Team Thad 16u Begins EYBL Season

Team Thad 16u held on, despite sputtering tremendously throughout the final minutes, defeating the Georgia Stare 60-55. Playing northwest of Atlanta, far beyond the suburban donut, Team Thad made the necessary defensive stops and a few free throws to open the weekend 1-0.

Team Thad 16u
#0 Salim London (AL)
#1 Tyler Lucas Tyler Lucas 6'0" | PG Mitchell | 2025 State TN
#2 Brett Freeman (NC)
#2#3 Tyler Jones Tyler Jones 6'2" | CG Evangelical Christian (ECS) | 2025 State TN
#4 Armelo Boone (KY)
#12 Elijah Finley (KY)
#13 Ashton Magee (MS)
#21 Jayden Jones Jayden Jones 6'4" | SF Goodpasture | 2025 State TN
#24 Jamarion Fleming (MS)
#25 Kedrick Simmons (MS)
#30 Austin Sperry (KY)
#32 Markus Tapscott (AL)

Jamarion Fleming

Wonderful. Jamarion partially blocked a three-pointer, a game-tying three-pointer with 20 seconds left in the game. His team would go on to win, and if that fell…who knows? Fleming holds an Alabama offer.

Jayden Jones Jayden Jones 6'4" | SF Goodpasture | 2025 State TN

Terrible perimeter defense. The Georgia Stars guards spun him around numerous times. Jayden was the best player offensively. He finished with 18 points on 8-12 shooting! Also, Jayden tugged down 13 rebounds, the best for either team.

Tyler Jones Tyler Jones 6'2" | CG Evangelical Christian (ECS) | 2025 State TN

Tyler Jones Tyler Jones 6'2" | CG Evangelical Christian (ECS) | 2025 State TN was decent, not his sharpest. Jones was very slick with a few crosses late, but he did force a shot. It was easily blocked and the Team Thad 16u Coach, perhaps overly micromanaging yanked him, for a minute of gametime. Still, Jones was inserted shortly thereafter and finished out the game alternating time in the final minutes with Austin Sperry.

Considering how many turnovers the team suffered in the last 10 minutes, it would be wonderful if Tyler solidifies himself in the starting backcourt. In truth, Team Thad presses a lot and the rotation is quicker than most high school teams.

Cortez Graham Cortez Graham 6'4" | PG Hillsboro | 2025 State TN

The Hillsboro star guard made his Team Thad debut Friday with some fire. Cortez was eagerly adapting to the Team Thad principle of aggressive trapping. CG was very confident and foreboding with his on-ball defense. Graham did a nice job of challenging the dribbler with his feet near and his hands extended without fouling.

Tyler Lucas Tyler Lucas 6'0" | PG Mitchell | 2025 State TN

Tyler Lucas Tyler Lucas 6'0" | PG Mitchell | 2025 State TN helped with five rebounds, a tremendous figure from the guard position. He scored four points, but did lose the basketball twice in the final five minutes.

The Georgia Stars picked up two TN-based players for this 16u team. In this game, King Keary King Keary 6'2" | PG Goodpasture | 2025 State TN played 11 minutes, 0-3 FG with 1r, 1to, 1 foul and Cade Bennerman Cade Bennerman 6'11" | PF Father Ryan | 2025 State TN played 18 minutes, accumulating 5 rebounds and 4 fouls. He was 0-2 from the field with 1 block and 1 assist.