The second month is in the books for the state of Tennessee. Information has been hard to find as some publications/newspapers don't seem to care about high school basketball as much as they do football. Anyway, here are some interesting happenings around the state during the holiday months.

 

Headlines

Tre Monette (Monterey) set the scoring bar very high with this spectacular effort over the holidays. Monette dropped a school record 62 points against Patel (FL) in a holiday event. This set the mark for high point effort in the state so far this season.

 

Jaylen Jones (East Nashville) just keeps putting up buckets and numbers for the Class AA favorites from East Nashville. The Tennessee State signee is lighting up the scoreboards with his scoring feats including a 26-point effort against Stratford.

 

Scoring Exploits

Jacob Ammonett (Pickett County) wants to continue the family tradition with his scoring exploits in the young season. The sophomore shooting guard lit up the books with 31 against East Robertson and will continue to be a focal point of this report as the season moves along.

Jett Montgomery (Independence) is a name we all know and he has not let down this season. I witnessed a sweet 34-point effort against Bearden over the holidays as the rising junior guard is leading his squad toward a date at state come March.

Tyler Tanner (Brentwood Academy) is simply a pleasure to observe. The junior guard was at his best over the break with a 29-point monster effort against CBHS in Memphis.

Maddux Bodenhammer (Riverdale) keeps moving on up the charts with his overall game. His improved shooting has been obvious with his additional scoring including this 32-point effort against Southwest (KY).

Here are some additional big-time scoring efforts for Middle Tennessee:

Brandon Sanders (Smyrna) 35pts vs. Glencliff

E.J. Jordan (FRA) 34pts vs. DCA

Nic Hyche (Ensworth) 31pts vs. Silverdale Baptist

Chase Runyon (Portland) 30pts vs. Springfield

Keaton Arms (Clay County) 28pts vs. Montgomery County (KY)

Kaleb Beasley (Lipscomb Academy) 28pts vs. Ravenwood

Mays McCoy (Fairview) 27pts vs. Nashville Christian

Jordan Davis (Columbia Central) 26pts vs. Hartselle (AL)

Daniel Cochran (Brentwood) 25pts vs. Independence

Caelum Harris (Stewart's Creek) 25pts vs. Nolensville

Eli Ogle (Lincoln County) 25pts vs. Moore County

Ethan Sons (Davidson Academy) 25pts vs. MJCA

 

Milestones

Joshua Heard (Cookeville) had a monumental night dropping a 40 spot and forever establishing his case for school history surpassing the 1,000-point mark for his career.

Donovan Smith (Nashville Christian) has had a fine career come to a milestone event as the rising senior guard enters the school records passing the 1,000-point barrier for his career.

 

Players to Watch

Cortez Graham (Hillsboro) is a name everyone needs to familiarize themselves with and now. The sophomore shooting guard is making waves all over the mid-state and the best is still yet to come. Graham was big over the holidays including a 29-point effort against Mt. Pisgah (GA).

Davis Long (Franklin) may not catch your eye from a physical standpoint but if you know basketball then his game is there to impress. He leads one of the best teams in the state from the point and makes all the right decisions. His 27-point effort against William Blount gave them their only loss in the state so far this year.

 

A Name to Know

Landon Bryant (LaVergne) first caught my eye this summer with the powerful Team Mookie group and has continued his upward trajectory in his sophomore season on the hardwood. Bryant is a combo guard with an emerging skill level as evidenced by his 26-point effort against McGavock this month. Keep him on your radar.

 

Teams to Watch

Goodpasture

This group of Cougars is poised to make a deep run come March. Led by Vanderbilt signee Isaiah West (Goodpasture) and another rising senior prospect in Jack Carter (Goodpasture); as well as, two rising sophomore standouts in Jayden Jones (Goodpasture) and King Keary (Goodpasture). Go check them out and tell me I am wrong.