All A Classic State Tournament ~ Friday’s Quarterfinal
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Prep Hoops Staff was in attendance for the second round of the 32nd Annual All A Classic State Tournament hosted at Paul S. McBrayer Arena on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University. After a riveting opening round, 8 teams advanced…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Staff was in attendance for the second round of the 32nd Annual All A Classic State Tournament hosted at Paul S. McBrayer Arena on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University. After a riveting opening round, 8 teams advanced to the quarterfinal games. We bring you coverage on Friday’s best players from the earlier two games.
Region 1 Murray vs
Region 15 Pikeville
Murray – Junior Guard, Grant Whitaker Grant Whitaker 6'3" | PG Murray | 2023 State KY (#14 in c/o 2023)
Whitaker put forth a valiant effort on Friday carrying the Tigers with 23 points. Even as one of the taller players on the roster, Whitaker has a great skill set with the ball in his hands. Although he is more productive in the paint area, he has an effortless jump shot that will be the next evolution of his production. His movement around the court and athleticism put multiple defenders in foul trouble throughout the game. That is a testament to his basketball IQ and awareness on the court.
Pikeville – Senior Guard, Keian Worrix Keian Worrix 5'7" | PG Shelby Valley | 2022 State KY (Top 125 in c/o 2022)
Worrix is a ferocious guard that embraces defending the opponent’s best guard. His playing style is awfully similar to how his coach, Elisha Justice, played as a former Pikeville star. He is the true quarterback of the Panthers that distributes the ball to everyone on the team. There is a lot of talent on offense and Worrix is the playmaker that has forged Pikeville to the championship game on Sunday. Worrix finished with 12 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
Region 4 Todd County Central vs
Region 6 Evangel Christian
Todd County Central – Sophomore Forward, Jamison Glass
Athletically, Glass will be able to compete with almost anyone in the state. He is already a force on defense. His presence alone deters drivers but when they challenge, he has the ability to block shots with either hand. He had a tough game battling the length from Evangel but hopefully, this will motivate him to expand his offensive skillset throughout the rest of the season and into his offseason.
Evangel Christian – Sophomore Forward, Johnny Djema Johnny Djema 6'8" | PF Evangel Christian | 2024 State KY (#6 in c/o 2024)
Djema has primarily been coming off the bench and playing sparingly. As the Eagles increased their margin throughout the game, Djema was able to stay in the game for extended minutes. Djema is another athletic forward that is continuing to expand his game. With the extra minutes, he showcased the range to rebound on both ends of the floor and the soft touch to convert the putback layups. He finished with 9 points and 10 rebounds in only 14 minutes of action.
Evangel Christian – Sophomore Guard, Kyran Tilley Kyran Tilley 6'1" | PG Evangel Christian | 2024 State KY (#13 in c/o 2024)
The Eagles have a dynamic, athletic group of guards that are continuing to gel. Tilley has a great scoring ability that doesn’t always shine on the box score. He does all the things you want out of a scoring guard. He moves well without the ball, has a smooth, consistent jump shot, and patiently picks spots on the court to attack. Tilley was the leading scorer and playmaker on Friday finishing with 11 points and adding 4 assists.
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