Slightly Too Early 3A Preview (R1)

With the departure of Jakobi Gillespie, Reid Satterfield, and friends, the R1-AAA will look a lot different. Grainger graduated a sterling quartet, but Volunteer brings back their entire core.

District 1

Elizabethton High School (Elizabethton, TN)

Sullivan East High School (Bluff City, TN)

Tennessee High School (Bristol, TN)

Unicoi Co. High School (Erwin, TN)

Volunteer High School (Church Hill, TN)

District 2

Cherokee High School (Rogersville, TN)

Claiborne High School (New Tazewell, TN)

Cocke Co. High School (Newport, TN)

Grainger High School (Rutledge, TN)

Greeneville High School (Greeneville, TN)

Partial Rosters (Starters*)

Unicoi County
Head Coach Jordan Simmons

#23 * (2023)
#4 Mason Hensley (2024)
#24 Eli Johnson* (2024)
#32 SF Caleb Peterson (2024)

#42 C/PF * (2023)
#33 * (2026)
#3 * (2026)
#10 (2025)
#55 Stone Sparks (2023)

“The Coi Pond” is filled with talent entering ‘s senior season. “We have three seniors (Hensley, , Eli Johnson) back who were our three leading scorers per game last year,” said Unicoi County Head Coach Jordan Simmons via phone call mid-August. “All summer we started those three.”

and Eli Johnson give Unicoi County some strength. They are bulkier than most hoopers in the district, so they should win rebounding battles. Lucas has averaged 12 and 12 basically ever year of his high school career and will graduate as a four-year varsity starter, according to Unicoi County Head Coach Jordan Simmons. Slagle earned Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Shockingly, Coach Simmons foresees two freshmen starting for the team. Three seniors and two freshmen!? When is that even a lineup composition. The youngsters must be talented and skilled beyond their years.

“ and ,” said Coach Simmons. “I think those guys have a chance to really be special players. We have high expectations and they will have to grow up quick.”

Caleb Peterson is an adept shooter in the 2024 class, likely to lead the JV team. Mason Hensley is tough and helps rebound. Stone Sparks will backup Slagle and help the team in the post. Keliet Rodriguez, a player that started a couple of games last year, “has grown three inches this summer,” per Coach Simmons. “He is a great leaper, long, athletic. Really good in transition.”

Grant averaged around 19 ppg last winter. Eli Johnson put up 16 ppg.

“Grant is just a worker,” said Coach Simmons. “That is just the biggest thing I have noticed from him. He is constantly working on his game. He craves feedback. He wants to be pushed. He has the mindset to be a winner.”

Grant’s older brother Trevor was wonderful in high school and advanced to Milligan for college.

“[Grant] sets an example for our younger guys,” said Coach Simmons. “He has gotten stronger. He has been a beast in the weight room. He has been hitting VertiMax. He has taken ownership of that aspect of his game. He is going to have a great year, not just a spot-up shooter, but also getting to the rim and finishing. I think he has a chance to have one of the best season’s in school history.”

Elizabethton
Head Coach Lucas Honeycutt

#30 * (2023)

PF Jackson Hobbs* (2024)

Jackson Hobbs is thin. Solid lower body balance. Plays around the basket with some spring. His midrange shot has some “junk” in it that needs ironing out. High-academic.

Volunteer
Head Coach Zachary Crawford

#2 * (2023)
#4 Blake Head* (2023)
#5 * (2023)
#10 * (2023)
#21 Tucker McClain (2024)
#34 * (2023)Knittel’s 2021-2022 was quite good: 10.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.4 spg.
Harrison recorded 10.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.2 spg.
Minton lead the team with 4.4 apg. He finished with 9.2 ppg and 3.1 rpg.

Substate Qualifier
Region Runner-up

Volunteer’s Head Coach Zachary Crawford acknowledges that they “lost some key pieces from last year’s team, but we do return three good guards in Minton, Harrison, Knittel. Also, return , our post.”

The trio of guards, , , and play AAU together. The trio all attended the 2021 PrepHoopsTN Summer Combine, which allowed me to get an extended evaluation on each. In the intervening year+ they each developed in their own way.

