MY MR. BASKETBALL NOMINATIONS

The annual quest to find the top players in the five classifications of the Volunteer state, sent out ballots this week for nominations for the state's highest individual honor, the title of Mr. Basketball.

Here are my nominations for the Classes A, AA, AAA, DII/A and DII/AA.

Class A

Tyreke Key (Clay County) Indiana State Signee
Parker Stewart (Union City) Ole Miss Signee
Caden Mills (Van Buren County) Class of 2018, 2,000 point scorer

Class AA

Bo Hodges (Maplewood) ETSU Signee
Clay Washburn (CPA) 6'8 Wing, deep range, blocks shots
Luke Smith (Knoxville Catholic) Leader of the state's top ranked AA team

Class AAA

Alex Lomax (Memphis East) Class of 2018, defending champion
Grayson Murphy (Independence) Belmont Signee
Tyler Harris (Cordova) Class of 2018, high volume scorer

DII/Class A

Chase Hayden (St. George's) Arkansas Football Signee, monster senior hoop season
Chase Ridneour (Knoxville Webb) Class of 2018, 1,000 point scorer
Schyuler Forrest (Lausanne) Class of 2018, emerging star

DII/Class AA

Darius Garland (Brentwood Academy) Class of 2018, Nationally Ranked
James Wiseman (Ensworth) Class of 2019, Nationally Ranked
Jr. Clay (McCallie) Class of 2018, Making them Take Notice

BET YOU DONT KNOW ME....BUT YOU WILL

Not far from Memphis, you will find one of the best players in the Class of 2018 that very few people outside this area are familiar with.

Taelyr Gatlin (Brighton) is doing remarkable things over in District 13AAA. The Cardinals are on the verge of finishing the district campaign unblemished for the first time EVER!!!

Gatlin is averaging around 19 points per game, snatching 5 plus caroms and dishing out five dimes along the way.

He was named Most Outstanding Player at two holiday events, The Larry Ransom Classic and the Hotbed Classic.

He is on the verge of scoring his 1,000 points and he manages to maintain a solid 3.5 GPA. In the past three games he is averaging a whopping 29 points per game and is set on concluding this season on a high note.

COBRAS READY TO STRIKE A BLOW IN CLASS AA

White's Creek got a taste of what getting deep into the state playoffs was all about last season. Thought to be a season away Coach Battle's crew shocked the world and made it to the title game falling to Fulton.

Returning majority of his squad, The Cobras are currently ranked 4th in the state in Class AA playing a very tough schedule to prepare themselves for the rigors of the state playoffs and the quick turnarounds.

White's Creek is led by 6'10 senior post Ruot Monyyong (White's Creek) and slick 6'5 junior wing Dennis Stallings (White's Creek). Coach Battle has done serious work since arriving on the scene a few years ago. This is a squad that is discipline, smart and they do not quit. A very tough out in any and every tournament format.

2018 SHOOTER CARVING THEM UP IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Coulter Dotson (Creek Wood) was just a piece to a larger puzzle last season as Creek Wood, with a senior laden squad, had a good season finishing on the cusp of the state tournament.

This season the Class of 2018 shooting guard finds himself the center of attention and he has responded remarkably well against the freak defenses set up to slow him own.

Dotson is averaging around 24 points per game including a robust 44% from the deep line. He has been good on the glass at 5 per game and is improving his assist game as his cohorts are making buckets driving up those dime totals.

He is approaching 1,500 points for his career and has maintained a gaudy 3.8 GPA in the classroom.

Here is a guy for mid to low major coaches to keep an eye on this summer.

VOLUNTEER STATE NATIVES MAKING WAVES IN THE LEAGUE

Bet you didn't know a little more than a handful of former Tennessee prep stars have found a home in the NBA.

Thaddeus Young of the Indiana Pacers was once a Mr. Basketball winner and state champion at Memphis Mitchell.

Brandon Wright won three Mr. Basketball awards, four state tournament MVP awards and four state titles while at Brentwood Academy. He currently plays for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Staying with the Grizz, did you know Marc Gasol was once a prep star in Memphis at Lausanne. He was also a former Mr. Basketball winner.

How about Corey Brewer who led his Portland HS squad to the state tournament and captured a Mr. Basketball award. He now works for the Houston Rockets.

Ian Clark did his prep work at Germantown and now does his thing with the Golden State Warriors.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Tariq Black played at Ridgeway HS in Memphis while current Sacramento Kings forward Skal Labissiere once toiled in the prep scene with ECS.

Finally, Cameron Payne another Lausanne alum captured a Mr. Basketball trophy and currently does his things for the Oklahoma City Thunder.