With football in the rearview mirror, the state of Tennessee has begun the new high school season with a bang. This monthly endeavor will highlight the top teams, top players, milestones, scoring exploits, headlines and newcomers to watch each month as the season moves along. I will divide the story in the regions of the state. Enjoy.

East Tennessee

Headlines
Jordan Dumont (Hamilton Heights) goes off for 40. The Villanova signee hit the nets hard for a 40 spot in a big win over East Hamilton.

Scoring Exploits
Cade Capps (Stone Memorial) is off to a blistering start as his Panthers are unblemished and the sophomore is scoring at a school-record pace. He drops 36 against Science Hill and a cool 27 against Jefferson County in early season action.

Tyree Smith (East Ridge) will be a name to keep an eye on in the Chattanooga area. Smith got the new campaign underway with a pair of 30-point games. He dangled 30 against Ooltewah and 32 on Boyd Buchanan.

Max Richardson (Union County) is off to a blistering start this season. He dropped 39 against Pigeon Forge and followed that up with a cool 29 against Claiborne.

Here are more huge scoring efforts from the early stages of the season thus far:
Shane Cherry (Austin East) 42pts vs. Union County
Caden Buckley (Hampton) 39pts vs. West Greene
Brady Stump (Dobyns-Bennett) 38pts vs. A.C. Reynolds (NC)
Reed Ownby (Sevier County) 36pts vs. South Doyle
Ty Pryor (Rockwood) 34pts vs. Coalfield
Richard Bell (Northview Academy) 31pts vs. Gatlinburg-Pittman
Rodney Henderson (Tyner Academy) 31pts vs. Brainerd
Kyle Cloninger (Morristown East) 30pts vs. Science Hill
Tyler Lee (Fulton) 30pts vs. Austin East

Milestones
Jason Britton (North Greene) drops 33 against Tri-Cities Christian and surpasses the 1,000-point plateau for his young career.
Andrew Knittel (Volunteer) and Joltin Harrison (Volunteer) surpass the 1,000-point mark.
Leyton Frye (West Greene) scores 35 against Cherokee and moves past the 1,000-point mark for his career.
Dennis Lewis (Brainerd), Ethan Parks (Midway), Caden Johnson (Boyd Buchanan) and Wade Witcher (West
Ridge) etch their names in school history surpassing the 1,000-point mark for their high school campaigns.

Players to Watch

Jamal Livingston (Daniel Boone) is the best player in the state that nobody knows about. The senior guard has been stroking the rock and making noise on the Eastern side of the state. How about a 41-point effort against Sullivan East and a trio of 36-point outbursts against the likes of Cherokee, Bearden, and Enka (NC)?
Ty Glasper (Gatlinburg-Pittman) struck the initial blow in this area with a massive 48-point effort against Kingston. He would follow that up with a peaceful 37-point explosion.

A Name to Know
Trey Thompson (Greeneville) has officially arrived and he announced his presence with authority. The rising freshman comes to the two-time defending state champions with a body of work that has begun on epic proportions. He dropped 26 in his first high school game followed it up with a 28-point effort against Hardin Valley and managed to drop 25 points and snatch 20 caroms against Alcoa in a win this weekend. Big things popping for this young man.

Teams to Watch
Fulton
The Falcons currently stand unblemished including a big win over rival Austin East this weekend. Led by the Kimber twins and Mr. Tyler Lee this group is bound and determined to make their noise in the 'boro when the time comes.

William Blount
The Governors stand at 8-0 and are poised to make this one of the best seasons in school history. Led by a senior guard in Reece Pride and a pair of rising juniors in Grady Robertson and Caden Windle. Keep a sharp eye out for this group as the season moves along.

Knoxville Catholic
First-year coach Luke Smith takes over this storied program and thus far has the Irish on a proverbial roll. Led by sophomore sensation Deondrea Lindsey, senior guard Yesan Warren, emerging guard Caleb Asbaty and incoming freshman Cade Murphy this group will make some serious noise in the DII landscape.

Tyner Academy
The best team in this part of the state. The Rams are led by a host of players including senior forward Keelan Jackson, transfer Nick Smith, shooting guard Nehemiah Bloodsaw, and a sophomore sensation in Rodney Henderson. You will have to go through the Ramely to make it to the 'boro if you reside in this region of the state.

Middle Tennessee

Headlines
Jarred Hall (Lebanon) etches his name into Lebanon High School folklore. The Tulsa signee surpasses the 1,000-point barrier. His early season scoring prowess included 31 against Summit, 37 against Raleigh-Egypt, 35 on Cane Ridge, and a 39-point effort against Riverdale.

Scoring Exploits
Eddie Ricks (Clarksville Academy) came out of the senior year chute on a mission. The Morehead State signee started the season with a cool 29 against Lebanon and another 28 against Ezell-Harding.

