Tennessee standouts from Bama Jam, part II
It was so good to be back in the gym this past weekend and where better to make this happen than one of my favorite events the HoopSeen Bama Jam. Tennessee was well represented and here are five more players who caught my eye.
Isaac Power (Summit), 2025, 6'2 SG/WF
STARS Nashville 2025 UAA Rise
Tough competitor who showed every part of his game as the event moved along. In the earlier games his ability to knock down the open shot was unparallel. When his feet were set his confidence was soaring and the buckets came in bunches. He is a strong young player who uses his size to defend and get rebounding position. He gets anywhere he wishes on the floor with his powerful build. In the championship game he added more slashing and driving to the bucket to his repertoire. He challenged the bigs from the other squad at the rim and often came out on top. He doesn't blow you away with his quickness but his IQ makes him very hard to guard. He understands pace and can get by you with his change of speed dribbles and of course that ability to knock down the shot from deep.
Isaiah Divens (Blackman), 2023, 5'11 PG
STARS Nashville 17U-Moran
Dynamic backcourt mate with his buddy Smith. Divens was ultra-impressive with his skill level on both ends of the floor as well. Undersized but far from frail, he likes to defend and seems to relish it. His offensive game is strong off the bounce and he can explode as we saw on Sunday with a rim-shaking tomahawk that brought the crowd to their feet. He has a good feel for the game, he understands pace and tempo while knowing when to attack and when to set up the offense. His outside shot is adequate needing some mechanical tweaks in the release. He has the ability to play either guard spot but seems much more at ease when running the show.
Keelan Jackson (Tyner Academy), 2023, 6'5 SG/WF
Tennessee Tigers 17U
At first glance, a long and athletic player who has endless energy and can simply jump out of the building. He blocks shots in bunches, he challenges shots and despite his frail frame, he held his own on the glass. He plays with toughness and effort at all times, simply a joy to watch. Offensively he has skills but will need to show more aggression and take over possessions as he can handle and finish off the bounce. His shot lacks rotation but he made his fair share so the tweaking is minimal to say the least. He gets buckets with his effort often closing possessions with an offensive carom. As his body matures and his shot becomes more of a weapon, with this size and athleticism, here is a kid who will no doubt make some noise as a prospect at the proper level.
Jordan Dumont (Hamilton Heights), 2023, 6'7 SG
EAB Tennessee 3SSB 17U
The emerging prospect was rich on length and athleticism. He is at his best in transition either running the floor for showcase finishes or leading the fray and finding the correct teammate for a friendly finish. He has a very soft touch around the bucket, he is creative in his finishes using either hand around the rim. He explodes off his feet for rebounds and despite his slight build was tough on the interior. Outstanding shooter with an excellent range he is able to score at every level and his length makes him very hard to guard on the perimeter or in the paint. When engaged he was without question one of the top players in the event.
Andre McClellan (Columbia Academy), 2024, 6'2 PG
Tennessee Tigers 16U
I have enjoyed watching this young man for two summers now. Tough kid who plays with passion on both ends of the floor. He is deadly off the bounce and will attack the rim at all angles. His quickness and explosion are his best assets as he likes to play fast and create downhill mobility. He has tight handles, he sees the floor, and understands defenses and when to explode. As his outside shot becomes a more confident weapon his stock will certainly trend upward.