Knoxville Knockout: 17U First Team All-Tournament
This past weekend’s Knoxville Knockout event as part of the Prep Girls Hoops Triumph Region was jam-packed with two days of great basketball and a great atmosphere. Among those that showed up to show out in the mountains of east…
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Continue ReadingThis past weekend’s Knoxville Knockout event as part of the Prep Girls Hoops Triumph Region was jam-packed with two days of great basketball and a great atmosphere.
Among those that showed up to show out in the mountains of east Tennessee was the 17U class – one that is filled with talent not only in the Volunteer State but also across the country.
With as many standout performances as there were this past weekend, it was difficult to narrow it down to five for the 17U first team. After a lot of decision making, here is our list for the 17U First Team All-Tournament from Knoxville Knockout.
Zamyra Goode Zamyra Goode 5'7" | CG Bob Jones | 2024 State AL – 2024 – Bob Jones HS – Alabama Twisters Elite 2023 – One of two 2024s that made our list, Goode was a key player in Knoxville Knockout being a banner outing for Alabama Twisters Elite as they went 4-0 for the tournament. Goode put plenty of points on the board throughout the two days – she averaged 18 points for the tournament. She also played productive minutes as a defender, averaging three steals throughout the two days. In addition to how she plays as a scorer, rebounder and ball hawk, Goode is also versatile as she can find minutes as either a guard or a wing.
Nailah Mayes Nailah Mayes 5'9" | C Minor | 2023 State AL – 2023 – Minor HS – Alabama Twisters Elite 2023 – Mayes may play for a school called Minor but the impact she leaves on any game is major. Listed at 5-foot-7, Mayes is a dual sport athlete as she also plays volleyball in addition to basketball. Mayes is an anchor in the frontcourt and that stellar play she does in the interior enables her to come up big with scoring as well as rebounding. She runs the floor well, finds herself at the right place and right time on the court, and has no problems absorbing contact and getting to the free throw line. Mayes averaged 12 points and seven boards in Alabama Twisters Elite 2023’s undefeated weekend.
Madi Lewis Madi Lewis 5'7" | CG Columbia Academy | 2023 State TN – 2023 – Columbia Academy – EAB Tennessee 2023 – Lewis entered the travel circuit this year after a stellar 2021-22 with Columbia Academy. In the 28 contests where she took the court for the Bulldogs, she averaged 15.1 points and 4.5 rebounds. She is an accurate 3-point shooter and she proved this in Sunday’s matchup with Road to Glory (RTG) 2023. Her ball distribution, defending and hitting free throws on the heels of drawing contact are three other aspects that make up the full picture of her overall game. Lewis had a 17-point performance in the Sunday game with Road to Glory (2023).
Bailey Hensley Bailey Hensley 5'10" | SG Madison Central | 2024 State KY – 2024 – Madison Central – Richmond Heat 2023 – Hensley is the other 2024 that made our list and the lone representative from Kentucky. The 5-foot-9 star for the Indians primarily will take the court in one of the frontcourt positions, but possesses the ball handling skills of a backcourt guard. Hensley uses her height advantage to convert on high-percentage shot opportunities. Leave Hensley open behind the 3-point line and there is a good chance she will take and make a 3-point shot. In one of Sunday’s games, she scored 21 points in an emphatic win over Mississippi Delta Elite.
Hailey Williams Hailey Williams 5'10" | PF Sevier County | 2023 State TN – 2023 – Sevier County HS – TN Flight Trotters 2023 – The 5-foot-10 forward and center is part of the nucleus for the Class 4A Smoky Bears. Some of Williams’ best work is in the interior as she will haul in a good number of rebounds and also block plenty of shots as a defender. Williams is not afraid to draw contact and reach the free throw line for opportunities at the charity stripe. In an early Saturday matchup with Mississippi Delta Elite, she tallied 16 points while also managing to stay out of foul trouble as she had only one personal foul called against her.