Volunteer State All-Star Weekend (Part 2)
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I got it. Come on Tennessee, get behind my idea. Let me paint the picture again. A mid-season All-Star weekend. We would have it at MTSU. Both the Murphy Center, Alumni Gym, and the Rec could be used for events.…
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Continue ReadingI got it. Come on Tennessee, get behind my idea. Let me paint the picture again. A mid-season All-Star weekend. We would have it at MTSU. Both the Murphy Center, Alumni Gym, and the Rec could be used for events. This could be done first weekend in January or right before MLK Day. Let’s talk a little further though.
In our first initial segment, we talked about a statewide mid-season All-Star weekend. The big All-Star event was filled with mainly seniors and juniors, however we had two sophomores who were nominated to compete in the game. The young ladies that were chosen were Kimora Fields Kimora Fields 6'2" | PF Bradley Central | 2026 State TN from Bradley Central and Natalya Hodge Natalya Hodge 5'7" | CG Bearden | 2026 State TN from Bearden based on their production, accolades, and being nominated as Miss Tennessee finalist. To add some excitement to the All-Star weekend, we would have a Rising Stars tournament, taking a little page out of the NBA’s book.
Instead of 7 players on 4 teams, we would have 10 players on 4 teams. The state would be divided into 4 parts (you will see listed below.) The event would be a pool play event. Scoring would be just like normal except it would be the first to 32. For the championship game, you take the two teams with the best record and they would play a game to 24 points (honoring Kobe Bryant). Talk about an exciting weekend filled with hoopers from around the state going toe to toe. Bragging rights on what area had the best ball players would definitely be some water cooler material.
In this field, you have a phenomenal amount of talented girls coming from the sophomore, freshman, and 8th grade class. Girls who can flat out hoop by shooting the lights out of the ball or getting downhill in finishing in the paint. Within this field of players, you would have so much star talent from the state that this particular weekend would be hard to ignore. Think about how one could increase their stock playing in an eventful weekend as this? If you are a college coach, shoot you would have a field day. Add media access and educational seminars for athletes, this would be a prime event for all to witness and come to.
Picture this. You would have the All Star Games (Boys and Girls), Rising Stars Tournaments (Boys and Girls), Dunk Contest, 3 point contest (Boys and Girls), Skills Competition (Boys and Girls), along with any ancillary events. Talk about an awesome hoops weekend. Without further ado, take a peek at the rosters of the Rising Stars participants.
Region 4 Team (West Tennessee)
- Haylen Ayers (Fr./ USJ)
- Amare Booth Amare Booth 5'7" | CG Hamilton | 2026 State TN (So./ Hamilton)
- Harmony Bell Harmony Bell 5'7" | PG Middleton | 2026 State TN (So./ Middleton)
- Curnesha Taylor (So./ Memphis Business School)
- Faye WIlliams (So./ Bartlett)
- Ke’miyah Buggs (So./ Fayette-Ware)
- Robynn Thompson Robynn Thompson 5'9" | CG Melrose | 2026 State TN (So./ Melrose)
- Ava Jones Ava Jones 6'1" | PF Hutchison | 2026 State TN (So. Hutchison)
- Chelby Jordan Chelby Jordan 5'8" | PG Dyersburg | 2026 State TN (So./ Dyersburg)
- Sania Reaves Sania Reaves 5'11" | PF Gibson Co. | 2026 State TN (So./ Gibson Co.)
Region 3 Team ( Middle Tennessee consisting of counties from Smith Co. back to Stewart Co.)
- Lauren Hassell Lauren Hassell 6'2" | PF Clarksville Christian | 2027 TN (Fr./ Clarksville Christian)
- A.C. Shirley (So./ MTCS)
- Marley Spiers Marley Spiers 6'3" | C Clarksville Christian | 2027 TN (So./ Clarksville Christian)
- Jade Watson Jade Watson 5'7" | PG Rockvale | 2027 TN (Fr./ Rockvale)
- Ava Zenner Ava Zenner 5'7" | PG Franklin Road Academy | 2028 TN (8th / Franklin Road Academy)
- Bella Shepherd Bella Shepherd 5'6" | SG Lipscomb-Academy | 2026 State TN (So./ Lipscomb Academy)
- Makynli Bacon Makynli Bacon 6'0" | PF The Webb School | 2028 TN (8th/ Webb Bell-Buckle)
- Kayte Madison Bjornstad Kayte Madison Bjornstad 6'1" | C Franklin Road Christian School | 2026 State TN (So./ PCA)
- Lily Morrow Lily Morrow 5'11" | SG CPA | 2026 State TN (So./ CPA)
- Lily Espelet (So./ Page)
Region 2 Team (Middle Tennessee Plateau area consisting of Cookeville and Hamilton Co.)
- Allie Gillies Allie Gillies 5'8" | SG Cookeville | 2026 State TN (So./ Cookeville)
- Sydney Wilhite Sydney Wilhite 5'9" | SG Cumberland County | 2027 TN (Fr./ Cumberland Co.)
- Lauren Clark Lauren Clark 5'10" | SG Cumberland Co. | 2027 TN (Fr./ Cumberland Co.)
- Aubriyana Camp Aubriyana Camp 5'7" | SG Chattanooga Christian School | 2027 TN (8th/ Chattanooga Christian)
- MoMo Moore (8th/ Chattanooga Christian)
- Lilly Woodruff Lilly Woodruff 5'8" | SG Sweetwater | 2027 TN (Fr./ Sweetwater)
- Malea Masingale Malea Masingale 5'10" | SF McMinn Central | 2027 TN (Fr./ McMinn Central)
- Natalie Barnes Natalie Barnes 5'7" | SG Coffee Co. | 2026 State TN (So./ Coffee Co.)
- Jules Ferrell Jules Ferrell 5'7" | PG Coffee County Central | 2027 TN (Fr./ Coffee Co.)
- Lakelyn Grasty Lakelyn Grasty 5'7" | PG White Co | 2026 State TN (So./ White Co.)
Region 1 Team (East and North East Counties from Morgan Co. to Johnson Co.)
- Meeyah Greene (So./ Webb- Knoxville)
- Addie Wilhoit Addie Wilhoit 5'8" | SG Tennessee | 2027 TN (Fr./ Tennessee)
- Skylar Walder (Fr./ TKA)
- Brykee Tullock (So./ David Crockett)
- Andrea Flores Andrea Flores 5'10" | SG Daniel Boone | 2026 State TN (So./ David Crockett)
- Natavia Alber Natavia Alber 6'1" | PF Northview Academy | 2026 State TN (So./ Northview Academy)
- Payton Rollins Payton Rollins 5'8" | PG South Doyle | 2027 TN (Fr./ South Doyle)
- Alexis Hammock Alexis Hammock 5'7" | PG Grace Christian (Knox) | 2027 TN (Fr./ Grace Christian- Knoxville)
- Nya Barnes (So./ Gatlinburg-Pittman)
- Maliyah Glaspar Maliyah Glaspar 5'5" | PG Gatlinburg-Pittman | 2026 State TN (So./ Gatlinburg-Pittman