Way Too Early Best Returners in D1-3A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The season ended. Class 3A Fulton captured the golden ball. What is next? Who is next?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, the periscope focuses purely on D1-3A and the Best Returners. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>David Crockett High drops down from 4A, where they struggled this year (9-15). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Teams Included</span><br>David Crockett*<br>Elizabethton<br>Sullivan East*<br>Tennessee*<br>Unicoi County*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2085844' first='Colin' last='Beason'] (2024) - David Crockett</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2085844' first='Colin' last='Beason']</strong> is good enough to record a double-double multiple times a month. His senior year might just include a District MVP honor, if there is another leap in his development. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Corbin Laisure (2025) - Sulivan East</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also a football player, Corbin Laisure rebounded at an elite level, rivaling outgoing Unicoi County rebounder [player_tooltip player_id='1564338' first='Lucas' last='Slagle']. Corbin averaged around 12 rebounds per as a sophomore!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1547325' first='Colin' last='Brown'] (2025) - Tennessee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1547325' first='Colin' last='Brown']</strong> loved to pass-first during his sophomore season. In fact, CB appeared to draw more joy from shots made off of his assists than the times he scored directly. Facing Volunteer High School in late February, Colin hit two beautiful three-pointers in the first quarter with his left-hand held high after the release. Brown showed off an elusive handle against Volunteer. It probably ranks as average statewide, when considering the wonderful dribblers in Memphis and Nashville. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Bradley Gouge (2025) - David Crockett</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Reagan Cash (2025) - David Crockett</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Zander Phillips (2025) - Tennessee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zander Phillips</strong> is a scrappy forward with a decently quick first-step. In late February he competed against a senior-laden Volunteer High team. An excitable player, Zander's weakness is team defense. He was out of position more than once facing Volunteer High in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574449' first='Jackson' last='Simmons'] (2026) - Unicoi County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was not the State Tournament <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574449' first='Jackson' last='Simmons']</strong> wanted, and he underperformed his usual standard. The state line was poor: 3p, 4to, 2r, 1-6 FG. Simmons projects to be the best of the returnees. For the season, Jackson averaged 11.0 points per game and hit a remarkable 87% from the free throw line. Further, the matured game of Simmons featured 3.2 rpg, 3.9 apg, and 0.9 spg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Drake Fisher (2024) - Sullivan East</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2283699' first='Kolby' last='Jones'] (2026) - Unicoi County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One season, one State Tournament appearance. <strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2283699' first='Kolby' last='Jones']</strong> started and played 28 minutes in the loss to Haywood. Kolby really struggled to score, missing his only two three-point shots. The four rebounds Jones collected represented his largest contribution. During his freshman season Kolby made 88 field goals, averaging 6.8 ppg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Mason Hensley (2024) - Unicoi County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"left"} --> <p class="has-text-align-left">In his State Tournament debut, <strong>Mason Hensley</strong> came off the bench to help with four points and two rebounds in 15 minutes. His squad did get blown out by Haywood, 63-43. Mason averaged 3.1 rebounds per during his junior season.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->