and lost in the TSSAA Elite Eight. Ques Glover, jr, 5’11, 18.8ppg, 3.2apg and Trent Stephney, jr, 6’1, 17.8ppg return to lead the Bulldogs. Glover and Stephney are being recruited by ETSU, MTSU and Belmont to name a few. Drew Pember, jr, 6’8, 6ppg, Sharmracus Brown, jr, 6’4, 6.1ppg and Roman Robinson, jr, 6’3, 7.5ppg also return. Coach Parrott has an overall record of 238-236. The Bulldogs will be young and talented and should be a challenge for any team to play.

Columbia High School, Decatur, GA
The Eagles were 21-8 and a Sweet “16” team in 2016-17. Lorenzo McGee, sr, 6’5, 15ppg, 8rpg and Josh Taylor, soph, 6’8, 10ppg, 12rpg return to lead the Eagles. McGee and Taylor are being recruited by several DI schools. Keondre Kennedy, sr, 6’5, 12ppg and AJ Bey, sr, 5’10, 10ppg and 8apg also return. Coach McCrary has an overall record of 567-193. The Eagles were 2010 Arby’s Classic Champions and look to add another championship. The Eagles will be one of the favorites to win the title.

Columbus High School, Columbus, MS
The Falcons were 16-13 in 2016-17 while playing a challenging schedule. Robert Woodward, sr, 6’6, 25ppg, 13rpg and 3apg returns to lead the Falcons. Woodward was Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year in 2017. Woodward is being recruited by Alabama, Iowa State, Memphis and Tennessee to name a few. Denijay Harris, sr, 6’7, 14ppg, 5apg, Casey Smith, sr, 5’8, 11ppg and RJ Deloach, sr, 6’1, 16ppg also are returning for the Falcons. Coach Carlyle has an overall record of 161-43 and has won four state titles. A team from Mississippi has never won the Arby’s Classic. Could this be the year?

Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport, TN
Coach Poore takes over a program that went 12-17 in 2016-17. Hayden Cassell, sr, 6’3, 9.7ppg, Riamello Wadsworth, 6’6, jr, 11ppg and Marae Forman, jr, 5’8, 12ppg return to lead the Indians. Coach Poore will count on a good group of sophomores for team depth. Coach Poore has an overall record of 158-60.

Eastside High School, Coeburn, VA
The Spartans were 19-9 and a state quarterfinalist in 2016-17. Luke Lawson, sr, 6’8, 13ppg, 9rpg and Ethan Powers, soph, 6’2, 13ppg, 3apg return to lead the Spartans. Lawson was All-State in 2016-17. Colyn Sturgill, sr, 6’7, 9ppg, 6rpg, Seth Boles, sr, 5’10, 9ppg, and Adam Ketron, sr, 5’11, 8ppg will also return for the Spartans. Coach Damron has an overall record of 196-127. With their length the Spartans will be a tough draw for any team.

Fern Creek High School, Louisville, KY
The Tigers were 35-3 and lost in the Kentucky State Final Four. Coach Schooler’s Tigers were ranked number one in the state. Anthony Wales, sr,5’10, 15ppg, 4apg and Ahmad Price, sr, 6’3, 14ppg, 7rpg return to lead the Tigers. Tony Rogers, sr, 6’3, 10ppg and Clint Wickliffe, sr, 6’6, 10ppg, 6rpg will also return. Coach Schooler’s Tigers will bring a different style of play to the Arby’s Classic. Male (2000) and Ballard (2001) were the last Kentucky teams to win back to back. Fern Creek will try to make it two in a row for Kentucky.

Gate City High School, Gate City, VA 
The Blue Devils were 23-5 and lost in the Group AA State Quarterfinals. Mac McClung, sr, 6’2, 28ppg, 4apg, 5rpg returns to lead the Blue Devils. McClung has committed to Georgetown. Zac Ervin, jr, 25ppg, 8rpg has offers from ETSU, Marshall and Wofford to name a few. McClung and Ervin were both first team All-State. Bradley Dean, 6’2 12ppg also returns for the Blue Devils. Coach Vermillion has an overall record 372-141. The Blue Devils have the talent to win it all.

Greeneville High School, Greeneville, TN 
The Greene Devils were 18-11 and conference champions in 2016-17. Dorien Goddard, jr, 6’3, 10ppg and Nathaniel Moon, sr, 6’, 6ppg return to lead the Greene Devils. Coach Woolsey will bring a well-coached team to the Arby’s Classic.

