Elite Players Sign to College Programs as the National Early Signing Period Opens

National Signing Day and truly the entire Early Signing Period featured several of the very best hoopers in this great state of Tennessee.  They finally got to bask in the radiant glow that, often, only those who witness their skills, talent, and gifts get to enjoy.  It was a great day all around.  Read a handful of the moments enjoyed.

Keon Johnson -- University of Tennessee

Keon Johnson follows in the prestigious line of #1 players behind Darius Garland and James Wiseman.  Maybe Bo Hodges preceded in 2017?  PrepHoopsTN did not exist for the 2017 class, so who knows?  Keon's rise was steady and largely predictable locally, but astronomical outside the state.  Because Keon's high school is smaller in student-body and somewhat regionally isolated his talent and drive improved in a vacuum until June 12th, 2019.  Keon starred at the NBA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Virginia.  From there, it was up and up. 

"But before I have him come up and declare his intent, the couple of words I want to say have nothing to do with basketball," stated Webb School Athletic Director Scott Dorsett.  "I watched this young man come in as a freshman that was...I don't know if he was really going down the right path.  We talk about this all the time.  But, what he has accomplished in those four years...and the interactions he has had with all of you guys, his classmates... I have never once seen him just ignore them and 'Man I ain't got time for y'all' and just keep walking.  This is not only a great honor for him, but this is a great honor for our school.  Keon has given us an opportunity to put Webb on the map in a lot of different ways that maybe we don't get.  This times that we have an individual like this we need to cherish it.  Especially when they turn out to be about what Webb is all about.

Caring.  Home.  All the things that we talk about all the time up here.  He emulates every bit of it. 

"So, I am excited to see today to see him sign his letter of intent to today to attend the University of Tennessee this next fall to play basketball and to also work on his college education."

<Keon Johnson approaches>

"First, I would like to thank God for everything he has provided me and the lifelong friendship he has given me," said Keon Johnson.  "I would like to thank my family and my friends for helping to guide me throughout this process and the Webb School for giving me a great four years of education.  Thank you."

<Sits down with mother, father, sister.  Signs>

Keon Johnson played AAU for four summers with EAB Head Coach William Belliford and EAB Director Mike Couey. 

Bayron Matos -- University of New Mexico

Signed at 12:00 noon E.S.T.

It's Official ! Signed and delivered 🖊 Thank You to EVERYONE who has helped throughout this process 🙏 Go Lobos 🐺 @Fdmathletics_ @HHhawksbball @PrepHoopsTN @UNMLoboMBB pic.x.com/m1dMpbdbOQ

— Bayron matos (@Big_Matos07) November 13, 2019

Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. -- Tennessee State University

"I am extremely excited to add the #1 PG in TN, Marcus Fitzgerald, Jr. to our 2020 class. He is exactly the type of student-athlete I envisioned to sign when I received the job here at Tennessee State. He is a winner, a thinker and a high-character person." -

Dante Harris -- Georgetown University

The #7 player in the state, Dante Harris, was the most recent player to verbally commit.  Georgetown University snagged a relative sleeper in Dante.  His ceiling is higher than, perhaps, every point guard in Tennessee, because he possesses a bizarrely-fast first step.  Remember young Derrick Rose?  Harris isn't that fast, but Rose built his early, early career of simply speeding by defenders.  Dante can do that easily at the high school level.  Georgetown is a significant leap in talent and size for Harris, but he is going to compete and

https://twitter.com/dante_Harris3/status/1194989580224782337?s=20

Will Pruitt-- Lipscomb University

Read the trove of Will Pruitt coverage here.

It’s official! Beyond blessed🙏🏻 pic.x.com/HC4gfgwcIv

— Will Pruitt (@willpruitt99) November 13, 2019

Daniel Loos -- Christian Brothers University

IT’S OFFICIAL‼️✍🏼⚔️#GoBucs @CBU_MBB pic.x.com/9v7O9YHlYd

— Daniel Loos (@wdloos24) November 14, 2019

In addition to his immediate family, Loos' grandfather and Austin Peay coaching legend Dave Loos shared in the glee from Clarksville Academy as David committed in pen.

Dave Loos Coaching Record

• 409-390 record in 26 APSU seasons 
• 491-443 record in 30 seasons overall
• 251-185 OVC record in 26 seasons

Coaching Honors

• Volunteer State Athletic Conference, Coach of the Year, 1985
• NAIA District 24 Coach of the Year, 1985
• NAIA Area V Coach of the Year, 1985
• National Catholic Tournament Outstanding Coach, 1985
• OVC Coach of the Year, 1990-91
• Tennessee State Sportswriters Association College Coach of the Year, 1995-96
• OVC Coach of the Year, 1996-97
• OVC Coach of the Year, 2002-03
• OVC Coach of the Year, 2003-04
• OVC Coach of the Year, 2006-07
• Tennessee State Sportswriters Association College Coach of the Year, 2002-03

Miscellaneous

• Named APSU Athletics Director, April 1997
• Director for APSU athletics program that captured OVC Academic Banner in 2002-03
• Inducted into St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, Spring 1997
• Inducted into University of Memphis (M-Club) athletic Hall of Fame, Fall 2002
• Became Austin Peay's all-time winningest coach, Jan. 13, 2007
• Inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, Spring 2007
• Basketball floor named Dave Loos Court, Spring 2007 
• Became OVC"s all-time winningest coach. Dec. 12, 2009.
• Dave Loos Scholarship Fund established, Feb. 20, 2010
• Ambassador's Choice Award, June 4, 2011
• Resigned as Athletics Director, April 1, 2013

David Loos played AAU with WHBH Head Coach J.P. Primm the last two summers. 

Will Sign (Verbally committed)

Johnathan DeJurnett -- University of Evansville

JaCobi Wood -- Belmont University 

#3 Samson Ruzhentsev -- University of Florida

B.J. Marable -- University of North Carolina-Asheville

Joe Anderson -- Furman University

Ray Tyler -- Tusculum University

Ty Hurst -- University of North Carolina- Pembroke

Dalton Marsh -- Missouri Western College

Ryley McClaran -- Freed-Hardeman

Luke Burnett -- University of Alabama-Huntsville

Follow @AndrewForce8 for the best recruiting coverage in Tennessee.