Published by The HOOP SCOOP,
Inc., P.O. Box 37122, Louisville, KY 40233 Editor
& Publisher Clark Francis Email
Address: clark@hoopscooponline.com Phone
(502) 493-0043 Fax (502) 493-0440All
rights reserved - Copyright 1999
TENNESSEE REPORT
by Jim Rothman, Tennessee
Editor of the HOOP SCOOP
First Team All-State
Tony Key, 6'10,
Jr, C, Limestone
(Washington College) TN
David Harrison,
6'8, Jr, C, Brentwood
(Academy) TN
Billy Richmond,
6'6, Sr, WF, Memphis (Hamilton) TN
TWO MID-SOUTH SCHOOLS
FEATURE MORE THAN THEIR SHARE OF THE TOP TALENT IN TENNESSEE'S CLASS OF
2000
by Jim Rothman, Tennessee
Editor of the HOOP SCOOP
They say that "Blood is thicker than water." But can it win a State
Championship?
Former Memphis State and Ole Miss Coach Jimmy Adams had little idea
what he was in for when he took the job at struggling Memphis Raleigh-Egypt
High back in the early 90's. But now, he has his sights on Tennessee's
biggest prize, come March. Not every coach in a large state has the
opportunity to develop what might be the state's best player, but Adams
might have the chance...twice. Scooter McFadgon has crept
on to nearly everybody's top 100 list after impressive AAU showings each
summer. A fine feet-together bomber, McFadgon can now sweep past
over-aggressive defenders with a quick first step and connect on the run.
At 6'4, he can also post his man and deal in the paint. McFadgon's
presence alone should make R-E a contender for top honors.
Hey! Not so fast! How can one coach be so lucky! From
out of nowhere (Los Angeles, actually) comes McFadgon's first cousin to
enroll for his senior year at Raleigh-Egypt. Louis Wright
is not your average cousin Bubba from Memphis, TN. While at Westchester
High School, the slim 6'5 Wright, like his cousin, as if separated from
the hip, acquired similar skills to those of Scooter, 2500 miles away -
feet together jumper, quick first step...the whole coincidental ball of
wax. And ranked by most observers as a top 100 performer as well.
Because of Wright's background at highly-competitive Westchester, we rank
him slighty ahead of the pack as Tennessee's top senior.
While Raleigh-Egypt possesses what might be the two best in the State,
Memphis Hamilton surely can claim the best depth - with four of the top
dozen players in Tennessee. Unfortunately for coach Ted Anderson,
no dominating center appears on the Wildcats' roster, but they are stacked
at the 1-4 slots. Multi-faceted 6'6 Billy Richmond, a Vanderbilt
commitment, leads the Wildcats at small forward, while 6'6 Omari Faulkner
(Georgetown commitment) battles in the paint. Ultra-quick Antonio
Rambo makes things happen on the perimeter, while sharp-shooting Justin
Smith, at a strong 6'1, keeps them honest from the suburbs. A
state title should be a realistic goal for Hamilton in 2000.
Among the Tennessee underclassmen, we have an anticipated battle brewing
for the future services of 6'9 David Harrison from Nashville area's
Brentwood Academy. He's the state's top junior. Whereas the
University of Tennessee will attempt to maintain a stranglehold on the
mid-state (Hathaway, Black, Yarbrough, etc.), Kentucky, which plunked Ron
Mercer from here, should be a major factor as well. But hometown
Vanderbilt is the likely team to beat, now that Kevin Stalling is
in place as coach. Stallings trump care could be Harrison's dad,
who starred in football at Vandy and in the NFL with the Eagles.
He will should have a huge say-so in junior's plans.
Perhaps the most talented of all Tennesseeans are two of the youngest...sophomores
JaMichael Blair at Knoxville Austin-East and Mario Moore
at Nashville Antioch. Moore is a quick hardnosed 5'10 point guard
who is good enough to start for the Tennessee Travelers 17-Under AAU team
right now. At 6'5, Blair is one of those guys who just plays, whether
it's inside or outside, with or without the ball, jumpshooting or post-up.
He's just a fabulous athlete for now, searching for his niche. He's
sure to turn up soon, in a top 50 listing near you.
THE
HOOPSCOOP Online