D4AAA Season Preview

<p>District 4 AAA features reigning Class AAA State Champions Bearden High and potential Mr. Basketball<strong> Joe Anderson</strong> of Maryville High School.  Which team will finish the regular season on top?</p> <p><strong style="font-size: 18pt"><br /> The Teams</strong></p> <p><strong>Bearden (35-2, 15-1):</strong> State Champions!  Nobody will ever forget the careers, especially the final hours thereof, from Ques Glover, Trent Stephney, Kordel Kah, Shamarcus Brown, Roman Robinson.  Alas, this is an entirely unique team in 2019-2020 with new faces and new ambitions.  <strong>Cahlib Edwards</strong> gives the team a scoring spark after transferring in from Chattanooga Arts &amp; Sciences.  Read about his <a href="https://prephoops.com/2019/11/cahlib-edwards-prephoopstn-abovetherimgym-fall-combine-recapture/">Fall Combine performance</a>.</p> <p>Keep an eye on the sophomore class: <strong>Walker Kyle</strong>, <strong>Hayden Moseley</strong>, <strong>Wyatt Shomaker</strong>, <strong>Luke Lentz</strong>, <strong>Elijah Bredwood</strong>.  </p> <p><strong>Farragut (13-18, 8-8): </strong>Bolstered by incredible shooter <a href="https://prephoops.com/2019/07/isaiah-smith-prephoopstn-summer-combine-recapture/"><strong>Isaiah Smith</strong></a>, the Admirals should be better this season.  The outside shooting is a strength.</p> <p></p> <p><strong>Hardin Valley Academy (11-17, 4-12)</strong></p> <p><strong>Heritage (1-23, 0-16)</strong></p> <p><strong>Lenoir City (8-20, 2-14)</strong></p> <p><strong>Maryville (28-4, 1</strong><strong>5-1): </strong>This is the year that Maryville makes it back to the Class AAA State Tournament.  Always entrust senior point guards with deep playoff runs.  Joe Anderson (PrepHoopsTN # ) signed to Furman University.  He played against great players on the UA Circuit and it prepared him for his certain phenomenal senior season.</p> <h3 class="card-header">Boys' Basketball</h3> <div class="card-block"> <p>Championship Record: 4-5<br /> Appearances (5): 2015, 2013, 2007, 1992, 1930<br /> Finals Appearances/Runners-up (1): 2007<br /> Championships (1): 2007</p> </div> <p><strong>Knoxville West (13-17, 9-7): </strong>Talented. Need to trust each other more offensively. Sophomore <strong>Will Biven</strong> is a special player, capable of double-doubles.  <strong>Houston Dyer</strong> gives the Rebels a shooting machine.</p> <p><strong>William Blount (16-15, 7-9): Cameron George</strong> is a top 5 player in the district. He can slash or simply start near the basket. George is a dual-threat scorer with a proclivity to amass key rebounds.  Senior shooter Seth Myers is a dependable offensive weapon too.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;font-size: 18pt"><strong>Projected Order of Finish</strong></span><br /> 1. Maryville<br /> 2. Farragut<br /> 3. William Blount<br /> 4. Bearden<br /> 5. West<br /> 6. Hardin Valley<br /> 7. Lenoir City<br /> 8. Heritage</p> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> There is a new Alpha Dog in D4AAA and the Bearden Bulldogs are not it.  Nobody replaces five senior starters smoothly.   Bearden lost more than any team in the state with Memphis East perhaps the lone exception. Who will win if Bearden can not? Maryville enters the picture following a 28-win season. Joe Anderson is a winner and Maryville is built for March. </p> <p>Farragut is pretty tough and both William Blount and West bring back talent.  Only Lenoir City and Heritage are likely to be buried by February. Otherwise, the league boasts more parity than most.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;font-size: 18pt"><strong>Preseason Player of the Year</strong></span></p> <p><strong>2020 Joe Anderson, Maryville</strong></p> <p>My pick is Maryville High point guard Joe Anderson.  Quick feet, quick hands, quick mind.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;font-size: 18pt"><strong>Biggest Sleeper</strong></span></p> <p><strong>2022 Will Biven, West:</strong> A physical wing, Biven is more a newcomer than a sleeper.  His power at such a young age makes him difficult to defend.  West will lean on him in the lean moments. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;font-size: 18pt"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></span><br /> Read Preseason All-Region Team and notes. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Follow @AndrewForce8.</em></p>