Cleveland Holiday Tournament Standouts
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The Blue Raiders of Cleveland High are hosting their Sixth Annual Holiday Tournament for the remainder of this week. The field is strong at the top (Ensworth, Fayette Ware, Cleveland) with a decent Red Bank team meeting Fairley in the…
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Continue ReadingThe Blue Raiders of Cleveland High are hosting their Sixth Annual Holiday Tournament for the remainder of this week. The field is strong at the top (Ensworth, Fayette Ware, Cleveland) with a decent Red Bank team meeting Fairley in the weakest pairing of the day. All seven teams from Tennessee feature potential college basketball players, though those first three teams feature the most prominent prospects. Read below for the Players to Watch.
D28
Silverdale Baptist (60) vs. Ensworth (64)
Fayette Ware (55) vs. Valor-Georgia (42)
GAPA (67) vs. Red Bank (75)
Cleveland (60) vs. Morristown East (47)
Kennedy Okpara Kennedy Okpara 6'7" | SF Silverdale Baptist | 2025 State TN scored 26 points, making 11 FG’s along the way. The Silverdale Baptist Academy forward is a very springy, agile player. Nick Hyche (Ensworth) continues his fantastic season, dropping four three-pointers in the victory. Hyce scored 31 points and made four three-pointers.
Fayette Ware won their first game, 55-42, and will meet Ensworth Thursday in a tough challenge. Damarien Yates Damarien Yates 6'8" | SF Fayette Ware | 2023 State TN , also known as Dink was tremendous in his bid for Mr. Basketball. The inside-out threat scored 13 points in the first quarter alone. So unique in his talent, the senior 6-foot-8 player can hit three-pointers at an alarming rate or win rebounding battles. He finished the game with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Teammate Eric Jones Eric Jones 5'11" | CG Fayette Ware | 2024 State TN made four three-pointers. With three assists and 10 points, Tacarien Freeman Tacarien Freeman 5'10" | PG Fayette Ware | 2025 State TN played very well.
Gabe Leeper Gabe Leeper 6'1" | PG Cleveland | 2023 State TN (Cleveland) earned a Columbia State Community College offer on the first day of the event.
Red Bank won. Anthony Bonner Anthony Bonner 6'2" | SG Red Bank | 2024 State TN scored 21 points, while Kendrick Lloyd Kendrick Lloyd 6'2" | SG Red Bank | 2024 State TN managed 14 points and three assists. Kalen Sewell was big with 14p, 7r, 5a and Jaylen Rice Jaylen Rice 5'10" | PG Red Bank | 2025 State TN amassed 10p, 6r, 5a. Kendrick is currently ranked #79 in the state, the 18th best SG prospect in the Class of 2024. Rice will be ranked in 2025 as soon as we get a quality (see also lengthy) evaluation of his game. He is Watch List currently.
Gabe Leeper
Gabe
Leeper
6'1" | PG
Cleveland | 2023
State
TN
18P, (3/4 FG3) 2A
Jasen Brooks
Jasen
Brooks
6'1" | PG
Cleveland | 2023
State
TN
12P, 16R, 4A, 2S
Alex Hyder
Alex
Hyder
6'3" | SG
Cleveland | 2023
State
TN
13P, 5R
“ Jasen Brooks Jasen Brooks 6'1" | PG Cleveland | 2023 State TN with another double-double,” shared Cleveland High School Coach Reggie Tucker.
North Alabama assistant coach evaluated Alex Hyder Alex Hyder 6'3" | SG Cleveland | 2023 State TN and Fayette-Ware 2023 small forward Damarien Yates Damarien Yates 6'8" | SF Fayette Ware | 2023 State TN . Both are top 15 players in the class.
D29
Ensworth vs. Fayette Ware
Cleveland (64) vs. Red Bank (59)
GAPA vs. Morristown East
Silverdale Baptist vs. Valor (GA)
“Dropped a close one to a solid Cleveland team 59-64 in the second round tonight,” said Red Bank Assistant Coach Antoine Montgomery via text message. “No time to hang heads, [as] we’ll face another tough opponent in Fayette-Ware. Kalen Sewell lead us tonight w/ 23 points, Bonner w/ 10 points, Malik Rizer with 9 points, and Kendrick Lloyd Kendrick Lloyd 6'2" | SG Red Bank | 2024 State TN w/ 7p, 6r, and 4 a.”
“Gabe and Alex had another big night,” said Cleveland Coach Tucker late Thursday evening.
Chattanooga State, Roane State, Cleveland State, Columbia State, North Alabama, Jacksonville State, Tennessee Wesleyan all sent coaches to recruit and evaluate talent at this loaded event within the first two days.