District 2 Notebook (AA)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: Austin-East</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thanksgiving marks a thrilling time each basketball season. District 2-2A features seven teams with three potential Mr. Basketballs. What have we learned after the first 10 days of basketball?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Oneida (2-0)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Indians of Oneida won their first two games (York Institute, Oakdale). They have not won their first three games to open a season since 2021 when they beat Sunbright, Coalfield, and Clarkrange in succession. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dalton Yancey </strong>scored 24 points in a win, as did Hayden Brawner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The starters for Oneida are: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1339348' first='Mason' last='Keeton']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2289223' first='Grady' last='Keeton']</strong>, <strong>Gavin Keeton</strong>, <strong>Hayden Brawner</strong> and <strong>Jaigen Morgan</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Austin-East (3-2)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Electric. The Roadrunners of Austin-East played fast and exciting to defeat a rebuilding Karns unit and that was hardly an aberration. Beyond superstar <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1273550' first='Shane' last='Cherry']</strong> the team is deep and quick. They have one dominant post player in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2352726' first='Juwaan' last='Troutman']</strong>, a lefty with guile. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2279457' first='Justin' last='Pruitt']</strong> is the youngest starter while <strong>Decoriyeon Brown</strong> infuses their games with added energy and fight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The main thing the team needs to watch is shot selection. Cherry can take some howlers and he is not alone. When they pressure the basketball all over the floor and earn easy resulting buckets they are among the best 2A teams in the land.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Austin-East starters<br>#2 Decoriyeon Brown* (2025)<br>#5 [player_tooltip player_id='1273550' first='Shane' last='Cherry']*<br>#11 [player_tooltip player_id='2279457' first='Justin' last='Pruitt']* (2026)<br>#12 Marco Allen*<br>#15 [player_tooltip player_id='2352726' first='Juwaan' last='Troutman']* (2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/11/team-preview-austin-east/">Team Preview: Austin-East - Prep Hoops</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gatlinburg-Pittman (2-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach Rashid Moore earned his 100th career win Tuesday night when GP pummeled Science Hill, 78-40. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259399' first='Ty' last='Glasper'] </strong>scored 32 points with 8 assists. Teammate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1140815' first='Carlos' last='Orr'] </strong>(Illini football signee) delivered 6 assists with 9 points, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2624793' first='Wade' last='Whaley'] </strong>managed 8 points and 6 assists. <strong>Cam Richardson</strong>, <strong>Mason Hariss</strong>, <strong>Seth Sutton</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2350870' first='Roger' last='Matute']</strong> all contributed 6 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Highlanders opened their season with a win over Greeneville, 80-60. Though they won 21 games last year, GP is better this season thanks to their depth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One unheralded guy on the Highlanders is <strong>Lucas Erozan</strong>. A quality defensive player, Erozan is more likely to assist than score. He dished out 7 assists in that Greeneville/GP victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/10/team-preview-gatlinburg-pittman/">Team Preview: Gatlinburg-Pittman - Prep Hoops</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Alcoa (4-3)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reigning State Champions Alcoa endured a dastardly week, losing back-to-back games for the first time since December 15th, 2022. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1121414' first='Jahvin' last='Carter']</strong> (Penn State signee) needs help offensively. Double-figure scorers are happening though not the same guy each game. <strong>Brady Haun</strong> broke out with 28 points against Gibbs just before Thanksgiving. In the crushing loss to Knoxville West, AJ Love (10p), Moro Ayl (11p), and [player_tooltip player_id='2281190' first='Jibriel' last='Koko'] (12p) helped Mr. Basketball-candidate Carter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without [player_tooltip player_id='1856728' first='Brandon' last='Winton'], the defense is not the same. How could it be? Winton will play D1 football for the University of South Florida. And yet the team does possess some athleticism, maybe better depth than a year ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/AlcoaHoops/status/1727396845679526363?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/AlcoaHoops/status/1727396845679526363?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pigeon Forge (2-0)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pigeon Forge won their only two games, both on the road, by a convincing margin. PFHS downed Oliver Springs, 60-50 and then crushed Hancock County, 66-43.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Eagleton Academy (2-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">L&amp;N STEM</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Preseason First Team (<a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/10/district-2-aa-preseason-all-district/"><em>Published Previously</em></a>)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1121414' first='Jahvin' last='Carter']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jahvin-carter/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;/ Senior / Alcoa / Point Guard / Penn State verbal</strong></em><br>Ranked #3 overall. He has been as high as #2 in the class. When the game is on the line, you want Jahvin with the basketball in his hands. Great players are composed and deliver in those moments. Remember Chandler Jackson? B.J. Edwards, Darius Garland? Jahvin is right in line with those fantastic guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259399' first='Ty' last='Glasper']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ty-glasper/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;/ Junior / Gatlinburg-Pittman / Point Guard</strong></em><br>Starting for his third season. Wonderful summer. Proven.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1140815' first='Carlos' last='Orr']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/carlos-orr/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;/ Senior / Gatlinburg-Pittman / Small Forward / Illinois FB verbal</strong></em><br>Expected to sign to University of Illinois as a football wide receiver. Elite rebounder and post defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1273550' first='Shane' last='Cherry']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/shane-cherry/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;/ Junior / Austin-East / Point Guard</strong></em><br>Will be in the argument for #1 player in 2025 until his senior year wraps in 1.5 years. Elite quickness, handle, and uncanny explosiveness. Nate Robinson (NBA-retired) with better handle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1339348' first='Mason' last='Keeton']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mason-keeton/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;/ Senior / Oneida / Point Guard</strong></em><br>Stat-stuffer. High-academic.&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1339348' first='Mason' last='Keeton']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/mason-keeton/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;is fantastic at both basketball and soccer. He lead 22-win Oneida in scoring last season (19.2 ppg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->