Monday Morning Reflections
Region tournaments all around the state tipped off. Upsets, blowouts, big time performances. Here are a few of the things that caught my eye this weekend: Jaidynn Askins TN #22 SF #3 HEIGHT 6'0" POS SF CLASS 2025 View Player…
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Continue ReadingRegion tournaments all around the state tipped off. Upsets, blowouts, big time performances. Here are a few of the things that caught my eye this weekend:
Jaidyn Askins is just plain different. If you’ve really watched her play….you already know this. The Jackson Southside star committed to Murray State on Thursday, as the 2025 is no longer uncommitted. Askins had offers from MTSU, UT Martin, Memphis, Tennessee Tech, etc. The kid will be a difference maker at the next level.
Ferkany is a straight up shooter! She hit four of five threes in the first half in PCA’s win over Lausanne. She finished with 12 points, but more importantly stretched the floor to give Kayte Madison Bjornstad space to operate (she finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds). Daisy Gale added 12 points in limited minutes.
If Ambria Fernkany can continue to hit 3s, and be that 3rd scorer for PCA, it really gives them a higher upside.
Big-time congrats to ’26 KJ McNeally from Farragut. The sophomore wing had a huge accomplishment this Friday as she surpassed 500 rebounds for her career. This is a 3 and D wing that has also broke the Farragut record this season with 23! rebounds in a game. Her diversity of skill in set is college ready…..and rebound tends to be the most translatable stat from one level to the next. Well done young lady. She’s well on her way to being a 1,5000 point/1,000 kid.
Oh yeah, she also dropped 20 vs Karns. Annie Priest had 18. Jaci Neubert had 18. Sr Mya Johnston had 14. This team is peaking!!
Speaking of rebound: I see you Maggie Kelley!! On Friday, the freshman’s stat line for Lebanon was 4 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Elite defensive state line for a freshman. And I love this because the stat line reflects Kelley’s understanding of what Lebanon needs her to do.
Kids and parents: if you want your player to get on the floor, listen to your coach and worry about what you control…..AND THEN STAR IN THAT ROLE. Maggie Kelley is doing that.
Highlights
Man….I was looking over the Knox Catholic results as they have found their way back into the Final Four, and I couldn’t help but be awe struck at Maggie Frana’s stat line: 0 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and elite D and effort. Kids….PLEASE TAKE NOTE!!! Frana is a starter on a stat championship team, and only attempted 1 shot in 24 minutes on Friday. BUT….her coach can’t take her off the floor because she doesn’t everything well…..and doesn’t need to be a scorer with Sydney Mains is dropping 30 (….she did….). I asked Coach Mains about Frana and her raved about her maturity, and her ability to hand real coaching…….and he never once said “I wish she scored more.”
Players and Parents: Not every kid’s role is to score….and a team of just scorers won’t win. Embrace the tough stuff that nobody but your coaches and teammates notice….that’s what Maggie Frana has done.
I was just writing about Harmony Sullivan for another article as I was following her Friday night explosion: 25 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals. If you have an elite bucket getter and a team that has bought into defending, anything can happen come tourney time. I think Morristown East is really dangerous as Hailey Hall (16 points 4 rebounds, 2 steals) is also really playing well.
Golly bum Kaliyah Burden. I hope you know how special you can be young lady! It just off the screen!! Her Friday night stat line was awesome: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 7 steals. Kid has high level athleticism and length with a growing skill set. She is going to be a star…..just watch.
Highlights
In a weekend of primarily 1 seeds crushing 4 seeds (which brings up a whole different conversation regarding the validity of 4 team districts having a district tournament in which all teams receive automatic bids to regions?), we did get an upset…kinda. #4 Upperman defeated Tullahoma 48-37.
Bella Mullins was spectacular: 19 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Taylor Dolente had 15 points on 5 triples.
Tullahoma just unfortunately ran into a buzz saw, as they had a great season, but Upperman might be the best 4 seed in the state!