Midseason Notebook: Ezell-Harding Eagles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: Ezell-Harding team.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Hoops staff is taking a closer look inside Tennessee high school basketball programs, two months into the 2024-2025 season. Our next team feature is Ezell-Harding Christian High out of Antioch, TN.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> Michael Mays</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1529424' first='MJ' last='Gibbs']</strong> spent years growing his game for this moment...his senior year. Fortunately for him a few sophomores developed quickly enough to be impactful now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Ezell-Harding History</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Tournament Record:</strong>&nbsp;8-4<br><strong>State Tournament Appearances (5):</strong>&nbsp;2011, 2005, 2002, 2001, 1998<br><strong>State Runner-up (2):</strong>&nbsp;2002, 2001<br><strong>State Champions (1):</strong>&nbsp;1998<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Team Roster (2024-2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>0</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2403327' first='Javon' last='Spears']</td><td>So.</td><td></td><td>5'10"</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2537828' first='Noah' last='Kaufmann']*</td><td>So.</td><td>PG</td><td>6'0"</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1529424' first='MJ' last='Gibbs']*</td><td>Sr.</td><td>SG</td><td>6'3"</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>KJ Hillhouse*</td><td>Sr.</td><td>SF</td><td>6'5"</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2299334' first='Zay' last='Bridges']*</td><td>So.</td><td>F</td><td>6'4"</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Ali Tore*</td><td>Jr.</td><td>F</td><td>6'8"</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2085774' first='Khalif' last='Dia']</td><td>So.</td><td>SF/SG</td><td>6'4"</td></tr><tr><td>34</td><td>Alton Walker</td><td>Sr.</td><td></td><td>5'6"</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>Starters:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1529424' first='MJ' last='Gibbs'], [player_tooltip player_id='2299334' first='Zay' last='Bridges'], Ali Tore, [player_tooltip player_id='2537828' first='Noah' last='Kaufmann'], KJ Hillhouse.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ezell-Harding boasts abnormal size for a small enrollment private school. The frontline is imposing and even guard star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1529424' first='MJ' last='Gibbs']</strong> is a solid 6-foot-3. <strong>Ali Tore </strong>is an active big with wonderful endurance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1529424' first='MJ' last='Gibbs'] proved against C.P.A. that he is an elite on-ball defender. Gibbs gets help on that end from youngster <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2299334' first='Zay' last='Bridges']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gibbs is averaging 14.9 points per game along with 4.5 rpg. Bridges puts up 13.5 points a night as a sophomore. Sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2537828' first='Noah' last='Kaufmann']</strong> gives 12.3 points per game to the cause.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td></td><td>District</td><td>Overall</td></tr><tr><td>Ezell-Harding</td><td>3-0</td><td>15-0</td></tr><tr><td>Goodpasture</td><td>3-0</td><td>11-1</td></tr><tr><td>Friendship Christian</td><td>2-1</td><td>10-4</td></tr><tr><td>Davidson Academy</td><td>1-1</td><td>3-4</td></tr><tr><td>DCA</td><td>1-1</td><td>6-4</td></tr><tr><td>Clarksville Academy</td><td>0-2</td><td>3-7</td></tr><tr><td>Nashville Christian</td><td>0-2</td><td>5-7</td></tr><tr><td>Mt. Juliet Christian</td><td>0-3</td><td>4-4</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->