New Senior Additions (East Tennessee)

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6495b611ae4f8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED (L-R): [player_tooltip player_id='2336377' first='Kevin' last='De Kovachich'] - Clyde Walters</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We say goodbye to the senior class, the Class of 2024 with this final ranking update. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1145719' first='Tyler' last='Tanner']</strong> remains the overall #1 in the class. Other players that formerly held the spot include Jaye Nash, Somto Cyril, and [player_tooltip player_id='1121414' first='Jahvin' last='Carter']. Tanner held the position since the spring of 2023 after his incredible 2023 State Tournament performance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Very few players from East Tennessee joined the rankings in this final pass. So many of them are already populating the 200+ list, including 2x-State Champion <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1121414' first='Jahvin' last='Carter']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214942' first='Nyziah' last='Whaley']</strong>, and Rockwood's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1894099' first='Ty' last='Pryor']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">East TN Additions</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2336377' first='Kevin' last='De Kovachich']</strong> | PG | Hamilton Heights Christian Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2340280' first='Viktor' last='Mikic']</strong> | C | Hamilton Heights Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2346463' first='Jonathan' last='Kusmiy']</strong>&nbsp;| C | Ooltewah</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Start with [player_tooltip player_id='2336377' first='Kevin' last='De Kovachich'], the outgoing point guard for Hamilton Heights Academy. He ran the show and helped get the basketball to an assortment of scorers, including ranking debutant <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2340280' first='Viktor' last='Mikic']</strong> and long-ranked <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1336400' first='Bryson' last='Andrews'].</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*<em>Editor's Note: Be aware that HHCA plays longer games than TSSAA, so statistics are a touch inflated.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De Kovachich lead his team in scoring at 15.9 points per game. His 4.6 apg ranked second behind exceptional sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2101863' first='Kamai' last='Samuels'] (5.3 apg) and "KDK" was also first in steals per at 2.6 per contest. In the last year, KDK improved his on-ball defense to a college-ready level. He is a strong guy with the chest and arms to ward off dribblers at the college level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kevin signed with North Alabama making him one of the few D1 signees in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2340280' first='Viktor' last='Mikic']</strong> is a Serbian-born center that put up 14.0 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game through his senior season. Mikic hauled down an absurd 5.2 offensive rebounds per night!* Mikic can be even better with added strength and improved footwork around the basket. He plays light on his feet and does not foul a ton at the prep school level. Long-term Mikic projects quite well though with his tenacity and physical tools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/HHhawksbball/status/1760468346296791239?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/HHhawksbball/status/1760468346296791239?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One aspect of Mikic's game that excites is his understanding of a good shot. He made 50% of this field goals this past season, which reflects the big's great discipline and competency. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->