Region 1-4A Key Players: Part II
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Region1 AAA PreviewRegion 1 AAAA Supporting Cast District 2 Jefferson County — HC Andrew HillMo East — HC Alden CollinsMo West — HC Joe DobynsSevier County – HC Ken Wright Kyle Cloninger Kyle Cloninger 6'1" | PG Morristown East |…
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Continue ReadingDistrict 2
Jefferson County — HC Andrew Hill
Mo East — HC Alden Collins
Mo West — HC Joe Dobyns
Sevier County – HC Ken Wright
Kyle Cloninger Kyle Cloninger 6'1" | PG Morristown East | 2024 State TN | 6’1″ | Morristown East ’24
Clearly a gym rat, Kyle is improving at a steady pace, which is encouraging. KC plays with a fantastic lower-body balance. His shooting form is repeatable and fantastic. Consistent. What makes Kyle better than other players with similar skill is his innate toughness. Cloninger never appears to back down from a challenge or a bigger opponent. Cloninger started for a fantastic Mo East team in his sophomore season. It was a role he earned with an uncommon amount of skill at his then-young age. Cloninger’s broader shoulders will serve him well in the lane. The more he can get to the free throw line the better. Overall, Mo East will need his composure and game to avoid a rebuilding year, the kind of year almost any program in the state would experience after losing two D1 athletes (Micah Simpson, Braeden Ilic).
Bereket Evans Bereket Evans 5'9" | PG Morristown West | 2025 State TN | 5’9″ | Morristown West ’25
Nobody in Tennessee is faster. Evans plays effectively with the speed of a Memphis-born guard. His handle is good, not yet elite but he darts around the floor at a problem-inducing speed. Evans’ weakness was outside shooting, but he is improving there. Look for Evans to compete for best point guard in the district. Kyle is much more refined and proven at the varsity level, but the impact Bereket has from baseline to baseline is unique.
Reed Ownby Reed Ownby 6'4" | SG Sevier County | 2025 State TN | 6’4″ | Sevier County ’25
Reed was brilliant with BMaze 15u all summer season. The AAU team was filled with long, athletic wings and forwards, but it was not rare to check the postgame boxscore and see Ownby’s series of numbers (2,2,3,1,2 for example) extend to the furthest right. Ownby possesses a mature basketball game, in that he scores from various points on the floor. He does not give up his dribble unless a shot or pass is at the ready. Ownby is a confident and capable young player. Look for him to easily earn All-District as a sophomore and potentially lead his team in scoring with a 15+ per game average. Ownby might just be a point guard down the line. At this point he plays much like a scoring guard though, again, he is quite ball-dominant suggesting point guard may be in his future. Consider that height (6’4″) when evaluating his advanced game. The ceiling is tantalizingly high. BMaze’s basketball program made a great, early evaluation when they added him to the program and he made that opportunity count.
Caleb Tarwater | 6’0″ | Sevier County ’23
Caleb Tarwater will be a reliable scorer for Sevier County’s Smoky Bears. The senior will hit the occasional three-pointer. His touch from the corners is decent. Expect him to serve as a kick-out option for the blossoming Reed Ownby Reed Ownby 6'4" | SG Sevier County | 2025 State TN . Caleb needs to incorporate high energy to be productive. Caleb plays with wonderfully active hands and constantly accumulates multiple steals in a game. Tarwater runs the floor quite well.
Cy Mincey | 6’3″ | Jefferson County ’23
Good speed with and without the basketball.
Vontez McCray | 6’3″ | Jefferson County ’24
Vontez McCray is a glue-guy for Jeff Co. and provides active defense. The team will take any scoring he can provide too.