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2008 Sweet 16 Tennessee Summer Travel Team Rankings 6/2
#1- Midstate Ballerz South (prvs. #3) 31-6
-17u AAU State Champion (5-0)
-Pool winner, Tournament of Champions (3-1))
-Winner, Challenge of Champions (6-0)
> -Winner, AAU East Substate (5-0)
-Final 4, Big Shots Mississippi (4-1)
-Sweet 16, Real Deal (3-2)
-Runner up, Hoops Classic (5-2)
Top Players: G Skylar McBee, G/F Nathan Parker, PG Deonte Alexander, F Travei Pryor
Key National Wins: Miami Tropics, Birmingham Ice, Texas Select, Louisiana Future, Birmingham Raptors, Illinois Bobcats, Team Final, New Orleans Jazz
Key In-State Wins: Tn Blue Devils, Nashville Fire, Team Hoopsters, Memphis Hoopers, Tn Heat, Franklin Rage, Nashville Gators, Memphis YOMCA
Next Up: TBA
Notes: Won 23 of last 25 games, with only losses coming to Nationally ranked Indiana Elite and Brandon Bass Elite (LA). Won pool (3-0) at prestigious Tournament of Champions before losing by 2 to top seed Indiana Elite. Won AAU 17u State with win over Memphis YOMCA in finals...
#2- Memphis YOMCA (prvs. #1) 21-9
-Runner up, 17u AAU State Tournemant (4-1)
-Sweet 16, Nike Memorial Day (2-2)
-Winner, AAU West Substate (5-0)
-Competed Dallas Next Level (3-2)
-Runner Up, Old School Schowcase (3-2)
-Winner, Boo Williams Silver Division (4-2)
Top Players: G Leslie McDonald, F Farrakahn Hall, F Johnnie Williams, G Ian Clark
Key National Wins: Houston Swoosh, Arkansas Wings Gold, St. Louis Eagles, Louisiana Select, Chicago Express
Key In-State Wins: Memphis Hoopers, Memphis Y 16s, Memphis Idlewild, Nashville Gators, Team Nashville Fire, Tn Blue Devils
Next Up: TBA
Notes: Went 2-1 in pool at Nike Memorial Day before losing to Houston Hoops. Lost in 17u State Championship game to Ballerz. Still a solid #2 with overall resume...#3- Nashville Celtics (prvs. #6) 9-10
-Pool winner, Tournament of Champions (2-2))
-Wallace Prather Sweet 16 (3-2)
-King James Classic (0-3)
-Final 4, Real Deal Consolation Bracket (4--3)
Top Players: G/F Jon Hood, G/F Casey Prather, PF Drew Kelly, PG Greg Wooten
Key National Wins: Spiece Gym Rats, Tx Bluechips Elite, Jackson Panthers, Smyrna Stars
Key In-State Wins: Team Nashville Fire
Next Up: TBA
Notes: Great run at Tournament of Champions, going 2-1 and winning pool before losing a heartbreaker to D One Sports. Makes a big jump up to #3 with their performances in last two tourneys...
#4- Memphis Pacers (prvs. #4) 15-4
-Wallace Prather (1-2)
-Final 4, Texas Spring Showcase (6-1)
-Final 32, Real Deal on the Hill (3-1)
-Winner, Memphis Select Classic (5-0)
Top Players: G Joe Jackson, G Terrance Durham, F Zach Jones, F Tariq Black
Key National Wins:
Key In-State Wins:
Next Up: TBA
Notes: No games since last rankings, so it was hard to move them up. G Joe Jackson played with Compton Magic in TOC...
#5- Tennessee Travelers (prvs. #5) 8-12
-Nike Memorial Day (1-3)
-Runner Up, Show Me Invitational (3-2)
-Final 8, Big Shots Mississippi (2-1)
> -Old School Showcase (2-3)
-Boo Williams (0-3)
Top Players: G James Gallman, G Jalen Steele, C Joe Meady, G/F Robert Wade
Key National Wins: Alabama Lasers, Inner Strength (GA), Spiece Mo-Kan, Iowa Barnstormers, Miami Tropics
Key In-State Wins: none
Next Up: TBA
Notes: Tough showing at Nike Memorial Day, going 0-3 in pool play, before winning an extra game vs Miami Tropics. A solid 4-5 showing in last two big events, along with other teams faltering, kept Travelers at #5 spot...
