1A State Champ Contender Series: Chattanooga Prep

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='1548922' first='Eli' last='Gaines'].</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Hoops staff is taking a closer look inside Tennessee high school basketball programs, as they enter December. Our next team feature is Chattanooga Prep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> Christian Collins</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chattanooga Prep Postseason Stats</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State</strong> <strong>Tournament Record: </strong>1-1<br><strong>State Tournament Appearances (1): </strong>2023<strong><br>Finals Appearances/Runners-up (0)</strong>:<br><strong>State Championships (0):</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022-2023 Record: </strong>28-9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chattanooga Prep is a relatively new school, which opened in 2018 with 60 sixth-graders. Last season Chattanooga Prep advanced to the State Tournament! Are they capable of returning? Take a look at the composition of the 2023-2024 iteration. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Chattanooga Prep Starters</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 [player_tooltip player_id='1838596' first='De'Andre' last='Turnbow']* (2026)<br>#11 Jaydan Parker* (2025)<br>#15 [player_tooltip player_id='1548922' first='Eli' last='Gaines']* (2025)<br>#24 Kyrell Randolph* (2025)<br>#30 [player_tooltip player_id='2238576' first='Derrick' last='Roberson']* (2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the last year <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2238576' first='Derrick' last='Roberson']</strong> grew a couple of inches to an imposing 6-foot-6. The athlete was already a tremendous basketball player before the growth spurt. Roberson can still guard opposing guards and ball-handlers, which is a tremendous asset for the team. His college "floor" is D2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaydan Parker </strong>gives the team a post anchor with his strength at 6-foot-4. Plays with hops and activity. He won't wow you with his shooting range, but the team does not ask that of him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kyrell Randolph</strong> is a bouncy, dunking lefty forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1548922' first='Eli' last='Gaines']</strong> is the most consistent guard on the squad. He scores in a variety of ways. Beyond his shooting prowess, long the backbone of his game, Eli is developing his handle and finishing around the rim. Gaines put on some serious muscle in the last six months too. Eli still feels like a combo guard rather than a point guard and yet he will ultimately be the ideal height of a college point guard. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bench</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A year later Chattanooga Prep is much deeper, filled with competitive varsity players down through those 10-12 roster spots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194605' first='Cadence' last='Collins'] </strong>(2028) showed some aggression and advanced skills in a blowout win over Lookout Valley to open December. Collins will probably not play a bunch of minutes this season, but keep an ear opened for his game down the line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Austin Jones</strong> (2027) is a strong, young player with some promise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->