Team Preview: Blackman

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2237638' first='Dyson' last='Elam']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Hoops staff is taking a closer look inside Tennessee high school basketball programs, as they gear up for the 2023-2024 season. Our next team feature is Blackman High, of Murfreesboro.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> Barry Wortman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Blackman Stats</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State</strong> <strong>Championship Record:</strong> 5-6<br><strong>Appearances (8): </strong>2023, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012<br><strong>Finals Appearances/Runners-up (1):</strong> 2014<br><strong>State Championships (2014):</strong> 2014</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022-2023 Record: </strong>21-12<br>Won D7-4A District Tournament Championship.<br>Won R4 Tournament Championship<br>Won Sectional Championship</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th>Date/Time</th><th>2023 Playoffs</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Feb. 14, 2023</td><td><strong>Blackman 58</strong>, Riverdale 53</td></tr><tr><td>Feb. 18, 2023</td><td><strong>Blackman 61</strong>, Oakland 54</td></tr><tr><td>Feb. 21, 2023</td><td><strong>Blackman 50</strong>, Rockvale 36</td></tr><tr><td>Feb. 25, 2023</td><td><strong>Blackman 58</strong>, Stewarts Creek 56</td></tr><tr><td>Feb. 28, 2023</td><td><strong>Blackman 50</strong>, Cane Ridge 33</td></tr><tr><td>March 2, 2023</td><td><strong>Blackman 44</strong>, LaVergne 43</td></tr><tr><td>March 6, 2023</td><td><strong>Blackman 58</strong>, Cleveland 46</td></tr><tr><td>March 15, 2023</td><td>Blackman 34, <strong>Independence 66</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><br>Roster (2023-2024)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anticipated Starters*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>0</td><td></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2367338' first='Braden' last='Flowers'] PG • So. • 5' 10" • 120 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2422624' first='Lathan' last='Alsup'] PF • So. • 6' 3"</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td></td><td>Trey McGaffee G • Jr. • 5' 11"</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>*</td><td>Trey Saffold SG • Sr. • 6' 1"</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>*</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1830667' first='Garrison' last='Eady'] PG, SG • Jr. • 6' 2" • 175 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>*</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2237638' first='Dyson' last='Elam'] SG, PG, SF • Jr. • 6' 3"</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td></td><td>Mike Bass SG • So. • 6' 1"</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td></td><td>C.j. Mcdonald G • Jr. • 6' 1"</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>*</td><td>Quintin Bass SG • Sr. • 6' 0"</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td></td><td>Brayden Sanford SG • Sr. • 6' 1"</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1947105' first='TJ' last='Irvine'] So. • 5' 10"</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td></td><td>Caden Avant G • So. • 5' 10"</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td></td><td>Lamar Robinson Fr. • 6' 3"</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td></td><td>Jordan Dixon SF • So. • 6' 3"</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>*</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2044071' first='Keller' last='Jackson'] PF • So. • 6' 4" • 195 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2881570' first='Aaden' last='Batts'] So. • 6' 2"</td></tr><tr><td>32</td><td></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1947104' first='Jayln' last='McDonald'] C • So. • 6' 6"</td></tr><tr><td>33</td><td></td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1669216' first='Christian' last='Johnson'] C • Jr. • 6' 5" • 214 lbs</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anticipated starters are: <strong>Trey Saffold, [player_tooltip player_id='1830667' first='Garrison' last='Eady'], [player_tooltip player_id='2237638' first='Dyson' last='Elam'], Quintin Bass, [player_tooltip player_id='2044071' first='Keller' last='Jackson']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1830667' first='Garrison' last='Eady']</strong> is poised for a breakout year after starting all of his sophomore year. Eady plays with tremendous poise. He can rebound with bigs and defend the corners of a 2-3 zone, but once he gets the basketball, Eady makes saft, smart decisions speedily. His handle is better than last year and his strength is at or slightly above the average for a varsity guard. Eady does not take bad shots though he can shoot. He appears completely bought in as a lead guard, responsible for quickly changing the point of attack. Eady is also a wonderful, physical on-ball defender, like many Blackman players historically. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2237638' first='Dyson' last='Elam']</strong> is a high-flying wing guard. He will play above most players even though he can struggle to find his seams, his runways to the rim. When Elam does pick his spots he can be dynamic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team likes <strong>Quintin Bass</strong> at the free throw line if it gets close late. Primary ball-handler Eady is also dependable. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On paper it should not be a concern, but Blackman gave up a painful rebound to Bolivar Central in the closing seconds of a Play-Day game after which the Tigers banked home a game-tying three-pointer. Surely this will not be a problem for the excellent rebounding team, right?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">District 8 Teams</span><br>Blackman<br>Oakland<br>Riverdale<br>Rockvale<br>Siegel</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->