Knoxville Knockout: Day 2 Recap

The first day of Prep Girls Hoops’ Knoxville Knockout at Rocky Top Sports World was filled with so much exciting basketball that it gave the second day aplenty to live up to. That second day did not disappoint. The second Prep Girls Hoops Circuit event as part of the Triumph Region had the mountains of east Tennessee as a photogenic backdrop. AAU teams from several states, including Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina and the host state of Tennessee were prepared for what was to be two days of scintillating basketball. Here are some standouts from the closing day of Knoxville Knockout. [player_tooltip player_id="285370" first="Madi" last="Lewis"] – 2023 – Columbia Academy – EAB Tennessee 2023 – Lewis has been through this and knows how to do this. She is very used to wearing red and navy blue colors – the signature of both EAB Tennessee 2023 and her Columbia Academy Bulldogs. Lewis showcased how accurate she is as a 3-point shooter as she drained a trio of triples in her team’s hard-fought matchup with Road To Glory (RTG) 2023. She is also an accurate passer, can hit her free throws after drawing contact and will play hard-nosed defense on whoever she is guarding. Lewis scored 17 to lead her team to the win to begin Easter Sunday’s slate of games. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6674-scaled-crop-2487x1633-1650325127.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-416541" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6674-scaled-crop-2487x1633-1650325127-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Rayne Erickson – 2024 – Springfield HS – Road To Glory (RTG) 2023 – The forecast for Springfield HS athletics has been quite Rayne-y since she stepped onto campus. That particularly applies to the indoor sports venue for the 4A District 13 Yellowjackets as she plays both basketball and volleyball. Erickson has midrange and long range jump shots and impressive post moves as elements of her total offensive skillset. She can also get crafty with how she finishes around the basket. Erickson uses her 5-foot-11 to her advantage on both ends of the floor. She led her team against a tough EAB Tennessee 2023 squad with 12 points. Zoe Wells – 2023 – Grace Christian Academy – One Step Away 2023 – Wells is a name that will continue to ring bells across the Peach State always active basketball scene. She concluded One Step Away 2023’s schedule at the Knoxville Knockout with a 15-point outing in a 50-44 victory over Promise Elite Basketball Club 2023. Wells managed to shoot the ball efficiently from 3-point range and also managed to showcase superb skills as a distributor of the ball. Defensively, she gives opposing ball carriers issues and has a knack for getting her hands on the ball if a pass is made in her direction. [player_tooltip player_id="311548" first="Tasia" last="Agee"] – 2023 – Warner Robins HS – One Step Away 2023 – Agee was another important piece in the Demons’ unforgettable run to the 5A state semifinals this past season. She is listed at 5-foot-5 on the One Step Away 2023 roster. Agee plays with a fearless attitude as she will drive directly to the rim with the ball in her hands against a slew of opposing defenders. Her 3-point shooting was on point on Sunday as she made a trio of triples in her team’s matchup with Promise Elite Basketball Club 2023. Long range shooting is one of many elements to her game she expresses confidence in. Agee had 11 points in the 50-44 win over Promise Elite Basketball Club 2023. Samirah Walters – 2024 – Brookwood HS – Promise Elite Basketball Club 2023 – With Walters, it is rare that teams falter. She is coming off a season with her Broncos that made a deep run in the Georgia 7A state playoffs before being eliminated by eventual champion Norcross. Walters will try her hand at shooting the ball from 3-point range – and be successful on many an opportunity. She also is not afraid of drawing contact and reaching the free throw line. Walters maintains confidence in not only her long range shooting but also her defense, her ability to run the floor in transition, rebounding and in what she can do near the rim. She had 14 points in Promise Elite Basketball Club 2023’s matchup with One Step Away 2023 on Saturday morning. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6686-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1650324770.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-416539" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6686-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1650324770-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="402193" first="Jayda" last="Jackson"] – 2024 – North Paulding HS – Wood Elite 2024 – September of 2021 was a banner month for Jackson as she announced she received her first offer – from Shorter University in Rome, Georgia. If her play is any indication, it will not be the last time she receives an offer. Jackson is not afraid of contact and will find her way to the free throw line. A stalwart for the Wolfpack’s backcourt, she takes care of the ball with efficiency and limits turnovers. Jackson has a mindset to attack the basket but will also throw defenses off balance with her midrange jump shooting. She can handle the ball with either hand and can particularly be an asset to her team with what she does in transition. Jackson finished with 14 points in a win over 865 Elite 2024. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6684-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1650324627.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-416537" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6684-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1650324627-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Sa’niah Dorsey – 2025 – Calhoun HS – Wood Elite 2024 – Just as Jackson is the only North Paulding player on the team, Dorsey is the lone Yellow Jackson representative for Wood Elite 2024. A testament to her development as a player, she is one of three from the 2025 class playing up to the 2024 level. Dorsey is a hard-nosed defender who is also very efficient with the ball in her hands. She is a consistent threat to steal the ball and those steals, when on the defensive side, can translate into transition baskets. Dorsey is not afraid to draw contact and head to the free throw line for opportunities to put two (or three) more on the board for her team. She also plays well near the rim. Dorsey had 10 points in her team’s victory over 865 Elite 2024. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6682-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1650324390.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-416534" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6682-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1650324390-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="287257" first="Caroline" last="Mullins"] – 2024 – Pickens HS – Wood Elite 2024 – Standing at 5-foot-9, Mullins is one of four players on this year’s Wood Elite 2024 rendition that are either near or at six feet. While she may have a height advantage, Mullins also runs the floor well and has the ball handling skills of a one or a two. She can dribble with her left and finish at the rack with her right. Mullins will also drain her shots from downtown. Mullins proved to be a major reason why the 2021-22 version of Dragons girls basketball finished with a 26-4 record en route to a deep postseason run in the GHSA 4A tournament – one where Pickens advanced to the state semifinals. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6676-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1650324259.