Lakota East High School, Liberty Township, OH
The Thunderhawks were 16-8 in 2016-17. Jarrett Cox, sr, 6’2, 18.5ppg, 5rpg, Bash Wieland, jr, 6’4, 8.6ppg, and Jackson See, sr, 6’, 7.5ppg return to lead the Thunderhawks. Alex Mangold, soph, 6’6 and Kyrell Metts, jr, 6’5 will add depth. Coach Adkins has an overall record of 56-19. The Thunderhawks will be well-coached and could be the surprise team.

Landstown High School, Virginia Beach, VA
The Eagles had a 20-10 record and lost in the 6A State Semi-Finals. Kamilo Evans, sr, 6’, 10ppg and Tisheed Jones, sr, 5’8, 7ppg return to lead the Eagles. Lamont Oliphant, jr, 6’4, 6ppg, Thomas Washington, sr, 6’3, 5ppg and Jason Ford, sr, 6’1, 10ppg also return. Coach Robinson has an overall record of 289-123. Patrick Henry Roanoke (1991) was the last Virginia team to win the Arby’s Classic. The Eagles will try to be the next Virginia team to win the title.

Lee High School, Huntsville, AL
The Generals were 21-9 and lost in the Elite Eight in 2016-17. Kobe Brown, jr, 6’7, 22ppg, 11rpg returns to lead the Generals. Brown is a top 50 junior and holds offers from 35 schools. Mason Ellison, jr, 6’5, 11ppg, 5rpg, Tyreese Smith, jr, 5’9, 10ppg, Breon Miller, sr, 6’, 10ppg and Markeitz Tyner, sr, 6’3, 9ppg, also will be returning for the Generals. Kaleb Brown, 6’2, a Top 50 Freshman will add depth. Coach Brown has an overall record of 389-116 and has been named Alabama Coach Of The Year numerous times. With their talent, the Generals could be the first Alabama team to win the Arby’s Classic.

Mater Academy, Hialeah Gardens, FL
The Lions were 23-7 in 2016-17 and district champs. Jesus Duquesne, sr, 6’7, 15ppg, 6rpg returns to lead the Lions. Seven Ferguson,
jr, 6’4, 11ppg, Alex Simoza, sr, 5’9, 11ppg also returns. Cedric Hunis, 6’3 and Tyler Poindexterf, jr, 6’8 will add depth to their program. Coach Rodriguez has an overall record of 704-180 and has won five state championships. The Lions will be a threat to win it all.

North Mecklenburg High School, Huntersville, NC
The Vikings were 24-4 and lost in the North Carolina State Quarter-Finals. Jaelyn Withers, jr, 6’9, 19ppg, 9rpg returns to lead the Vikings. Withers has offers from NC State, VA Tech, UVA, and Clemson to name a few. Tristan Maxwell, soph, 6’3, 15ppg and Vaud Worthy, sr, 6’2, 10ppg also return. Demar Anderson, soph, 6’2 and Dedrick Givens, 6’6, soph will add depth. Coach Lewis’s Vikings won the 2014 Arby’s Classic. With their talent the Vikings should make a strong run for the 2017 title.

Science Hill High School,  Johnson City, TN
The Hilltoppers were 26-10 and a “Sweet 16” qualifier in 2016-17. Tate Wheeler, sr, 6’4, 10ppg, 6rpg and David Bryant, sr, 10ppg, 3rpg return to lead the Hilltoppers. Coach Cutlip has an overall record of 426-152. Science Hill will be well coached and should be an exciting team to watch.

Sullivan East High School, Bluff City, TN
The Patriots were 31-8 and made an Elite 8 appearance in 2016-17. Dustin Bartley, jr, 6’2, 10ppg and 5rpg returns to lead the Patriots.
Ethan Whitley, sr, 6’4 and Mason Johnson, jr, 6’2 also return for the Patriots. Coach Dyer reached 500 wins in 2016-17 and now has an overall record of 519-473. The Patriots will be a tough draw for any team.

Tabernacle Baptist Christian Academy, Freeport, Grand Bahamas
The Falcons had an overall record 34-3 in 2016-17 and were GBSSAA High School Champions. Shyron Kemp, 6’4, 11.5ppg, 10rpg, Regis Cooper, 6’4, 13.5ppg, 8rpg return to lead the Falcons. Desmond Butler, 5’9, 8.5ppg and Alfredo Brown, 5’8 also return. Kevin Clarke has taken over for long time coach Norris Bain. This will be the Falcons nineteenth straight Arby’s Classic appearance. The Falcons will depend on their outstanding athletic ability to challenge any team they play.

Tennessee High School, Bristol, TN
The Vikings were 12-17 in 2016-17. Christian Webb, jr, 6’5, 7.6ppg, 5rpg, Darius Eury, sr, 5’9, 5ppg and Cade Mitchell, jr, 5’5, 6ppg return to lead the Vikings. Grant Hurley, sr, 6’1 and Tyler Parker, sr, 5’7 also return. Coach Witcher will count on a talented group of underclassmen to provide depth for the Vikings. Coach Witcher has an overall record of 240-147.