“Andrew is going to be Andrew, how he has been the last couple of years,” said Coach Crawford. “He is a leader. He works hard everyday. He plays on both ends, defensively and offensively. The versatility of all three of them, it doesn’t matter if we are in foul trouble or anything, I can trust all three of them to do what we have to do. With their talents and skills we are able to play up-tempo game. All of them can shoot great. It is really lucky for me to have these three guys and it being my first year of coaching.”

Coach Crawford ascended to the head coaching position after the 2021-2022 season.

“[ is a lot like Andrew where he will play on both ends of the floor. Sharpshooter. He averaged 10.2 ppg last year and I expect that go up a little bit this year.”

Coach Crawford labeled Joltin as a good leader, especially with Knittel away from the team playing football right now.

“[player_tooltip player_id='1034054' first='Bradin' last='Minton'] has put on a little bit of weight. We are continuing to work on that through the fall and into the season. Our S+C Coach is working with him very hard. Even for his size right now, he can take a bump and finish through any kind of contact.”

Each of them make their free throws at 75ish %, so there is no need to worry about their late-game handling of pressure.

“He [player_tooltip player_id='1564339' first='Cason' last='Christian'] is a full-on athlete,” said Coach Zachary Crawford. “He plays football, basketball. Did the high jump in track and plays baseball. He is just an athletic monster. He is only about 6-foot-3/6-foot-4, but he has that motor that he is going for every loose ball. He just does all of the little things. [Tucker McClain] will probably be my sixth guy,” said Coach Crawford. He will be a junior this year. Really good at finding an open gap and making something happen.”

Partial Rosters (Starters*)

Cherokee
Head Coach Trey Fields

#0 PG Colten McLain* (2024)
#4 Joey Henley” (2023)
Will Price
Jayden Ward (2024)
Elisha Jones (2024)
Bryce Elliott (2024)
Gavin Housewright (2025)
Manning Brooks (2025)
Bryson Horner
Jaxon Markham
Gabe Catron (2025)
Parker Travis (2025)
Eli Markham
Braxton Markham
Jake Elliott
Noah Seal
Christian Eldridge
Gavin Lawson
Lofton Hayes
Kenton Henard
Landon Jeffers

Colten McLain is ready to be the top player after starting in 2021-2022. The lefty is very quick, though played his sophomore year as a literal lightweight. Needs more mass. His ability to shoot off-the-dribble is impressive. Left-handed. Joe Henley is a returning starter.

Grainger
Head Coach Adam Wolfenbarger

#10 Jax Maxey (2024)
#13 Brody Wells (2024)
#14 Drew Branson* (2023)
#20 Brady Smith* (2023)
#21 Jacob Hill (2023)
#34 Carter Briscoe (2023)
#35 Logan Johnson (2023)
#44 Ryland Burchett (2023)

If anybody east of Nashville could lose as much productivity as Greeneville did, then Grainger was the closest. Four star seniors all graduated and took with them dozens of wins: Emmanuel Atkins, Jaxon Williams, Ty Oberbay, Landon Patterson. The rebuild begins with Drew Branson, a 6-foot-1 senior guard. Check his highlights.

Cocke County
Head Coach Casey Ragan

#0 Major Woods (2023)
#1 Rolando Campos (2024)
#5 Lakkin France (2023)
#10 Brazen Stewart* (2023)
#12 Baylor Baxter* (2023)
#20 Ethan Fine Ethan Fine 6'5" | SF Cocke County | 2025 State TN (2025)
#24 Oren Hazelwood (2025)
#30 Kyler Hayes* (2025)
#32 Colin Askew (2023)
#50 Zeke Ramos (2023)

Coach Casey Ragan believes his team has three potential, even likely All-District players in 2022-2023. Baylor Baxter was among the best in the district. The football/basketball talent is a natural leader on a team with many seniors.

Ethan Fine Ethan Fine 6'5" | SF Cocke County | 2025 State TN and Kyler Hayes are two budding sophomores, each certain to push the seniors.

“I have two returning All-District players,” said Coach Ragan. “Kyler Hayes, he is a sophomore and Baylor Baxter (2023). Kyler Hayes made it last year as a freshman. Kyler came on and took the starting spot about the second game last year. We knew he had some skill coming out of middle school, but he earned the spot with his motor. He never stops. We expected him to play some varsity minutes, but he earned a starting spot and never looked back.”

