Latest News and notes on Tennessee High School Basketball

<p><span style="font-size: 1rem; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">The 2019-20 high school basketball season is getting closer and closer as the month of October is coming to a close.</span></p> <p>Teams will start official practice on Nov. 4 and have roughly two weeks to prepare for their first game.</p> <p>All teams in the state have still been in open gym and a lot of things have happened in the past two weeks. Players have been on unofficial/official visits, players have announced their commitments to their programs, and players have enrolled into new schools.</p> <p>Here’s the latest news on some of the top talent in the state:</p> <p><strong>Rocky Top visit</strong></p> <p>Junior point guard Kennedy Chandler (Briarcrest) went on an official visit to Tennessee this past weekend. His next official visits are Syracuse (Nov. 5-7), Ole Miss (Nov. 15-17), Florida State (Feb. 2-4) and Michigan (Feb. 15-17). Florida stopped in on Oct. 18 to see the 6-1 point guard.</p> <p><strong>UNC Pembroke bound</strong></p> <p>Senior guard Ty Hurst (Knoxville Carter) announced his commitment to UNC Pembroke on Sunday. The 6-foot-2 scoring guard was receiving interests from East Tennessee State, Campbell, Air Force, Navy and Citadel. Hurst mentioned that the Braves “invested in me as a player and a person more than any other school including the D 1s.”</p> <p>Hurst is expected to redshirt once he gets on campus.</p> <p><strong>Applewhite takes visit to Alabama</strong></p> <p>Junior combo guard Alden Applewhite went on an unofficial visit to Alabama this past weekend.</p> <p>Here’s what he had to say about the visit: “I enjoyed it. I got a chance to talk to the head coach (Nate Oats) and coaching staff and see them practice and see the facility atmosphere at the football game.”</p> <p>The Crimson Tide are showing strong interest in Applewhite. Applewhite went on an unofficial visit to Mississippi State on Oct. 19. The Houston High product is planning to take an unofficial visit to Ole Miss before the season starts.</p> <p><strong>Sanders to Collierville</strong></p> <p>After being ruled ineligible by the MHSAA to play at Olive Branch High School, senior guard Jaylon Sanders has enrolled into Collierville High School. Sanders, 6-4, will give the Dragons length on the perimeter.</p> <p><strong>Lausanne’s Cisse adds more offers</strong></p> <p>Junior big man Moussa Cisse picked up offers from Florida State, Michigan and Texas last week. The 6-11 big man has a total of 11 offers.</p> <p><strong>Shotwell back at Melrose</strong></p> <p>Senior point guard Ricky Shotwell returned to Melrose High School last week after falling to get into Memphis East High School. Overton High School was another option Shotwell was looking at.</p> <p><strong>Latest on Jalen Brown’s recruitment</strong></p> <p>Georgia Tech is the latest school to reach out to junior guard Jalen Brown (Wooddale). Cal State Bakersfield has jumped in on the 6-4 scoring guard as well.</p> <p><strong>Malone Jr. to reclassify?</strong></p> <p>There’s a possibility that senior guard Michael Malone Jr. (Briarcrest) will reclassify by the end of the 2019 season. He’s going to weigh his options.</p> <p><strong>Randy Brady to McEachern </strong></p> <p>Junior guard <strong>Randy Brady</strong> will attend McEachern High School for the 2019 season, teaming up with 2020 5-star guard <strong>Sharife Cooper</strong>. Before the move, Brady had announced that he’s leaving Brentwood Academy. His former coach Hubie Smith retired six days ago as the Eagles head coach. Smith coached 36 years and won seven state championships at Bartlett, Ensworth and Brentwood Academy.</p> <p><strong>Whitehaven picks up former player</strong></p> <p>Ragi Phillips will spend his senior season at Whitehaven High School. Phillips had enrolled into Center Hill High School at the beginning of open gym workouts before having a change of heart to return to the Tigers.</p> <p><strong>Other notes:</strong></p> <p>Campbell University was at Harding Academy on Oct. 15 to see senior guard <strong>Bobby Parks</strong>.</p> <p>Dartmouth was at Christian Brothers on Oct. 16 to see junior guard <strong>Reese McMullen</strong>. The Big Green have already offered McMullen.</p> <p>Vanderbilt was at Christian Brothers on Oct. 17 to see sophomore point guard <strong>Chandler Jackson</strong>. The Commodores also stopped in at Lausanne to see senior combo guard <strong>Jalen Bo Montgomery</strong>, who also talked with Dartmouth’s assistant coach Will Thoni.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>