Fresh Faces in Chattanooga

The 2024 basketball season will be fascinating in Chattanooga. Three private school coaches in Chattanooga feature new leadership: Baylor School, McCallie, Notre Dame. Baylor School and McCallie brought in elite players to match the elite coaching hires. Notre Dame's hire was not too shabby either, though their influx of talent lags behind. That said [player_tooltip player_id='1830608' first='Gaas' last='Herman'] might just be the best Chattanooga '25 hooper. [player_tooltip player_id='1551555' first='Zane' last='Restelli'] (Baylor School) is another great one with legitimate college basketball potential.   Who are the fresh faces joining these two veterans?   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">McCallie</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='2551694' first='Garrison' last='White'] finished third in scoring last year for Boyd-Buchanan High. Garrison earned First Team All-District. Garrison moves decently off of the basketball. His ability to catch-and-shoot will immediately help McCallie, which did not have the best floor balance last winter. Their best young players tended to be slashers and Garrison immediately stretches defenses. He can play as a point guard or 2-guard, but [player_tooltip player_id='1810740' first='Kaleb' last='Gallman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1696241' first='Jayden' last='Scott'] are likely to be the primary decision-makers.   Brad McDonald is a boarding student from the Bahamas. He maintains a Texas Southern offer. Stands 6-foot-8. He is a junior.   [player_tooltip player_id='2560287' first='Ernas' last='Valauskas'] (McCallie) was born and raised in Lithuania, an international hotbed of basketball size and talent. He boards with McCallie and brings a reputation as one of the best players his age in all of Europe. A Lithuanian National Team player. Stands 6-foot-3.   [player_tooltip player_id='1696241' first='Jayden' last='Scott'] transferred in and boards with McCallie. He comes to Tennessee from Conyers, Georgia. Jayden is jet-quick and full of confidence and competence. Scott maintains offers from McNeese State and Texas Southern. He is a member of the Class of 2026. Ran with Team Loaded NC over the summer.   Senior Kylik Matthews is a 6-foot-6 wing attacker.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Chatt Patriots</h2>   Projected Starters -- PG Ivan Huffman SG [player_tooltip player_id='2475682' first='Mason' last='Deschaine'] SF Braden Calton PF John Rucker C Ryan Swanson   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">CSAS</h2>   "I have a junior who played just a little bit of varsity last year, who got a lot better," said CSAS Head Coach Zach Dragoo. "[player_tooltip player_id='2561923' first='Elijah' last='Hall']. He is a gym rat, a grinder. He, physically, has developed a lot. Spent a lot of time in the weight room. Young guys don't understand how much that helps."   Coach Dragoo said that CSAS is a "late school" in that they begin at 9:00 AM E.S.T. Taking the initiative Elijah is at the YMCA at 6:30 every weekday morning.   "He has improved his athleticism. Very, very physical for a guard. Has improved his jump shot a lot. When he gets to the point his jump shot is consistent, I think he will attract college attention.   "I do think he could end up in the D2 level if that shot becomes consistent. Just finding that niche or fit."   Coach Dragoo concluded the discussion on [player_tooltip player_id='2561923' first='Elijah' last='Hall'] with the sentiment that based on the work ethic he demonstrated so far, nobody should doubt him reaching his potential.   "This is Year 5 for me as the head coach," said Coach Dragoo. "I was my dad's assistant for 18 years before that. He is probably the hardest worker we have had in a long time."   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hamilton Heights Christian Academy</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='2539642' first='Victor' last='Okojie'], Irish born, was a meteor announcing his arrival with a massive splash in the Tennessee River. He earned immediate placement in the rankings at #5 overall in Tennessee.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Baylor School</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='2560261' first='Mantas' last='Paldauskas'], I think he has a chance to be really good," said new The Baylor School Head Coach Quinn McDowell. "From what I have seen so far, I think he is definitely a scholarship player and has a chance to be a Division 1 guy. He comes from the same club as [player_tooltip player_id='2327064' first='Kevin' last='Sacas']. He has a great feel for the game. And he is a really high-character."   Mantas arrived in early August when the school year began at The Baylor School. He is a boarding student and very likely to start when the Red Raiders open their season against Tyner Academy and [player_tooltip player_id='1259390' first='Rodney' last='Henderson'] III in November.   Palduaskas made his name locally during the <a href="https://x.com/BNFHoopsLeague">Ball in The Fall Basketball League (@BNFHoopsLeague) / X</a> .   When asked via phone interview Monday 9/9/2024 about Mantas “The Red Mamba” Paldauskas, two post-grad oaches gushed with praise.   "Elite. That is the word," said <a href="https://x.com/mocprep">Moc Valley Prep Founder</a> and Head Coach Trey Suttles when asked how good he is.   "He is the best guard in Chatt," said Moc Valley Prep Assistant Coach Darius Flier.   One of the two coaches in the Moc Valley Prep office possibly gave Paldauskas his newest nickname, though it was impossible to confirm as of publication time.   "He can dribble," said Coach Suttles. 'He can pass. He can shoot. And he is a junior. He might be better than [player_tooltip player_id='1259399' first='Ty' last='Glasper']. I have seen both. This dude too nasty."   "He dunked on Rodney. And the next game he hit 8 3's and hit a game-winner."   Don't tell me that!   "Him getting dunked on is part of the game," said Coach Suttles. "That is showing that Rodney is showing he is ready for the challenge."   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BNFHoopsLeague/status/1832804633363828786 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Notre Dame</h2>   "Two sophomores that I have currently...as freshmen last year they played on all three teams," shared new Notre Dame Head Coach Matt Matoh. "One is [player_tooltip player_id='2561969' first='Dax' last='Brown']. He is about 6'4", maybe even pushing 6'5". Long, lanky. Really good vision for his size. He will play quite a bit of point guard for us. Capable of knocking down 3's. Seeing the floor at a high level. Dax plays soccer too."   Coach Matoh anticipates that Dax will "certainly be starting."   [player_tooltip player_id='2561976' first='Aidan' last='Redner']   "Another one that played a little bit last year, but then got hurt, Aiden Redner," said Head Coach Matt Matoh. "He is a combo guard. Really good getting to the basket. I would describe him as a bit of TJ McConnell-type game. Still working on the outside shot. He has put some work into this summer. He was All-State as a tennis player last year. He is also an elite soccer player."

The 2024 basketball season will be fascinating in Chattanooga. Three private school coaches in Chattanooga feature new leadership: Baylor School, McCallie, Notre Dame. Baylor School and McCallie brought in elite players to match the elite coaching hires. Notre Dame's hire was not too shabby either, though their influx of talent lags behind. That said Gaas Herman Gaas Herman 6'3" | SG/PG Notre Dame Chattanooga | 2025 State TN might just be the best Chattanooga '25 hooper. Zane Restelli Zane Restelli 6'3" | SG Baylor School | 2025 State TN (Baylor School) is another great one with legitimate college basketball potential.