Chattanooga Elite 17u AAU Preview

A fixture among the grassroots season, Chattanooga Elite is back with an impact. The 17u age group features a singular deep team with four unsigned seniors during the April portion.

Two years back Keelan Jackson Keelan Jackson 6'4" | SF Tyner Academy | 2023 State TN and Nick Smith Nick Smith 6'2" | SG Tyner Academy | 2023 State TN earned PrepHoopsTN Combine All-Star appearances.

Nick Smith Nick Smith 6'2" | SG Tyner Academy | 2023 State TN finished his high school career with Tyner Academy. The team was 20-10, and played quite well, though they eventually lost twice to Brainerd in the playoffs. Nick is a modest athlete for college recruiters though his skills are a muddy amalgam of point guard and off-guard. His value will depend upon which player(s) will pair with him in the college system.

Brainerd and Tyner played five games against each other in the 2022-2023 season, the first three won by Tyner Academy and Nick Smith Nick Smith 6'2" | SG Tyner Academy | 2023 State TN , while the two playoff games went the way of Brainerd High. Facing teams with innate quickness (Alcoa, Brainerd, East Hamilton), Nick's most noticeable athletic advantage was the first-step quickness. A left-hand dominant guard, Nick dashed past a Brainerd guard with a baiting dribble and then the go. An aspect that Smith needs to improve is that mid-range pull-up action.

Keelan Jackson Keelan Jackson 6'4" | SF Tyner Academy | 2023 State TN was the first player ranked out of this entire roster way back in the spring of his 15u AAU season, so 2019. Keelan's promise as a catch-and-shoot guy with exceptional guard height landed him in an early Top 40. His handle has come along a little bit, but he did not mature into a prototypical slasher/shooter wing. A small college (NAIA) will be able to use him at either wing position, and depending on the defender he might be able to score in a variety of ways.

Jaylen Taylor Jaylen Taylor 6'1" | PG Howard | 2024 State TN and Myquise Thomas teamed up for an underwhelming Howard team in 2022-2023. Jaylen showed off wonderful quickness and a little grit. Overall, it was a disappointing season with regards to team results, though JT put some quality games on "film." His season with Chattanooga Elite will ideally launch off of that platform.

Notable Alumni

JR Clay
Ryan Montgomery 
Lucas Brown 
Mike Houge
Malik McConnell 
Kendrick Thompson 
Cahlib Edwards
Tory Sewell    
Anthony Watkins
Patrick Good
Dejounta Ross
Tre Tiller
Lucas Korn 
Brandon Walters
Kevin Cameron, Jr
Devante Jones
James Franklin, Jr 
Ladd McConkey
Jorden Starling
Caden Mills
Mohammad Abubakar
Kendall Watson