Best Bball player in the state

[Jeremiah]

Who is the best basketball player in the state? If I wanted to go watch a game who would you recommend? Are there any 7 footers or close that just dominate? Or a 6'7 point guard. Any "Penny Hardaways" around?

[WestTNHoopsFan]

On 2/23/2024 at 12:25 PM, Jeremiah said:

Who is the best basketball player in the state? If I wanted to go watch a game who would you recommend? Are there any 7 footers or close that just dominate? Or a 6'7 point guard. Any "Penny Hardaways" around?

those days are gone for now in West TN public schools. Not sure about private outside of Jackson but the answer is a no for West Tn. 

Edited February 24 by WestTNHoopsFan

[SweetScience]

6 hours ago, WestTNHoopsFan said:

those days are gone for now in West TN public schools. Not sure about private outside of Jackson but the answer is a no for West Tn. 

Have all the great Memphis area players gone the private route?

[sportsfan53ray]

Billy Richmond III of Memphis chose to play his final two years of high school ball at Camden, NJ. where he played with D. J. Wagner last season. Class of 2024 Top 25 national prospect will rejoin with Wagner at Kentucky next season. His dad is a Memphis restaurant owner and former player for Calipari at Memphis. Previously played at East High.

Edited February 25 by sportsfan53ray

[sportsfan53ray]

Top 75 four star Curtis Givens III, point guard, of Memphis chose to play his final two years of high school ball at Montverde Academy in Florida. Signed with LSU. Previously played at MUS.

[LloydBonafide]

The #2 player in the country (24/7 Sports) is a Chattanooga kid named Ace Bailey. He left Boyd Buchanan and now plays for McEachern in Atlanta. He's special.

[tradertwo]

17 hours ago, SweetScience said:

Have all the great Memphis area players gone the private route?

Yes and no. I've been lucky enough to see some bona fide talent in the western division of the state over the past several years, but the number of kids who are legit DI and potential NBA players has tapered to almost nil now, the very few coming along usually go the prep school route and move out of state.

[attila]

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!

[SweetScience]

I hate to say (kinda, but not really lol) but it gives us other teams in the other parts of the state a chance now. Who is the best AAAA team out there right now, Bartlett?

[t-mac]

It would be Ace Bailey easily but I guess he doesnt count since he went to Georgia to play

[HonkyNinja12]

Somto Cyril was at Hamilton Heights in Chatt. Left for OT Elite. Another top 45 in the country leaving the state.

[QuickStrike]

GP 8th grader has a chance.