Knoxville Knockout: Day One Recap
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There were Prep Girls Hoops Circuit events this weekend in Wisconsin, Oklahoma and Tennessee, but the Triumph Region’s second of nine events may have provided the most picturesque backdrop to an exciting weekend of basketball with the Knoxville Knockout emanating…
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Continue ReadingThere were Prep Girls Hoops Circuit events this weekend in Wisconsin, Oklahoma and Tennessee, but the Triumph Region’s second of nine events may have provided the most picturesque backdrop to an exciting weekend of basketball with the Knoxville Knockout emanating from Rocky Top Sports World.
With the Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee in the background, teams and players from several states were hoping to be at the peaks of their games.
Play began early in the morning at Rocky Top Sports World and lasted until the early evening. Without further adieu, here are those who stood out on the first day of play.
Jonna Moses – 2026 – Tellico Plains MS – Team Ambition 2026 – Moses was at the top of her game at Rocky Top Sports World. A rising star in a state that is as passionate about girls and women’s basketball as any, she is setting herself up to be much-talked about in the coming seasons. Moses got her team off to a fast start to begin Saturday’s lineup of matchups as Team Ambition 2026 defeated Alabama Twisters Elite 2026 by a final of 50-14. Along with her 3-point shooting, she delivers plenty of hustle and energy, has no problems absorbing contact and getting to the free throw line and displays plenty of poise.
Hailey Williams Hailey Williams 5'10" | PF Sevier County | 2023 State TN – 2023 – Sevier County HS – TN Flight Trotters 2023 – There is a severe chance plenty of points will be put on the board when this Sevier County standout is on the court. Williams stands at 5-foot-10 and is a signature star in the frontcourt for the 4A Smoky Bears. Williams will corral plenty of rebounds and also reject plenty of shots as a defender. She will also draw her fair share of contact and get a number of opportunities at the free throw line. In TN Flight Trotters 2023’s matchup against Mississippi Delta Elite 2023, Williams also kept herself out of foul trouble as she had only one personal called against her. Her number in the points department was a bit higher for the game – 16.
Keira Leffew Keira Leffew 5'11" | CG Knoxville Christian Academy | 2023 State TN – 2023 – Christian Academy of Knoxville – TN Flight Trotters 2023 – Few things go wrong for a team on the court whose colors Leffew is sporting. The 2021-22 campaign was a banner season for her. Not only did her Warriors reach the Division 1A state semifinals, but she received an offer from Bryan College. Leffew drained a couple of 3-pointers and also managed to put the ball through the hoop via the midrange jumper and the running floater. Leffew is tall at six feet and also has a long wingspan which comes in handy on defense when rejecting shots. She also had 14 points in the win over Mississippi Delta Elite 2023.
Halli Stuffle Halli Stuffle 5'5" | PG Lakeway Christian Academy | 2023 State TN – 2023 – Lakeway Christian Academy – TN Flight Trotters 2023 – Stuffle can leave opposing teams in quite the kerfuffle. Stuffle particularly stuffed the stat sheet from behind the 3-point arc as she drained four triples in her team’s victory over Mississippi Delta Elite 2023. She will also put herself in position to haul in rebounds as well as contribute on defense with footwork and shot blocking. She also excels with her ball movement. Stuffle tallied 14 points in the win early Saturday morning and at the start of the high school season picked up an offer from Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville.
Journey Waller – 2027 – Putnam County Middle School – Lady Empact 2026 – It is quite the arduous journey for opposing teams and coaches to try to contain Waller. She delivered one of the early highlights of Saturday’s slate of Knoxville Knockout contests with a walk-off layup in overtime to lift her Lady Empact team to a 50-48 victory over Panhandle Prospects 2026. She delivered on the two-pointer after getting from one end of the court to the other with a great deal of speed in the closing moments. Waller already has a recreation league championship to her resume as part of the 11-12 year old Putnam County Recreation team that won a Georgia Recreation & Park Association District 6 championship in 2021.
Ty Johnson – 2026 – Brewer Middle School – Greenwood Storm 2026 – It is no longer much of a secret that South Carolina is a talent-rich state in the girls’ basketball realm and Johnson is one of the bright, young up-and-comers from the Palmetto State’s 2026 class. Johnson is one of the tallest members of this year’s Greenwood Storm 2026 rendition, standing at 5-foot-9. Johnson puts plenty of points on the board and some of those buckets can occur after she grabs an offensive rebound. She also plays with a high basketball I.Q. and can keep herself out of foul trouble – as she did in her team’s win over Dayton Vipers Elite 2026 Black where she was only called for two fouls. She scored 12 points in the game.
