Elite All-Tournament Team
Grace Christian Academy captured their first basketball TSSAA Championship Saturday, 46-44. Three of the Rams earned placement on the @PrepHoopsTN All-Tournament First Team. Just one player that didn’t play Saturday earned First Team recognition.
FIRST TEAM
Most outstanding player: Grant Ledford, Grace Christian (2019)*
Stats: 15.0 points, 7.5 rebounds
In 32 minutes, Grant Ledford scored 18 points none more important than his five made free throws in the final minute. From Grant Ledford you can always expect energy and rebounding. The junior usually offers scoring too. Playing alongside C.J. Gettelfinger, Ledford comfortably floats into dangerous positions. He can score from anywhere 18′ and in. Ledford’s lift on the jumper allows him a little window at this level.The Rams really need his scoring and it is hard to imagine the Rams advancing all the way to the State Championship without his influence and points. Ledford also collected a steal on Chase Ridenour’s baseline pass. With his two late free throws this steal sealed the title for GCA’s Rams.
Keon Johnson , The Webb School-Bell Buckle (2020)*
Stats: 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.0 blocks, 4.0 turnovers.
Nobody put together a better February than Keon Johnson. The sophomore obliterated eight teams with stunning athleticism, hustle, and bounce. He gets off the floor quicker than any Div II wing in the state. Keon defended anyone 1-5, often giving The Webb School a post defender against traditional bigs. Keon’s future is blisteringly bright, largely because he continues to work and improve his already dominating game.
CJ Gettelfinger, Grace Christian (2019)*
Stats: 15.5 points, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 80.0 FT%
End-to-end nobody was quicker than CJ this weekend. The lefty burst up the floor, often leaking out as the rebound hit the rim. Slithering like a snake through the tall grass, Gettelfinger capably wiggles to the rim in tight gaps. Considering his size, Gettelfinger is a fantastic finisher around the bucket. Gettelfinger couldn’t match his 21 point effort from Friday in the final and he fouled out early. Still, nobody can argue he didn’t thrust his Rams into the championship stretch. Ledford closed out the game at the free throw line and Younker kept GCA close with his defense early and yet Gettelfinger delivered unrelenting defensive pressure (2 five second calls forced) and steady ball-handling. CJ Gettelfinger verbally committed to Oakland University (MI).
Myles Rasnick, Knoxville Webb (2018)*
Stats: 16.0 points (63.1 FG%, 66.7 3P%)
Aside from Baylor Younker, nobody exceeded their recruiting station more this week than Myles Rasnick. The senior is considering a few D1 walk-on opportunities, but he played like a scholarship-worthy LM point guard this weekend. He controlled the pace, easily sliced through defenses, and constantly made perfect decisions. Rasnick struggled with foul accumulation Saturday. When he played he was a problem. Rasnick absorbed the painful loss with tears streaming down his face. It was tough to watch the pained warrior leave the floor with a loss.
Baylor Younker, Grace Christian Academy (2018)*
Stats: 9.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.0 blocks
A strong argument could be made for Baylor Younker to take the Tournament MVP honor. Without his first half defense the Rams aren’t around to overtake Webb’s Spartans in the second half. Younker blocked seven shots and significantly effected Webb’s plans. The 6-foot-8 center hovered under the basket and comfortably blocked those seven shots, altering others. His best score came from a lovely left-handed baby hook in the first half. Younker is an unsigned senior.
SECOND TEAM
Jalen Montgomery, Lausanne Collegiate (2020)
Stats: 11.0 points, 3.0 rebounds
Schyler Forrest, Lausanne Collegiate (2019)*
Stats: 17.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 blocks
Chase Ridenour, Knoxville Webb (2018)
Stats: 9.5 points, 3.5 turnovers, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Tariq Daughton, Knoxville Webb (2020)*
Stats: 9.3 points, 5.0 rebounds
Charlie Wyrick, Knoxville Webb (2020)
Stats: 5.0 points, 5.5 rebounds
Honorable mentions: Emory Lanier (Knoxville Webb, 2020); Jordan Crawley (Grace Christian, 2019); Cooper Riggs (Grace Christian, 2021), Cameron Simms (Lausanne Collegiate, 2019)
*denotes players that were named to the media’s all-tournament team