Introducing Rise Above Basketball 16u

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>May 6th Rise Above Basketball Director Brandon Bradford shared a few minutes dissecting the program's 16u team. The following analysis is his alone, but you can read several articles featuring the 16u squad on PrepHoops.com/Tennessee. For example, <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/05/best-phbluffcityblues-forwards/">Best #PHBluffCityBlues Forwards</a> and <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/05/bluff-city-blues-early-birds-sunday/">Bluff City Blues: Early Birds (Sunday) </a>both detail the weekend prowess of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2465764' first='Kealan' last='Polk']</strong>. You can read about [player_tooltip player_id='2819143' first='Chris' last='Ransom'] <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/05/bluff-city-blues-early-birds-sunday/">here</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Program: </strong>Rise Above Basketball<br><br><strong>Age Level: </strong>16U<br><br><strong>Program Director:</strong> Brandon Bradford<br><br><strong>Coach:</strong> Keenan Thompson<br><br><strong>16u Roster:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2465764' first='Kealan' last='Polk'], 6-4, Class of 2026, SG/SF, Bolivar Central</strong><br>Kealan is our #1 playmaker...He can shoot from the outside...He is a junior at Bolivar Central, he is young for his class...He is also a strong football player (WR).<br><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2826616' first='Brandon' last='Motley'], 6-1, Class of 2028, PG, Rossville Christian</strong><br>He is kind of taken over the point guard role for us...can play the 1-3...Very strong shooter...for a freshman he has a very high I.Q...For high school he will play the "2"<br><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2283273' first='Hunter' last='Malena'], 5-10, Class of 2027, PG</strong>, <strong>Bolivar Cetntral</strong><br>Just transferred to Bolivar yesterday...transferred from Fayette Ware...He is quick, he just hasn't had his time to shine yet...really good shooter...very good in transition.<br><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2815269' first='Micah' last='Brooks'], 6-0, Class of 2027, PG, Rossville Christian</strong><br>Left-handed shooter...He is more of a point guard...He came off the bench for Rossville...He will be starting this year<br><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2819143' first='Chris' last='Ransom'], 6-5, Class of 2027, SF, Fayette-Ware</strong><br>Went down with a knee injuiry Sunday...He is a high-flyer...rebounder...Dunks everything...I would imagine he would start this year.<br><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2815271' first='Kahne' last='Dozier'], 6-3, Class of 2027, SF, Fayette Academy</strong><br>Two-He is about 6-foot3...He is our lockdown defensive guy...He took a huge leap this year offensively...He needs to improve jumpshot and ball-handling, but he will be one of my main guys this year. He was playing more post this year, but will step into guard role...Plays football.<br><br><strong>PJ Brown, 6-2, Class of 2027, SG, Fayette Ware</strong><br>He is a very good on-ball defender...He is just everywhere...He is a really good role player...He is all over the court...Good in transition.<br><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2416989' first='Dalton' last='Green'], 6-3, Class of 2027, F, Fayette Academy</strong><br>He is multi-sport athlete. He plays golf, basketball, and soccer...He is our leading scorer on the soccer team...With Rise Above he comes off of the bench and he is a role player...Very good at finding an open spot and hitting the catch-and-shoot 3.<br><br><strong>Will Hargrave,5-9, Class of 2027, G, Christian Brothers</strong><br>Did really well in Nashville last week...He had a couple of 20-point games...Very high I.Q. point guard...I think he played JV last year at Christian Brothers and is looking to find a role on the varsity team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2826620' first='Davion' last='Payton'],6-2, Class of 2029, SG/PG, Rossville Christian</strong><br>He is playing up to get used to the speed because he is going to play some varsity next year as a freshman. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Upcoming Schedule:</strong><br><br>May 23- May 25 -- Prep Hoops Grit Region Finals (Chicago)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->