November Players of the Month
November was fantastic for the basketball lovers. The gyms are filling up gradually, as the casual fans realize sitting on unforgiving bleachers is more enjoyable than watching tv on their couches. Which players are off to the fastest starts? Here…
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Continue ReadingNovember was fantastic for the basketball lovers. The gyms are filling up gradually, as the casual fans realize sitting on unforgiving bleachers is more enjoyable than watching tv on their couches. Which players are off to the fastest starts? Here are a few.
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Isaiah West Isaiah West 6'3" | SG Goodpasture | 2023 State #216 Nation TN – Goodpasture Christian – 2023 G
The #1 player in ’23, Isaiah West Isaiah West 6'3" | SG Goodpasture | 2023 State #216 Nation TN is everything we thought he would be. Facing a potential State Champion in Brentwood Academy, West made all six shots and finished with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Goodpasture Christian is almost as good as last year right now, but in order to best that P.J. Smith-led team Isaiah West Isaiah West 6'3" | SG Goodpasture | 2023 State #216 Nation TN will need to bring along his young guys quickly. He can’t do it alone, especially with F.A.C.S. so loaded and senior-laden.
Da’Ron Hall Da’Ron Hall 6'7" | PF Cane Ridge | 2024 State TN – Cane Ridge – 2024 PF
I have seen enough to make this seemingly absurd statement with conviction. Disregarding athleticism and height, Da’Ron Hall Da’Ron Hall 6'7" | PF Cane Ridge | 2024 State TN is more offensively skilled at this early stage of his sophomore year than James Wiseman was.
@CaneRidgeBBall #longlive22 #ripchico 🕸 pic.twitter.com/MY6f0KciXG
— Da'Ron Hall (@iamdaronhall) December 1, 2021
He is not and will probably not be 7-foot-1. It is challenging to compare their athleticism by watching just games. There are drills, lifts, sprints to more fully evaluate that. This caveat is needed because merely mentioning an NBA player during a comparison carries a burdensome amount of weight. All that said, Da’Ron Hall Da’Ron Hall 6'7" | PF Cane Ridge | 2024 State TN can calmly, effectively execute a drop-step, a high-low feed or catch and finish, bury a catch-and-shoot 18′ shot, run the floor, flash to free throw line and knock down a hurried jumper upon reception. The quiver is so full of arrows that prepared defenses like Independence do not know how to guard him effectively.
Jackson Garner Jackson Garner 6'0" | PG Clinton | 2022 State TN – Clinton – 2022 G
In his first five games, Jackson is averaging 25 points per game. He recently surpassed 1,700 career points and his shooting percentages are silly: 46% 3’s, 86% FT’s.
Tai Cates Tai Cates 5'11" | PG South-Doyle | 2023 State TN – Alcoa – 2023 PG
Cates scored 57 points in one game. That kinda number could hold up for the whole season as the highest individual scoring output.
Trey Morrow Trey Morrow 6'3" | SG Scott Co Tn | 2022 State TN – Scott – SG
Statistically, Trey has no equal in 2021-2022. Morrow put up 37 ppg, 10 rpg and his Highlanders won all seven games. Mr. Basketball is a possibility for him.
Trent McNair Trent McNair 6'4" | SG Brentwood Academy | 2022 State TN – Brentwood Academy – 2022 SG
It took him a few years to round out his offensive game to include more than just shooting, but the unsigned senior Trent McNair Trent McNair 6'4" | SG Brentwood Academy | 2022 State TN has done it.
Jake Dykstra Jake Dykstra 6'3" | SF C.P.A. | 2022 State TN – C.P.A. – 2022 G
What a month! Jake beat the final buzzer with a filthy crossover into a three-point game-winner at the Lighthouse Classic! And then followed that up with 6-12 three-point effort in the win over Pontotoc High (MS) the next night. A week earlier Jake helped his Lions of C.P.A. hold off a very strong Ravenwood team in the NXT LVL Tip-Off Classic.
Damon Fann Damon Fann 6'2" | SG Riverdale | 2022 State TN – LaVergne – 2022 SG
Damon is on fire. He scored 31 points, 21 points, 21 points, and then 37 points in succession. Fann earned a Cleveland State Community College offer December 1st.
Billy Richmond – Memphis East – 2024 SG
Aljiah Curry – Memphis East – 2024 PF
Curry, the former #1 player in 2024, impressed a couple of keen evaluators during East’s Lighthouse Classic trip with his “amazing speed and huge upside.”
Lukas Walls Lukas Walls 6'4" | SG Knoxville Webb | 2023 State TN – Knox Webb – 2023 SG
Despite not playing fully healthy, Lukas Walls Lukas Walls 6'4" | SG Knoxville Webb | 2023 State TN dominated for long stretches against University School of Nashville (USN) at the NXT LVL Tip-Off Classic. Then, his team defeated Hamilton Heights Christian Academy ( Somtochukwu Cyril Somtochukwu Cyril 6'10" | C Overtime Elite (GA) | 2024 #65 Nation GA , Camden Andrews Camden Andrews 6'1" | PG Hamilton Heights | 2023 State TN )
Malik Dia Malik Dia 6'9" | PF Ensworth | 2022 State #210 Nation TN – Ensworth – 2022 PF
The reason Malik earned his mention is simply the jump in production he made in just the last three months. Consider 21 rebounds at the NXT LVL Tip-Off Classic.
B.J. Edwards – Knoxville Catholic – 2022 PG
Knoxville is proud of their hometown star and will get to enjoy him at UT. Edwards is doing everything right for a team loaded with D1 talent. Catholic is good enough to win state in 2022 and Edwards is the ideal leader for this mission.