#6- Tennessee YOMCA Tigers (prvs. #2) 22-6
-Tournament of Champions (0-3)
-Winner, AAU Central Substate (5-0)
-Wallace Prather (1-2)
-Final 32, Las Vegas Spring Showcase (3-1)<
-Runner up, Kingwood Gold Division (7-0)-Winner, Hoops Classic (6-0)
Top Players: G John Jenkins, F Zeke Mason, C Demonte Simpson, F Blake Jenkins
Key National Wins: Arizona Force, San Diego All Stars
Key In-State Wins: Midstate Ballerz South, Memphis Hoopers, Ballerz East, Franklin Rage, Team Nashville
Next Up: TBA
Notes: A rough showing at Tournament of Champions, with an 0-3 record and 20+ ppg margin of defeat drops the Tigers. Though a 1-5 record in last 2 major events, early season success keeps them from falling any further...
#7- Memphis Hoopers (prvs. #9) 7-7
-Challenge of Champions (2-2)
-Wallace Prather (1-2)
-AAU Substate West (1-2)
-Final 32, Kingwood Gold Division (3-1)-Memphis Select Tourney (??)
Top Players: F Reginald Buckner, G Tonye Smith, G Lewis Jones, G John David Little
Key National Wins:
Key In-State Wins: Memphis Y 16s, Tn Blue Devils, Tn Heat
Next Up: TBA
Notes: No games since last rankings, or the potential to move up further was there. With full roster, this team is a Top 4 team in the State...
#8- Franklin Rage (prvs. #7) 15-5
-4th place, 17u AAU State Tourney (3-2)-Runner up, Central Substate (5-1)
-Runner Up, King of the South (4-1)
-Kingwood Classic (3-1)
Top Players: G Michael Young, C James Haddix, F Jamaul Starnes, G Kevin Kegarise
Key National Wins: Atlanta Select, Team Impact
Key In-State Wins: Team Nashville Fire, Nashville Gators, Ballerz East
Next Up: TBA
Notes: Great run at 17u State tournament but ran out of gas after Semifinal loss to Ballerz. And yet another tournament run featuring more late game heroics from the Rage, including a Peyton Henry 3 to beat Y 16s and a Miller-Mclemore 3 to beat Fire!#9- Nashville Gators (prvs. #16) 6-8
-3rd Place, 17u AAU State Tourney (3-2)
-3rd Place AAU Central (3-3)
-Riverdale Classic (0-3)
Top Players: C Brennan Connolly, G Gentry Horton
Key National Wins: none
Key In-State Wins: Team Nashville Fire, SE Tn Raiders, Midstate Ballerz North, Memphis Idlewild, Franklin Rage
Next up: TBA
Notes: The surprise of 17u State Tourney, the Gators shock the state and finish 3rd, with wins over Memphis Idlewild, Rage, and Ballerz North. Connolly is underrated, and a pair of Columbia guards played very well...
#10- Team Nashville Fire (prvs. #10) 13-12
-17u AAU State Tourney (1-2)
-Central Substate (2-3)
-Wallace Prather (2-2)
-King of the South (1-2)
-Sweet 16, Real Deal on the Hill (3-2)
-Riverdale Hoops Classic (4-1)
Top Players: Eric Bledsoe
Key National Wins: SYF Players, Atlanta Select, Smyrna Stars
Key In-State Wins: Ballerz East, Tn Blue Devils
Next Up: TBA
Notes: Just can't seem to move them off the #10 spot! Another solid showing, but another heartbreaking loss to the Rage! The Fire has been one of the hardest working, most competitive teams in the State, and are just looking for a few more close games to go their way...
#11- Midstate Ballerz North (prvs. #12) 11-12
-17u AAU State Tourney (1-2)
-Final 4, Challenge of Champions (4-1)
-AAU East Substate (2-3)
-King of South (1-2)
-Final 4, Old School Shootout (AR) (3-1)
-Riverdale (0-3)
Top Players: PG Eric Mosley, F Derrick Walker, G Jamarius Alderson, PG Josh Odom, G/F Ashlon Adams
Key National Wins: Atlanta Select, Arkansas Kings
Key In-State Wins: Team Hoopsters, Tn Heat, Memphis Y 16s
Next Up: TBA
Notes: A group to really watch in July, with the additions of Odom and Adams. Couldn't quite find groove in State, finishing tied for 5th w/ Fire after close loss to Rage and heartbreaker vs Gators. Did pick up a buzzer beater win of their own over Y 16s...
