You want a title? Go West. Champions Crowned in Cookeville

Andrew Force March 4, 2023 @ 03:07 PM

West missed most of his junior season with a torn ACL injury. Once ranked #1 overall with @PrepHoopsTN, West was unable to return to AAU in 2022 April, May. July looked increasingly unlikely. His injury was costing him his final AAU season, which was pivotal. He needed to prove that he could play basketball with the same athleticism before any colleges would offer, right? Shockingly, West circumvented the traditional recruiting path entirely and verbally committed to Vanderbilt in June. They stuck with him the entire time and he rewarded them with his verbal commitment, which then matured into a signed National Letter of Intent (NLI).

An accomplishment to be sure. Saturday he earned another fantastic accomplishment. Two-time State Champion.

"Incredible," said Goodpasture Head Coach Adam Sonn. "Great senior leadership. Great resilience."

Jayden Jones Jayden Jones 6'5" | SG/SF Goodpasture | 2025 State #389 Nation TN finished with 19 points and 9 rebounds.

Highlights

Cole McCormick Cole McCormick 6'5" | SF Notre Dame | 2024 State TN blocked Jayden Jones Jayden Jones 6'5" | SG/SF Goodpasture | 2025 State #389 Nation TN with a left hand approximately ten feet above the ground. The singular play spoke to the moment in a way that few predicted. Goodpasture is a team composed of wonderful Nashville-area basketball players with an excellent coach and a recent track record of extreme success. Notre Dame was not the favorite. And yet Cole denied the future college star, current high school superstar Jayden Jones Jayden Jones 6'5" | SG/SF Goodpasture | 2025 State #389 Nation TN , perhaps saying without saying 'We are here.' And the Irish played the first quarter like they belonged in the game. Sixteen points in the first six minutes against GHS was a fantastic accomplishment.

Midway through the second quarter, Isaiah West Isaiah West 6'3" | SG Goodpasture | 2023 State #216 Nation TN bounded the ball up to his left-hand and whipped a left-handed sling pass 20' to a backdoor-cutting Jayden Jones Jayden Jones 6'5" | SG/SF Goodpasture | 2025 State #389 Nation TN . Insanely risky, the pass worked and Jayden nudged himself into double figures with a soft banked layup. Seconds earlier West caught a lob pass from King Keary King Keary 6'2" | PG Goodpasture | 2025 State TN to dunk home a two-handed jam.

Jack Carter Jack Carter 6'6" | SG Goodpasture | 2023 State TN returned to his sophomore form, playing with his back-to-the-basket instead of the rangy wing he morphed into out of developmental necessity during AAU and his senior year. Notre Dame lacked answers defending the post, especially because Goodpasture featured both Jayden Jones Jayden Jones 6'5" | SG/SF Goodpasture | 2025 State #389 Nation TN and Carter.