Ethan Fine Ethan Fine 6'5" | SF Cocke County | 2025 State TN and Kyler Hayes are two budding sophomores, each certain to push the seniors. Older players can resent freshmen starting. Sometimes. Was that apparent with Cocke County?

“There was a little bit of newness of him stepping in,” said Coach Ragan. “They are a pretty tight knit group. We have seven seniors and they have all played together since they were sophomores. There was a newness period that had to wear off. We did very well to start to gel later in season…I think we played our best basketball at the end of the year. We had Grainger County in the semifinals. It was back-and-forth. We had a chance to upset them and see Greeneville again, but it didn’t work out. We went down to EHS for the regional game. It was good. It was new for our guys.”

“[Baylor Baxter] is the quarterback on the court, well he is the quarterback on our football team. He gets guys were they are supposed to be. He is a great leader. A great motivator. He is kind of an undersized post. That is where he has played his whole career. He can go off at any time at 15 or 20, but he is a 10 and 10 guy. If we can get 10 and 10, then we are in good shape.”

@Ethanfine_ MVP of Championship game! @BigShotsGlobal @ReelzTn #BigShotsMBLive @CockeCoHoops pic.x.com/ATC8Uki952
— Stunners2025 (@stunners2025) July 11, 2022

Greeneville
Head Coach Brad Woolsey

#4 Jayquan Price* (2023)
#5 G Adjatay Dabbs Adjatay Dabbs 6'3" | SG Greeneville | 2023 State TN * (2023)
#12 Nik Pillar (2024)
#21 Hayden Goad (2024)
#22 Brayden Kennedy (2023)
#24 James Woolsey (2024)
#33 Isaac McGill* (2025)
#34 Kameron Lester (2024)
#42 Ty Williams (2023)
Trey Thompson (2026)

Claiborne
Head Coach Corey McGinnis

#10 Hunter Greer (2025)
#20 Tyler Myatt* (2023)
#34 Ethan Cupp* (2024)
Evan Thomas* (2025)
Josh Bolton* (2024)
Vince Bolden* (2024)

Ethan Cupp 1st Team All-District (2021-2022)

Who will be the leaders?

“Ethan Cupps (2023) About a 6’4″. He plays the 4 for us,” said Head Coach Corey McGinnis. “Can step out on the perimeter and shoot it.”

Ethan earned 1st Team All-District last winter.

“We have a senior guard, Tyler Myatt returning,” said Coach McGinnis. “Real strong kid. Can get down hill and make holes, if he needs them, to get to the rim. He has really improved his finishes in the last couple months. Those are the two that we are going to have to ride.”

The team features a little depth, though unproven at the varsity level.

“I have two other guards that I am pretty high on,” said Coach McGinnis. “One of them is Evan Thomas. He is very twitchy athlete. Jumps quick, moves quick. A lot of deflections.

“Josh Bolton is real strong kid. Quick. Plays running back for the football team. Vince Bolden is very physical. Pretty bouncy. Good athlete. Those a re probably the main four. We have some others that will battle for spots.”

What is the expectation for the program this winter?

“We want to get back to Region. That is always the goal. Once we get there anything can happen. We expect to be able to compete in the conference. The goal is Top 4 in the conference, for sure. We would like to host a game. I don’t know the last time that happened at Claiborne. We need to make sure we get better throughout the year.”

A top 5 player in the district, what can Ethan Cupp improve upon?

“I would say his mentality,” said Coach McGinnis. “He can get a little passive. When he is aggressive he is much better. He has a very good shot from the perimeter. He is starting to play off the bounce better, which is going to help his game quite a bit. He has developed that. He just has to get aggressive on the perimeter. He is aggressive in the post. He catches it and goes. He is going to be the focal point for most teams. He is a matchup problem. He has to get aggressive.”

Beyond Ethan and Tyler the team needs more to be their best. According to Coach McGinnis, the junior class can be something. They better be.