Paige Walters – 2023 – Potomac Senior HS – SVM Select Rams 2023 – With Paige, any team stays on the same page. Whether it is her Panthers basketball team or the volleyball team she takes the court for. Leave Walters open from 3-point range with the ball in her hand and she is likely to take and make those attempts. She plays with a high basketball IQ as she can also play near the rim and be in position for rebounds which can turn into putbacks on the offensive end. In her team’s matchup against Promise Elite Basketball Club 2023, she remained out of foul trouble with only two personals called against her for the game. Walters finished with 15 points.
Angel Jones – 2022 – Forest Park HS – SVM Select Rams 2023 – Jones recently completed a storied career at the high school level with the Bruins. She is finishing her career at this level on the travel circuit and hoops aficionados across the Commonwealth await her next moves at the collegiate ranks. Jones can put more than enough points on the scoreboard to lift her team to victory, but her talent goes past the 19 points she averaged in her swan song at Forest Park. Jones distributes the ball efficiently to her teammates, gets in position for rebounds and can make things uncomfortable for opposing ball carriers, putting them at risk of turning over the rock. Jones had 10 points with no fouls in SVM Select Rams’ victory over Promise Elite Basketball Club 2023.
Jada Brooks – 2023 – Northwest HS – Road To Glory (RTG) 2023 – Brooks brought her fearless attitude to the east Tennessee altitudes. She is one opposing defenses especially have to be on the lookout for from behind the 3-point arc as accurate as she is from downtown. Brooks is also not afraid to draw contact and find her way to the free throw line. She stays a consistent threat to steal the ball and those opposing team turnovers could turn into fastbreak layups the other way. Her overall skillset includes rebounding capabilities. With the graduation of three Vikings seniors, including Tennessee 4A Miss Basketball finalist Ta’mia Scott, look for Brooks to have an increased role in Northwest’s offense in 2022-23.
Bailey Burroughs Bailey Burroughs 5'10" | SF Clinton | 2025 State TN – 2025 – Clinton HS – 865 Elite 2024 – Bailey Burroughs Bailey Burroughs 5'10" | SF Clinton | 2025 State TN is a big-time battler at basketball. She is the lone Dragons representative on 865 Elite 2024 – and she is doing her school’s orange and black colors justice. Burroughs will put a good number of points on the board and can do so in a variety of ways – including from behind the 3-point arc and at the free throw line on the heels of drawing contact. She is also reliable as a rebounder and defensively with shot blocking. The Dragons’ frontcourt stalwart led 865 Elite 2024 in its matchup with Dayton Vipers Elite 2024 Black, dropping 14 points in a winning effort.
Rachel Wilhoit Rachel Wilhoit 5'8" | SG Carter | 2024 State TN – 2024 – Carter HS – 865 Elite 2024 – Where there is a Wilhoit, there is a way. Listed at 5-foot-6 and one of three Green Hornets as part of the 865 Elite 2024 roster, Wilhoit brings an extensive skillset to her team. Among that skillset is her versatility as she can play as either a guard or as a forward. Another element of it is the ability to drain her attempts from 3-point range and another is her ability to draw contact and find her way to the free throw line. Wilhoit aided her team’s effort against Dayton Vipers Elite 2024 Black with a 10-point showing.
Emily Mustard – 2024 – Anderson County HS – 865 Elite 2024 – Mustard stands tall as one of two near-six-footers on her travel squad. But Mustard is a 5-foot-11 star on the rise who excels in both basketball and volleyball. While nonconventional, someone with her height that also brings ball handling and rim attacking skills is one worth keeping one’s eyes on. Mustard also runs the floor very well and possesses a 3-point shot as part of her overall offensive arsenal in addition to the ability to get crafty with her ball distribution. She tallied 11 points in 865 Elite 2024’s 52-37 victory over Dayton Vipers Elite 2024 Black.
Anastasia Gillam Anastasia Gillam 5'3" | PG JL Mann | 2027 State SC – 2027 – Calhoun Falls Charter – Greenwood Storm 2026 – There are plenty of 2024 and 2025 travel teams across South Carolina that wishes Gillam would move up a travel class or two with her extensive skillset. Listed at 5-foot-1, she will attack the rim, uses her speed and agility to her advantage, can drain a 3-pointer or several and is difficult to contend with on defense. Gillam also has no problems drawing contact and getting to the free throw line. She completed at least one old-fashioned 3-point play in her team’s get-together with Hoop-Phi Lady Ballerz 2026. Gillam finished with 18 points in her team’s victory.