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-416532" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6676-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1650324259-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Makayla Tucker – 2023 – Road To Glory (RTG) 2023 – Tucker is looking to be back “4” more in 2022-23 as she closes out her career at the preps level. In her team’s early Sunday morning contest with EAB Tennessee 2023, she drew plenty of contact and was at the free throw line on a number of occasions. Out of the 12 points she put on the scoreboard in that contest, 10 were courtesy of the charity stripe. Tucker will drive to the basket and finish at the cup, will sink her shots from behind the 3-point arc and will get out to make plays in transition. In Road To Glory (RTG) 2023’s matchup with Wood Elite 2024 later that day, she kept herself out of foul trouble with only one personal called against her. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-416527" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6693-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1650323857-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Bailey Hensley – 2024 – Madison Central HS – Richmond Heat 2023 – Bailey puts in the work daily. Listed at 5-foot-9, Hensley finished what a stellar season with the Indians, averaging a double-double at 17.1 points and 10 rebounds per matchup. Hensley has the height of a big, but the versatility and scoring capabilities of someone who plays in the backcourt. If the ball left Hensley’s hands, it was going in one direction – through the hoop. Hensley has the ability to put points on the board from anywhere on the floor – including from behind the 3-point arc. She tallied 21 points in an emphatic victory over Mississippi Delta Elite 2023 to close out Richmond Heat 2023’s slate of games at Knoxville Knockout. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6695-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1650322462.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-416522" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6695-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1650322462-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Makayla Greer – 2024 – Lincoln County HS – Richmond Heat 2023 – Greer is one of the many young stars on a Patriots team whose 2021-22 rendition featured 11 players who were either sophomores, freshmen or eighth graders. She is another reliable element to a team’s scoring attack in addition to what she does as a defender. She is a consistent threat to steal the ball. Greer also is an accurate 3-point shooter and she is listed on the Richmond Heat 2023 roster as 5-foot-6. She finished with 12 points to help her team to an emphatic win over Mississippi Delta Elite 2023 to close out its leg of the tournament. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6708-scaled-crop-2434x1598-1650322154.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-416519" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6708-scaled-crop-2434x1598-1650322154-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Jade Kitchens – 2027 – T.J. Elder MS – Lady Empact 2026 – Teams try to throw everything including the kitchen sink at Kitchens to no avail. Kitchens is one of three players from T.J. Elder who are represented on this year’s Lady Empact 2026 team. She is one of the premier seventh graders in Georgia and she also runs track in addition to what she does basketball-wise. Kitchens will drain 3-pointers and has no problem drawing contact and finding her way to the free throw line. She is one of the taller members on the Lady Empact 2026 roster at 5-foot-6. Kitchens dropped 11 points to lead her team against Richmond Heat 2026 on Sunday. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6710-scaled-crop-2475x1625-1650321933.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-416516" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6710-scaled-crop-2475x1625-1650321933-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Macy Spivey – 2026 – Rockcastle HS – Richmond Heat 2026 – Spivey is solid as a rock for Rockcastle. Listed at 5-foot-10, Spivey presents a height advantage over many an on-court assignment she picks up. Another advantage she brings to any team is the ability to absorb contact and find herself obtaining free throw opportunities. Spivey dropped 12 points to lead her Richmond Heat 2026 team to a hard-fought 39-35 victory over Lady Empact 2026 to close out Knoxville Knockout. Basketball is not the only sport she excels at as she has played softball throughout her athletic career. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6702-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1650321778.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-416513" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6702-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1650321778-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="323422" first="Zoe" last="Lessears"] – 2024 – McAdory HS – Alabama Twisters Elite 2025 – Basketball aficionados across Alabama are continuing to hear about Lessears. An anchor of the Yellowjackets frontcourt, Lessears is looking for more following a superb sophomore season. She makes things happen in the paint and in the low post and will grab a good number of rebounds. Lessears displays impressive footwork and has been lauded for her maturity and high basketball IQ. She is the only McAdory representative currently listed on the roster for Alabama Twisters Elite 2025. While Lessears may stand at 5-foot-7, she plays as if she is even taller than that. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6699-scaled-crop-2372x1558-1650321668.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-416510" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6699-scaled-crop-2372x1558-1650321668-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="323424" first="Journey" last="Smith"] – 2024 – Sylacauga HS – Alabama Twisters Elite 2025 – It is always quite a journey to contain this Journey – whether she is on the basketball court or on the soccer pitch as it is her second sport outside of basketball. Smith manages to combine a proficiency for taking care of the ball and limiting turnovers with a knack for driving to the rim and converting on high-percentage shots. Smith will convert on midrange shots – including floaters and is also an asset to any team as a shot blocker and a rebounder. Smith is not afraid of contact and will find her way to the free throw line. She can play on the interior but is also versatile. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6700-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1650321473.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-416505" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/IMG_6700-scaled-crop-2048x1345-1650321473-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="323417" first="Kendra" last="Davis"] – 2024 – Fultondale HS – Alabama Twisters Elite 2025 – Davis proved to be a key piece in a winning puzzle for the 2021-22 Wildcats rendition that saw the team advance to the 4A Southwest regional semifinals. Davis can put a good deal of numbers on the board – as she displayed at Knoxville Knockout and with Fultondale. She also will corral in her fair share of rebounds. Davis is also a stalwart on the defensive end of the floor with what she does as a shot blocker and a ball hawk. Statistically, Davis averaged 8.1 points, 3.6 steals and 3.5 rebounds in 2021-22 as a Wildcat.