Game-Changers in 8AA Tournament
In this article:
Classic 8AA stalwarts, as the tournament arrives, are Matthew Sells Matthew Sells 6'3" | SG Livingston Academy | 2021 State TN (Livingston Academy), Collin Gore Collin Gore 5'11" | PG Upperman | 2021 State TN (Upperman), Alex Rush Alex Rush 6'7" | PF Upperman | 2021 State TN (Upperman).
Both Riley Cooper (York Institute) Nic Smith (York Institute), and Gus Davenport Gus Davenport 6'5" | SG Cannon County | 2022 State TN (Cannon County) earned their way onto the All-District Team with the three previously mentioned with consistent play.
York Institute
#1 Nic Smith* (2022)
#5 Myles Leffew* (2024)
#10 Bryson Bilbrey* (2024)
#23 Riley Cooper* (2021)
#32 Jonathan Heddings* (2022)
Watertown
#3 Eli Scarlett (2021)
#22
Brayden Cousino
Brayden
Cousino
6'0" | PG
Watertown (Football) | 2022
TN
(2022)
#23 Q Hughes-Malone (2021)
#32 Trent Spradlin
Sneaky Pete’s
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