Top Players of the Week
Each week, I have attempted to find new names to add in the mix of the best high school basketball talent in the state of Tennessee.
And every week, I have been able to land new names on my list.
This week’s list will feature seven names that are appearing on my list for the very first time this season. I’m pretty sure these guys will appear on my list again at some point during the second half of the season.
League play kicks in after the New Year, and the pressure will hit as postseason gets closer and closer. But, for now, some teams are still finding their groove and identity.
Enough of the talk, here are my Top Players of the Week:
TJ Madlock, Houston: The sophomore point guard led the Cougars to the championship game of the 3rd Annual Bartlett Stagecoach Classic against the Panthers. He averaged 22.3 points per game in the tournament. Madlock’s best performance came against Melrose, where he scored the game-high 28 points. He was named to the All-Tournament team.
Chandler Jackson, Christian Brothers: The freshman point guard had 22 points and eight rebounds in the 75-67 win over Liberty in the Gulf Breeze Beach Holiday Tournament. Jackson had 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in a one-point loss to Johns Creek. He added seven assists in Christian Brothers’ 73-55 win over Brother Martin to clinch the tournament title. Jackson was named to the All-Tournament team.
Clint Channell, Christian Brothers: Channell was named to the All-Tournament team for his performance in the Gulf Breeze Beach Holiday Tournament. He had 15 points and 10 rebounds against Liberty and 11 points and seven boards against Johns Creek.
Decorian Payton, Center Hill: The junior forward had 18 points and five rebounds in the 82-66 win over Hamilton-Southeastern in the Mustangs’ first win in the West Kentucky Hoops Classic. Payton followed that up with 21 points and eight rebounds in a 78-77 win over Sapulpa. He was named Player of the Game.
Calvin Temple, Center Hill: The senior point guard had 23 points and five rebounds against Hamilton-Southeastern, resulting in a Player of the Game award. Against Sapulpa, Temple recorded 23 points and three assists.
Kenneth Lewis, Center Hill: Lewis had 15 points in the win over Sapulpa. He had 11 against Hamilton-Southeastern.
Kevin Henry, Center Hill: Henry had 11 points and 9 rebounds against the Sapulpa Chieftains.
Kaeden Laws, Center Hill: Laws recorded 14 points against the Hamilton-Southeastern Royals.
Kennedy Chandler, Briarcrest: Chandler averaged 20 points per game in the 58th Annual Mater Dei Tournament. He was named to the All-Tournament team.
Marcellus Brigham, Briarcrest: I wasn’t able to get any stats on Brigham, but he was also named to the All-Tournament team in the Mater Dei Tournament.
Duane Posey, Melrose: Posey had 18 points in a 56-48 loss to Houston. He was named to the All-Tournament team of the Bartlett Stagecoach Classic.
Sylvester Thompson, Bartlett: The senior point guard had 12 points in the Panthers’ 46-45 win over Houston. He was named to the All-Tournament team.
Takori Rooks, Bartlett: The senior forward was named to the All-Tournament team. His best performance came against St. Benedict, where he scored a team-high 14 points.
Wynne Brown Jr., Bartlett: The senior point guard had 13 points in the championship game. He was named MVP. Brown was also named to the All-Tournament team.
James Wiseman, Memphis East: Wiseman averaged 25 points, 11.6 rebounds, and five blocks per game in the Chick-Fil-A Classic.
Nick Floyd, Lausanne: Floyd was named to the All-Tournament team in the Centralia Holiday Tournament on his first weekend with the Lynx.
Jordan Rawls, Hamilton Heights: The junior point guard had 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in the 77-63 win over Minnesota Prep in the Big South Shootout.
Jason Jitoboh, Hamilton Heights: The senior big man had 10 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks against Minnesota Prep.
Samson Ruzhentsev, Hamilton Heights: The junior wing had 19 points and six rebounds against Minnesota Prep.
Bayron Matos, Hamilton Heights: The Mississippi State commit had 10 points and 11 rebounds against Minnesota Prep.