Game-Changers in 8AA Tournament

Andrew Force February 19, 2021 @ 12:41 PM

Gore, Rush, Sells. The names are familiar to the extreme, household names even. Sells started in the state tournament as a freshman. Rush and Gore were scouted by college coaches whilst playing 15u. The question is, what players in 8AA will sneak up on defensive schemes? Who will personally construct a 5-0 run? Read about these "Sneaky Pete’s."

Lavell Rogers (Cannon County) - Lavell is a starter and respected. Watch for him to be vital if Cannon County intends to overcome the Watertown Purple Tigers.

A.J. Armstrong A.J. Armstrong 6'0" | PG Cannon County | 2024 TN (Cannon County) - Armstong is a stunningly fit freshman with excellent outside touch already. He made 27 three-pointers to this point. The focus facing Cannon County must be 22-point scorer Gus Davenport Gus Davenport 6'5" | SG Cannon County | 2022 State TN , but Armstrong and Rogers will contribute offensively too.

Brayden Cousino Brayden Cousino 6'0" | PG Watertown (Football) | 2022 TN (Watertown) - A true scrapper. Brayden is not the classic point guard that Collin Gore Collin Gore 5'11" | PG Upperman | 2021 State TN is, but Brayden is every bit the fighter. Also a football player, Brayden generates offense through grit, passing, and modest penetrating. In a close game coaches want somebody with hunger and poise with the basketball. Brayden is accustomed to critical games and plays with nothing but hunger.

Bryson Bilbrey (York Institute) - Freshmen rarely impact postseason runs. A couple that did include: Kennedy Chandler, Matthew Sells Matthew Sells 6'3" | SG Livingston Academy | 2021 State TN . Bryson is a tall, lanky wing capable of scoring, rebounding, or simply hustling. His contributions will be key for a deep team.

8AA Player of the Year
Alex Rush Alex Rush 6'7" | PF Upperman | 2021 State TN -Upperman

Coach of the Year
Bobby McWilliams-Upperman and Roy Whited-York Institute

Defensive Player of the Year
Alex Rush Alex Rush 6'7" | PF Upperman | 2021 State TN -Upperman

All Defensive Team
Collin Gore Collin Gore 5'11" | PG Upperman | 2021 State TN -Upperman, Nick Smith-York Institute, Eli Melton-Livingston Academy, Q. Hughes Malone-Watertown, and Brayden Antoniak-DeKalb County.

Freshman of the Year
Bryson Bilbrey-York Institute and Miles Leffew-York Institute

All Freshman Team
A.J. Armstrong A.J. Armstrong 6'0" | PG Cannon County | 2024 TN -Cannon County, Peyton Hix-Smith County, Theo Winters-Cannon County, and Zach Byrd-York Institute.

Most Improved Player
Jonathan Heddings-York Institute

8AA All-District

First Team
Collin Gore Collin Gore 5'11" | PG Upperman | 2021 State TN -Upperman, Matthew Sells Matthew Sells 6'3" | SG Livingston Academy | 2021 State TN -Livingston Academy, Riley Cooper-York Institute, Nic Smith-York Institute, and Gus Davenport Gus Davenport 6'5" | SG Cannon County | 2022 State TN -Cannon County

Second Team
Q. Hughes Malone-Watertown, Evan Jones-DeKalb County, Jonathan Heddings-York Institute, Eli Scarlett-Watertown, and Jace McWilliams Jace McWilliams 5'10" | PG Upperman | 2021 State TN -Upperman

Third Team
Jaxon Fox-Upperman, Lavell Rogers-Cannon County, Braydee Brooks-Macon County, Eli Melton-Livingston Academy, and Nick Choate-Livingston Academy

Honorable Mention
A.J. Armstrong A.J. Armstrong 6'0" | PG Cannon County | 2024 TN -Cannon County, Jordan Young-DeKalb County, Elishah Ramos-DeKalb County, Conner Johnson-Macon County, Dennis West-Smith County, Matthew Sinclair-Smith County, Brayden Holliman-Smith County, A.J. Nash-Upperman, Brayden Cousino Brayden Cousino 6'0" | PG Watertown (Football) | 2022 TN -Watertown, Miles Leffew-York Institute, and Bryson Bilbrey-York Institute