What makes Catholic basketball's Deondrea Lindsey the top-rated sophomore in Tennessee

A player’s appetite to improve can wane when he is the top-rated recruit in the state for his class. The opposite has happened for Deondrea Lindsey, the No. 1 boys basketball player in Tennessee in 2025 according to 247Sports.

“I take pride in (the No. 1 rank in Tennessee),” Lindsey said. “Ever since I seen that, I’ve been trying to go harder, get more recognition so I can keep growing over time.”

The Knoxville Catholic star has made immense strides on the court to maintain his top status. More importantly, he’s become the team’s sophomore leader as he entered the season with state championship ambitions.

Lindsey’s play has earned him offers from SMU, Ole Miss, Georgetown and Georgia Tech. 

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‘Light years ahead of where he was last year’ 

Basketball entered the sophomore's life as a fifth-grader at the request of his grandfather and Lindsey said the sport came “natural." His game improved as his growth spurt occurred in his eighth- and ninth-grade years. Since 2021, he grew from about 6-foot-4 to his current height of about 6-8. 

While his trajectory in basketball inclined steadily, his most challenging moment came during his freshman season. 

Last year Catholic went 28-4 and finished Division II-AA state runner-up to Christian Brothers. The Irish had a roster full of talent that included Tennessee freshman B.J. Edwards, Auburn freshman Presley Patterson and Georgia Tech signee Blue Cain, who transferred to IMG Academy for his senior year.

“Those good guys that I had to fight my position for because I was just a freshman and they were all (upperclassmen),” Lindsey said. “Fighting for a spot that challenged me very well.” 

First-year Catholic coach Luke Smith, who watched every game prior to starting the job, said Lindsey earned minutes primarily for his rebounding and averaged about seven points. With those players gone this season, his role and skills have grown exponentially.

Lindsey averages about 16 points and nine rebounds and Smith says his size combined with his quickness at about 205 pounds makes him a challenge to defend. He said Lindsey has a knack for pursuing the ball, especially for timely offensive rebounds.

Lindsey is adept at finishing around the basket and due to his size and athleticism, he is an elite alley-oop target at the high school level. He plays more as a true big man and models his game after Anthony Davis. Lindsey also has some freedom to shoot from the perimeter and lead a fastbreak after a rebound.

“Really what you want to see as a coach is just constant improvement and constant desire to improve and he's shown that,” said Smith, a former Belmont player. “He's light years ahead of where he was last year.”

Response to first home loss

Senior Yesean Warren was disappointed with his performance in Catholic's 65-63 home loss to Austin-East on Jan. 7. 

Lindsey didn’t allow Warren to put the burden of the loss all on himself. 

“I was down on myself kind of, talking about how I could have did better,” Warren said. “(Deondrea) kind of pulled me to the side just telling me to keep my confidence. 

“We were just like, ‘We just got to move forward … We trying to win a state championship. This loss can’t determine our season.’” 

The Irish’s loss to Austin-East was the first defeat at home and marked their first losing streak after starting 7-0.  

“I told them, it's already over. We can’t do anything to change it,” Lindsey said. “Just look at this moment as a lesson.”

Lindsey texted his coach on Monday morning after the loss and asked if they coul practice at the gym at 7:30 a.m. Smith met him along with four other players for a workout.

A sophomore leading like a senior

Lindsey is tasked with guiding his teammates and setting a positive example. 

“Even though he’s a sophomore, they look at him as a senior,” Warren said.

Smith understands that Lindsey carries a load for Catholic (13-3) that is atypical of most players his age. 

“That’s a lot of responsibility to carry as a sophomore, but it's so good for him to have that responsibility, especially now because not that many people are in that situation when they’re 16 years old,” Smith said. “It forces him to grow up and take the fast track, where a lot of people don't get until their senior year.

“We need him to be a leader right now.”

High expectations are nothing new to the No. 1 sophomore who has no intentions of giving up that rank.

“What's scary is that I don't even think he's scratched (the surface) if he continues to work,” Smith said. “It's harder to keep going when you're the No. 1 player in Tennessee, so I'm going to keep motivating him as much as I can, but I think he'll continue to motivate himself as well, even with all the high praise he’s already received.”