“They are inexperienced, but they are good athletes and they play very hard,” said Coach McGinnis. “We are going to be a physical team, one of the most physical since I have been here. We are going to have to do a lot of the little things. One my favorite quotes is Brad Stevens, “When you take into account the consequences of not doing the little things you realize there are no little things.”

The Off-season

“We were together for about a handful of days with everybody there,” said Coach McGinnis of June 2022. “I was trying to figure out some combinations with some kids. We went to UNC-Asheville and played a couple of days. We were about .500 this summer. We played Knox Catholic one game, which they are much larger than we are, but we battled with them pretty good. We were sluggish to start, but we played well against them. It was a good June. We got to be together.”

“Tyler Myatt is going to be a scholarship kid for baseball. I will miss him for a game or two in November. He is going to an All-Star Showcase in Florida.”

Sullivan East
Head Coach Dillon Faver

#35 Corbin Dickenson (2023)
#44 F Masun Tate (2023)
Zach Johnson (2025)
Noah Moyher (2025)
Hayden Finney (2024)
Grant Giles (2024)
Tyler Cross (2024)
Kinkead Elliott (2024)
Corbin Laisure (2025)
Jacob Witcher (2023)
Brayden Ringley (2025)
Benjamin Lowe (2024)
Noah Colley (2025)
Elijah Grubbs (2023)
Thomas Ridelhuber (2025)
Kaden Hicks (2025)
Garrett Kirk (2025)
Drake Fisher (2024)

Sullivan East lost Dylan Bartley, a wonderful high school player, a young man who carried them many nights with his versatile scoring.

Tennessee
#0 G Ty Hopson (2023)
#2 Josh Sizemore (2024)
#3 G Colin Brown Colin Brown 6'1" | PG Tennessee | 2025 State TN * (2025)
#4 Maddox Fritts* (2023)
#5 Zander Phillips (2025)
#10 Braden Wilhoit (2023)
#11 Braedon Floyd* (2024)
#12 Jimmy Phipps (2024)
#13 Jack Singleton (2025)
#20 Brandon Dufore* (2023)
#42 Riley Gentry (2024)
#50 Will Broadfoot (2023)

Brandon Dufore is probably the most recruitable player in the Tennessee High program. He stands approximately 6-foot-3 and bounds around the floor with a lightness. His ability to score is decent. Colin Brown Colin Brown 6'1" | PG Tennessee | 2025 State TN is a small, left-handed shooter with some impressive quickness. His maturation as a hooper will be important for the proud program. Four starters return from a down season. A year of growth intervened. Now what will materialize?

EDITOR’S NOTE: This preview was written before news of Creed Musick Creed Musick 6'3" | SG Tennessee | 2023 State TN ‘s incoming transfer found my ears. He will be a college basketball player in a year, and likely will land in the Best 5 below. And, Tennessee looks better on paper than 8th.

Creed Musick Creed Musick 6'3" | SG Tennessee | 2023 State TN | 6’3″ | Tennessee ’23

Great bounce. Musick does everything on the floor. He hit the open three-pointer, and it looked like Coach Brown ran some offense through him. Creed earned an offer from Tusculum University in August. Musick projects as a high-academic hooper too.

All-District Team Honors
-All-Tournament Team Honors
Hardees Classic All-Tournament Team
3X AAU Game MVP Award
Big Shots 1st Team 17U All-Star Selectee

Projected Order of Finish (Picked this on 8/29)

Volunteer
Greeneville (Defending Champions)
Cocke County
Sullivan East
Unicoi County
Grainger
Claiborne
Tennessee
Elizabethton
Cherokee

Analysis: Volunteer assembled their deepest senior group in years. Joltin Harrison Joltin Harrison 6'2" | SG Volunteer | 2023 State TN , Andrew Knittel Andrew Knittel 6'3" | SG Volunteer | 2023 State TN , and Bradin Minton Bradin Minton 6'2" | PG Volunteer | 2023 State TN play an unselfish brand of basketball that is both successful and pleasing to watch. Defenses will struggle to identify who is the ultimate passer and who will ultimately finish during most halfcourt possessions. Both Greeneville and Grainger lost mighty senior classes. Claiborne, Tennessee, Unicoi County, and Cocke County are ascending.