Best in City Series: Knoxville
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The Class of 2025 rankings are new, meaning we (@courtneysmith and @andrewforce88) ranked about 60 players statewide and placed the best atop. Now the time comes to look at the best of each media market, each basketball-hotbed and large population…
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Continue ReadingThe Class of 2025 rankings are new, meaning we (@courtneysmith and @andrewforce88) ranked about 60 players statewide and placed the best atop. Now the time comes to look at the best of each media market, each basketball-hotbed and large population center.
Now, Knoxville.
emphis, Tennessee?
- #1 Deondrea Lindsey Deondrea Lindsey 6'7" | PF Oak Hill Academy | 2025 #115 Nation VA
- #2 Shane Cherry Shane Cherry 5'9" | PG Austin-East | 2025 State #353 Nation TN
- #3 Jamichael Blair Jr Jamichael Blair Jr 6'3" | SG Bearden | 2025 State TN .
- #4 Juice Eleam Juice Eleam 6'5" | SF Knoxville Catholic | 2025 State TN
- #5 Jaylen Pompey Jaylen Pompey 5'9" | PG Knox Webb | 2025 State TN
- #6 King Hubbard King Hubbard 6'4" | SG Bearden | 2025 State TN
- #7 Devyn Martin Devyn Martin 6'5" | SF Knoxville West | 2025 State TN
Is Deondrea Lindsey Deondrea Lindsey 6’7″ | PF Oak Hill Academy | 2025 #115 Nation VA the best player in 2025 class? Today? Maybe. His accomplishments are many, and his ability to dominate a high school basketball game are unmatched in the ’25 bunch. Lindsey is a technically sound halfcourt player. Hard-worker. He brings positivity and high work rate to the game. Further, Lindsey can dominate a basketball game, even did for stretches in Cookeville for the State Tournament, without taking shots. His rebound positioning was and is exceptional. His strength is uncanny for a player so young.
Incredibly fast. Shane makes so many brilliant decisions in the open floor. He uses his body to shield off bigger defenders, especially when he needs to control the tempo. Shane ran with BMaze 17u throughout July and rarely looked out of place. His biggest weakness is defense. It is not that he can’t defend at a high level, rather he just chooses not to during big moments. This will have to change for him to be the highly-coveted recruit that he is destined to be. At this early point in his basketball development, Cherry is not a strong outside shooter. Sure, he can hit the shots, but he is not anymore potent than your average high-school guard. The penetrating and passing is elite.
Incredibly power lower body coupled with some fantastic lateral quickness. He projects as an elite wing defender. Can be turnover prone, though many of these look capable of ironing out as he gains more physical maturity. The versatility reminds of a young Chris Livingston, though quite as explosive vertically. Wonderful strength. He will take the contact willing. Not shy about attacking the body or heading into heavily trafficked areas. The free throw for is decent. Left-handed. – Evaluation from July 2022
Highlights
He is probably 6’4″ish. Needs to develop his mid-range shooting. Probably only a threat to knock down shots as a catch-and-shoot player right now. Time in the gym will be required to evolve into a well-rounded scorer. Athletic and good height for position. Very thin. Truly projects as a 2/3 at this point. He is adept at the perimeter wiggle. A casual, yet modestly effective crossover maneuver.