#12- Midstate Ballerz East (prvs. #13) 3-10
-Central Substate (0-3)
-King of the South (1-2)
-Real Deal on the Hill (1-3)
-Riverdale Hoops Classic (1-2)
Top Players:G Trey Carothers, G/F Tyler Edwards, G Aaron Wilson, G/F Tevin Crayton
Key National Wins: Dallas Mustangs
Key In-State Wins: Memphis Trotters
Next Up: TBA
Notes: Tough schedule has led to up and down performances: 17 point win over highly touted Dallas Mustangs was highlight, 3OT loss to MBA Select (MS) was almost another shocker. But starting to become the hard-luck team of the state. 3 more close losses at substate for the Ballerz East, including a last second 3 in OT vs. Rage in quarterfinals to deny a State birth...
#13- Memphis YOMCA 16s (prvs. NR)
-17u AAU State Tourney (1-3)
-2nd Place, AAU West Substate (??)
Top Players: F Tank Brown, F Tyler Stone, PG Julian Burton, G Nick Mason
Key National Wins:
Key In-State Wins: Tn Blue Devils
Next up: 16u AAU State Tournament
Notes: Playing in the 17u State allowed me to rank Y 16s in with the 17s. Solid showing at State, with 3 losses coming to very good teams; Ballerz South, Ballerz North, and Rage. Will be a favorite going into 16u State next weekend...
#14- Memphis Idlewild (prvs. #11) 3-4
-17u AAU State Tourney (0-3)
-3rd Place AAU West Substate (??)
-Sweet 16, Dallas Next Level (3-1)
-Memphis Select Classic (??)
Top Players: Victor Shell, Barry Brunetti, Russell Polk
Key National Wins: Arkansas Wings Gold, Texas Select Horace
Key In-State Wins: Memphis Trotters
Next up: TBA
Notes: A bit of an enigma, but after 0-3 showing at State, I just couldn't put them any higher than 14. Poor pool play showing was followed by inspired quarterfinal effort vs YOMCA, which showed what team is capable of (in mere 5 point loss). Will be interesting to see what this team does in July...
#15- Tennessee Blue Devils (prvs. #14) 4-7
-17u AAU State Tourney (0-3)
-Challenge of Champions (0-3)
-Runner up, AAU East Substate (4-1)
-Riverdale Classic (??)
Top Players: G Tyler Clark, PG/2G Chris Poteet
Key National Wins: None
Key In-State Wins: Team Hoopsters, Midstate Ballerz North
Next Up: 17u AAU State Tournament
Notes: Very solid team struggling to pick up wins versus
#16- Team Hoopsters (prvs. #15) 4-5
-Challenge of Champions (1-2)
-AAU East Substate (3-2)
Top Players: PG Josh Odom, G/F Ashlon Adams, PG Corey Young
Key National Wins: N/A
Key In-State Wins: Midstate Ballerz North, Tn Stormriders, Tn Hornets
Next Up: 17u AAU State Tournament
Notes: Talented bunch from upper East Tn, was missing some key front court players for COC, but still competed admirably. Odom and Adams are outstanding duo...
Dropped out:M33M (prvs. #8)
-No longer enough players from TN to be callled a TN team
Right on the cusp:
Memphis Select
Notes: Unknown team owns big win over Birmingham Storm, but hasn't re surfaced since March
SE Tn Raiders
Notes: Solid team from Bradley Central, Walker Valley, and Cleveland
Memphis Trotters
-King of the South, 0-3
-Memphis Select Classic
Top Players: Cedric Bee, Anthony Jones, Nate Rucker, Tramarcus Toney
Memphis Cobras
-Memphis Select Tourney
Tennessee Hornets
Top Players: Aaron Puckett, Carrin Nash
Top Young Teams: (too hard to rank with 17s)
Memphis YOMCA 16s
Midstate Ballerz West 16s
Team Memphis-SBDR
Memphis YOMCA 15s
Memphis Stallions 15s
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