Cameron Oliver – 2026 – Westview MS – Greenwood Storm 2026 – Oliver is making a case that Westview could be the best view. She is listed at 5-foot-1 and plays on the team with her twin sister Danielle. Oliver combines a knack for putting up points from either behind the 3-point arc or from two-point range in addition to ball-handling abilities. She can also be active away from the ball and can go at the defenders and get to the cup with the rock in her hands. Oliver dropped 18 points in Greenwood Storm 2026’s win over Hoop-Phi Lady Ballerz 2026. She also plays soccer – also alongside twin sister Danielle.
Ziqueria Woolfolk – 2023 – Veterans HS – One Step Away 2023 – Well, folks … what about Woolfolk? One thing about her is that she is not afraid to draw contact and find her way to the free throw line. She also possesses the potential for placing a good number of points on the scoreboard – and those baskets can come in critical moments of a game. Woolfolk can also come through defensively as she can be in good position to corral steals. She put 10 points on the board in her team’s contest with Road To Glory (RTG) 2023 – One Step Away’s final matchup in Saturday’s rundown of games.
Andrea Guilford – 2026 – New Manchester HS – Team Nite Nite 2024 – Guilford is one of three Jaguars currently represented on Team Nite Nite 2024. She is sure to be one New Manchester fans will appreciate in the coming seasons. Guilford can play tough defense to trap opposing ball handlers and play hard-nosed offense in attacking the rim. If Guilford is fouled, she is likely to sink her free throws after she arrives at the line. She also can drain her attempts from behind the 3-point line. Guilford finished with 17 points to lead her team to a 57-52 victory in a nightcap matchup on Saturday over USC Unleashed.
Teaira Kelley – 2025 – Walnut Grove HS – Team Nite Nite 2024 – While her first name may be spelled differently from the crown-shaped object, she still wears said crown. Kelley is one of two representatives on the Team Nite Nite 2024 roster that is at least six feet or more – and she uses that height to her advantage regularly. Kelley will make tough shots and, on occasion, get fouled which can place her at the free throw line. She hauls in rebounds, intercepts passes and can grab rebounds off of an opponent’s missed free throw. In a winning Team Nite Nite 2024 effort over USC Unleashed, Kelley contributed 11 points.
Lauren Middleton Lauren Middleton 5'6" | CG Cross | 2025 State SC – 2025 – Cross HS – USC Unleashed 2024 – Middleton reached the peak of her game in the mountains of east Tennessee. She is one of many names that makes up what is a stacked 2025 class across the Palmetto State. It is hard to contain her when she gets a full head of steam en route to the basket as her quickness and scoring ability make a lethal one-two punch. Middleton also is not afraid of contact as she can get to the line and be true on her tries at the stripe. She finished with 12 points – 10 in the second half – of her team’s hard-fought contest with Team Nite Nite 2024.
Lyniah Kitt Lyniah Kitt 6'0" | PF Woodland | 2024 State SC – 2024 – Woodland HS – USC Unleashed 2024 – Kitt was it for USC Unleashed 2024 on Saturday evening. Kitt has a height advantage over many a frontcourt adversary as she stands at 6-foot-1 – one of two on the USC Unleashed 2024 roster at that height. Kitt can put herself in position to receive passes near the rim, haul in rebounds and draw contact to put her at the free throw line. A good number of the boards she corrals are of the offensive variety – and those can translate to two-point putbacks. Kitt can also get her own boards in case she misses one at the line. She finished with 20 points to lead all scorers in her team’s matchup with Team Nite Nite 2024.
Brooke Haywood – 2025 – Chaminade Julienne Catholic HS – Dayton Vipers Elite 2025 – Haywood plays good. And one of those reasons is Haywood is versatile and can operate on the floor either in the frontcourt as a guard or in the backcourt as a small forward. If Haywood is fouled, she is likely to convert on the opportunities she gets at the free throw line. She comes up big with blocked shots as a defender in addition to what she does near the rim. Haywood keeps her hands and arms active as a defender and can corral her own rebound off a miss. Haywood finished with 13 points in a Dayton Vipers Elite 2025.
Amyannah Tucker – 2025 – Troy HS – Dayton Vipers Elite 2025 – Tucker has left many an opposing team and opposing coaching staff feeling like suckers. In Dayton Vipers Elite 2025’s Saturday evening contest to close out the first day of the Knoxville Knockout, she managed a huge performance with 17 points which led all point-getters. She scored in a variety of ways – floaters, driving to the basket and at the free throw line after she got bumped. Tucker also displays impressive court vision which enables her to make efficient downcourt passes to her teammates. She will be one to keep an eye on in Ohio’s robust basketball scene in the coming seasons.