All A Classic State Tournament ~ Saturday's Semifinals

Prep Hoops Staff was in attendance for the 32nd Annual All A Classic State Tournament hosted at Paul S. McBrayer Arena on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University. We bring you coverage on Saturday’s best players from the two semifinal games.   Region 6 Evangel Christian vs Region 15 Pikeville   Evangel Christian - Junior Guard, Charqwan McCallister Throughout the event, and for most of the season, McCallister has been often overlooked for his value. He routinely guards the opposing team’s top lead guard; often picking up full court. After watching for 3 games this week and a few other games previously, McCallister brings effort, toughness, and grit to every defensive possession. On a night when the Eagles shot less than 30% from the floor, McCallister kept his defensive pressure going. McCallister's hard work earns the respect on the court far beyond what is listed in any boxscore. Pikeville - Junior Wing, [player_tooltip player_id="926887" first="Rylee" last="Samons"] (#11 in c/o 2023) Samons played a near flawless game. One of the great things about Pikeville’s players is their commitment to playing within their strengths. Samons is the one player on the roster that can do a little bit of everything on offense, yet he rarely has a bad play. The Panther’s star flashed his offensive skillset early on the way to 17 first-half points. As the game carried on, Samons was knocking down shots all over the court. He finished with a tournament-high 7 made 3-pointers and finished with 27 points. Pikeville - Senior Forward, Nick Robinson Robinson is a quiet assassin that seems to always find himself around the basketball. His presence on missed shots alone is good enough to add 5 or more possessions for his team. He is a selfless player that is constantly working to make sure Hall, Samons, or Worrix get the best shot for their team. You wouldn’t know it by his workmanlike attitude, but Robinson leads the Panthers in scoring and rebounding this season notching 17+ points per game and 8+ rebounds per game. Robinson went about his business and quietly earned himself another double-double finishing with 10 points and 11 rebounds.   Region 13 Harlan vs Region 14 Breathitt County   *Note: This was arguably the best game of the entire tournament. Both teams shot +45% from the floor, had only 8 combined turnovers, and stayed within a 1 or 2 possession game from wire to wire.   Harlan, Senior Guard, [player_tooltip player_id="926884" first="Jordan" last="Akal"] (#8 in c/o 2022) After pouring in 28 points in Friday’s quarterfinal game, Akal started the game hot with two quick 3-pointers and finished with 13 points in the first quarter. Akal takes and makes tough shots however rarely will he take a “bad” shot. He has a unique shooting motion but his athletic, leaping ability allows him to find space to get a clean look. Even when you have tight defense, Akal finds a way to put his shot up. Harlan’s offense relies on Akal to have the ball in his hands and make the best play for his team. He does a lot of his damage in the middle of the court connecting on runners, mid-game, floaters, and open 3s. He ended with a game-high 29 points. Harlan - Junior Guard, Kaleb McLendon A steady and confident shooter, McLendon found his groove late in the second half and gave the Green Dragons an extra surge as they tried to maintain their lead. McLendon is a great example of a secondary scorer who continues to stay locked in to the game by working hard on defense, fighting for loose balls, grinding through screens, and securing rebounds. Although most of his scoring is catch-and-shoot, he is a vital part of the offense to keep his defender honest. McLendon left it all out on the court and knocked down 4 crucial 3-pointers in the game. Breathitt County - Junior Guard, Luke Bellamy Bellamy is a pure, knockdown shooter with an effortless release. After connecting on 12 total 3-pointers throughout the four games, Bellamy has earned his opportunity to get more looks as the season continues. His ability to stretch the defense gives his teammates open lanes to drive and make plays around the paint. Bellamy was clutch in this game including two back-to-back shots that kept the Bobcats close when they are sliding. Breathitt County - Freshman Guard, [player_tooltip player_id="1111948" first="Austin" last="Sperry"] (#9 in c/o 2025) Sperry had a steady game throughout but turned in a phenomenal performance in the 4th quarter to lead the Bobcats in a come from behind victory at the very end. Sperry is a tall guard that puts pressure on defenses. He has the ability to sliver through the lane and then explode for a finish high above the rim. The force with which he drives the ball downhill gives him the counterattack to step out for an open 3-pointer. He has the rare ability as an underclassman to have consistent success scoring off the dribble. Sperry closed the game with 18 second-half points and 26 total. Make sure you are following<a href="https://twitter.com/prephoopsky"> @PrepHoopsKY</a> on Twitter for weekly top games & top performers!