Webb School, Knoxville, TN
The Spartans were 21-13 and lost in the sub-state in 2016-17. Chase Ridenour, sr, 6’, 19.2ppg, 2.2rpg will be back to lead the Spartans. Ridenour was All-State and a Mr. Basketball finalist in 2017. Myles Rasnick, sr, 15.8ppg, Charlie Wyrick, jr, 6’2, 7.5ppg and Emory Lanier, soph, 6’2, 7.1ppg also return for the Spartans. Coach Norris will be going for his 400th career win as he has an overall record of 397-184. The Spartans could be the surprise team this year.

Edited December 20, 2017 by Chinadog
added teams

[Chinadog]

Results: http://www.arbysclassic.net/2017-schedule--results.html

TN Teams 12/26:

Bearden (76) defeats Greenville (39)

Columbia HS, GA (74) defeats Science Hill (44)

Knox Webb (53) defeats Fern Creek, KY (51)

Landstown HS, VA (58) defeats Tennessee HS (44).

 

TN Teams 12/27:

Dobyns-Bennett vs Mater Academy, FL at 5:30 PM

Sullivan East vs Lee HS, AL at 7:00 PM

Bearden vs Lakota East, OH at 8:30 PM

 

 

Edited December 27, 2017 by Chinadog

[Norman Dale]

Another big win for ET in Arby’s Classic as Dobyns-Bennett knocked off Mater Academy of Florida 65-64 today.

[Chinadog]

Bearden and Webb are still alive in the winners bracket at the Arby's classic.  Webb plays North  Mecklenburg, NC and Bearden takes on Columbus, MS . If they both win, they would pay each other in the finals!

[QSouth89]

I’m curious to know why a team like Maryville, Fulton, Catholic, Powell or AE haven’t been invited to the Arby’s? These teams have consistently won in the Knox area. Do you have to submit an application or is it by invite only? 

Edited December 31, 2017 by QSouth89

[chill]

Invite Only. Usually based on state tourney appearances. I’m sure Fulton has been asked. 

[QSouth89]

6 hours ago, chill said:

Invite Only. Usually based on state tourney appearances. I’m sure Fulton has been asked. 

After talking with a former a Fulton Assistant coach he’s quite sure the Falcons have never been asked. He hasn’t coached there in a while though. Teams like Oak Ridge, Bearden, AE, Maryville, and Catholic have made multiple state tournament appearances over the years (at least 3 each). I could be wrong but I don’t recall many of those upper east TN teams making state tournaments (other than DB, Science Hill, Greeneville and Tennessee High). Oh well it is what it is. I assumed you needed a big name recruit to be invited. 

[Norman Dale]

Oak Ridge has played in the Arby’s Classic recently. Maryville also played in it once somewhere around 2002 when Lee Humphrey was playing. 

They always invite several local upper ET and SW Virginia teams.

[Chinadog]

I think there is a small bias towards the upper east TN teams. Not sure about the Webb connection, but the coach of Bearden was the coach at Cherokee HS previously. Agree that Maryville and Catholic should be there. Some of the east TN teams didn't perform well. 

Edited December 31, 2017 by Chinadog

[Chinadog]

Both Bearden and Webb lost in the semis in close games and played each other for third and fourth place. Bearden won a close one against Webb. 

Trent Stephney (Bearden), Ques Glover(Bearden), Myles Rasnick (Knox Webb) and Chase Ridenour Knox Webb) made the 2017 Arby's Classic All Tournament Team.

[QSouth89]

5 hours ago, Chinadog said:

Both Bearden and Webb lost in the semis in close games and played each other for third and fourth place. Bearden won a close one against Webb. 

Trent Stephney (Bearden), Ques Glover(Bearden), Myles Rasnick (Knox Webb) and Chase Ridenour Knox Webb) made the 2017 Arby's Classic All Tournament Team.

Those two guards from Bearden are extremely talented.  Good showing and represented 4AAA well.  I think Bearden played in the Arby's when Blevin's coached there.

[WBNC83]

The teams from Upper East TN performed alright. I believe DB won their first game against a team from Florida (and finished 6th overall). TN High also played a few close games. Science Hill probably got the worst draw of the tournament opening vs Columbus, MS with their next game vs the team from Charlotte (North Mecklenberg). Those two teams played one another in the championship game last night. The competition at the Arby's is top notch every year. It's been a long time since a team from Upper East TN won it. It's a great tournament though and gives the area teams a chance to play against some of the best competition in the country. It helps prepare them come tournament time too. 

Edited January 1, 2018 by WBNC83