And The Finalist Are..... DII-A Miss Tennessee Finalists

The votes are in. The media and coaches have spoken. The 2023-24 Finalist for the most prestigious individual award in high school basketball is in. The Miss Tennessee basketball finalists have been chosen from a good pool of players who were selected as nominees.   For those who don't know, the Miss Tennessee award honors the best player in each classification (We will have a total of 6 of them: D1-A, D1-AA, D1-AAA, D1-AAAA, D2-A, D2-AA). The award honors the young lady who had the best regular season. Postseasons such as the district and state tournaments aren't accounted for or are a part of the selection process. It's purely based on the body of work done from tip-off of the first game to the final whistle of the regular season.   Coaches and members of the media nominated these young ladies for this phenomenal award. No, I was not a part of it, but hey, I trust the committee of people who voted for these fine hoopers. The winners of each class will be announced on March 12th. Whoever wins, just note that these are some of the best young hoopers in their prospective classes. They truly represent our state and give their all. Personally, I bet this was a tough decision  because you can't have two finalists from the same area. If it was up to me, I believe you could. However, I trust the process and will be pleased with whatever decision.   For those young ladies chosen, I applaud you and your efforts. What you have done goes unnoticed and to cover you is a blessing in itself.   This will be a six-part article honoring all nominees. Without further ado, here are the 2023-24 nominees for DII-A classification.   [player_tooltip player_id='405709' first='Daisy' last='Gale'] (5'9/Sr./G/ Providence Christian Academy)- Mars Hill Commit. Finished her career with 1,000+ career points. Averaged 18 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 spg,4 apg. Atlanta rapper T.I. has a song called “Active” and buddy, DG is that plus more. Daisy is a beast on the floor. A determined individual, she will do whatever it takes to win. She is a multi-level scoring threat, but her bread and butter is getting downhill and finishing at the rim.Through bumps and bruises, she is a tough competitor who just competes. She isn't afraid to mix it up with opponents, winning loose balls, jump ball situations, rebounds, ect. She packs a powerful punch and she doesn't back down. I will say, the team feeds off her energy and she will go above and beyond to help her club win. Daisy is a solid ballplayer who plays the game fearlessly.   [player_tooltip player_id='405712' first='Kelsie' last='Johnson'] (5'6/Sr./G/ Silverdale Academy)- Tough dual sport athlete who competes from tip-off to the final whistle. Averaged 18 ppg, 6rpg, 2 apg, and 2 spg. Every year, Kelsie has gotten better and better. She's a sharpshooter that when she is on, is hard to beat. Her ball club had a 19-5 record this year and she was one of the leading catalysts for her team's success. A humble leader who just gets it done. She sets the tone for her club by doing the little things. Yes, scoring buckets is one of them, but also contributing on the defensive end is another. She has a solid all-around game and oozes with confidence.Whether on the hardwood or in between the lines in volleyball, this kid gives her best every single night. Kelsie is a solid prospect who works tirelessly on both ends of the court.   Haylen Ayers (6'1/Fr./G/ USJ)- Well, she has arrived. She's been competing on this level since the 8th grade, but this phenomenal multi-sport athlete is here to stay. Doesn't matter if she is on the diamond or on the hardwood, she brings it, fearing no one. 20 ppg, 7 rpg, 2.3 asp, 50% FG, 39% 3FG. Not bad stats for a freshman I would say.(lol). One of the best in her class not only in the state but in the country, Haylen is a ball player that plays with a motor. A great two-way player, she gives just as much effort on the defensive end as she does on the offensive side. Blessed with great size and length, she uses that to her advantage to create chaos throughout the whole entire game. A multi-level scoring threat who is the complete package: size, speed, heart, determination, ect. This opportunity is the first of many , but look for her to leave her mark on this game when it's all said and done. 3 more years of chaos and havoc for opponents. Great, phenomenal young hooper who is going to shatter records throughout her high school career.   Just missed the cut   Here are some young ladies who just missed the cut for being finalists for the 2023-24 season. These girls did a phenomenal job as well. Though not one of the three finalists, these young ladies still deserve their flowers for a job well done.   [player_tooltip player_id='290971' first='Natalie' last='Kaye'] (5'8/Sr./G/ Grace Christian Academy)- St. Andrew's (Scotland) commit, this dual sport athlete finished the season averaging 20.1 ppg, 6 rpg, 2spg, and was 35% from 3-point range. This heady ball player competed her tail off each and every game. She was the heart and soul for her ball club and they had an impressive regular season run. Natalie plays the game with such passion, she isn't afraid to go toe-to-toe with some of the best. The kid can fill it up, doesn't matter where, she has the confidence to just get it done. Solid kid who is taking her game over the pond, had a stellar high school career that truly left her mark on her school.   [player_tooltip player_id='372802' first='Kami' last='Wilson'] (5'11/Jr./G/ Lakeway Christian Academy)- Killa Kam was a beast on the hardwood. 27 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.1 spg, sitting at 1300+ career points…. And counting, multiple 30 point games. Kami had a phenomenal year where she helped her club stack wins. She is a fearless player who just gets after it. A 3 level scorer, she's going to find a way to hit the bottom of the net. A tough competitor, she is going to lock up her opponent on the defensive end. This kid is a solid prospect and she creates havoc every time she plays. A tough opponent to plan for, her game is crazy good. With one more year to go, look for her to not only be a finalist next year, but leave an impressive legacy at LCA.

The votes are in. The media and coaches have spoken. The 2023-24 Finalist for the most prestigious individual award in high school basketball is in. The Miss Tennessee basketball finalists have been chosen from a good pool of players who were selected as nominees.