Lucas Clanton (Cascade) and Monzo Sweeney (Maplewood) are names you will hear about often in the scoring list this season. Clanton dropped a 31 spot on Rockvale and added a 30 against Moore County while Sweeney went even bigger with 43 against Lead Academy and a slick 39 against White House.

Jaylen Jones (East Nashville) struck first with a 33-point effort against Cane Ridge the Tennessee State signee added a cool 25 against Hunter's Lane.

Here are some additional big-time scoring efforts for Middle Tennessee
Fred Bailey (Pope Prep) sets a school record with 41 pts vs. Franklin Road Academy. 
Donovan Smith (Nashville Christian) 37pts vs. Fairview
Auden Slaughter (Sante Fe) 35pts vs. Mt. Pleasant
Devin Hill (MTCS) 32pts vs.
Jacob Ammonett (Pickett County) 31pts vs. Livingston Academy
Sam Parson (Grundy County) 30pts vs. Sequatchie County

Milestones
Isaiah West (Goodpasture) is on the way back from a knee injury that curtailed his junior campaign. The Vanderbilt signee started his senior season on a high note moving past the 1,000-point status for his high school career.
Auden Slaughter (Sante Fe) made news this week moving past the 1,000-point plateau in only his sophomore season.

Players to Watch
Nazier Leonard (Northeast) has the undivided attention of the folks in the Clarksville area. The senior guard started things off by smashing the school record for points in a game with a 54-point effort against Henry County. The previous record was held by Alex Poythress. He then managed a solid 31-point mark against Kenwood.

A Name to Know
Cade Bennerman (Father Ryan) is a 6'10 rising sophomore with massive, massive potential. He seemingly gets better every time he steps on the floor and when the body catches up...look out. Don't believe me, ok, how about a triple-double, 10 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 blocks just the other day, and this weekend his scores 27? Mark it down this kid is for real.

Teams to Watch
Stone Memorial
The Panthers are off to a fiery start and wish to be among the state participants again this season. Led by sophomore Cade Capps and senior shooting guard Matthew Bilbrey this squad is tough, well-coached and determined. They will make noise.

East Nashville
The defending state champions in AA bring back one of the best players in the state Jaylen Jones and a host of talented others as they wish to defend this crown at all costs. So far the path seems right on track.

Hillsboro
You better watch out as they say during the holiday season but the Burros are for real. Led by a slew of talented players including rising sophomore stars Cortez Graham and Tylen Fisher.

West Tennessee

Headlines
Jordan Frison (Memphis Overton) wants everyone statewide to know his name. The senior lead guard lights the fire with a 54-point effort against Nashville Overton. Then a triumvirate of 32-point barrages against the likes of Arlington, Germantown and Mitchell make him a must-see on that side of the Volunteer state.

Scoring Exploits
Xavier Alexander (Memphis Overton) is wanted folks to know his name in Bluff City. Alexander comes off a 42-point effort against Kirby after dropping a slick 33 against Mitchell.

Christian Gilliland (Northpoint) is making a statement with his early-season exploits. The rising junior guard has been lighting up the scoreboards around Memphis. How about 38 against Southwind, 34 against West Memphis Christian, 31 against KIPP, and 29 against ECS.

Here are some other large-scoring nights in West Tennessee thus far:
Jerrod Mackey (Hillcrest) 34pts vs. Bolton
Tristan Fleming (St. George's) 32pts vs. Bolton
Brock Vice (Houston) 32pts vs. St. Benedict
Woodie Harvey (Memphis East) 28pts vs. Raleigh-Egypt

Milestones
Jordan Allen (Hillcrest) moved his name into state history recording 11 steals in a game against Bolton. The previous record was held by Chris Jones from Melrose. Allen also added 26 points in the win.

Players to Watch
Damion Cox (St. Benedict) is my top sophomore in a very talented class. His early season scoring efforts leave no doubt he is on the way. Peep this a 36-point effort against Houston, another 36 against FACS, 30 against KIPP and 26 against Memphis Central.

A Name to Know
Cello Jackson (FACS) and MJ Hayes (FACS) are a pair of 2026 prospects that are moving up the state and national charts. Both are attracting attention this season including Hayes with 24 and Jackson with 23 in a game against Raleigh-Egypt recently. Big-time prospects with major potential.

Teams to Watch
Memphis East
Compensating for the loss of a pair of talented returnees will not derail the Mustangs. Woodie Harvey and Alijah Curry will get this squad in position when the time is right.

Briarcrest Christian
Newcomer and Ole Miss signee Jakob Gazzo joins the talented backcourt of Jaye Nash and Cooper Haynes; as well as, talented incoming freshman Fred Smith and the Saints will go marching into the state tournament.