Class A Semifinalist Set, Player Evaluations

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A wild night of action in The Glass House left just four teams. Jackson County will wrap after your bedtime, so check back Friday for details on the fourth quarterfinal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final scores:</strong><br><em>Humbolt 64</em><br>Unaka 53</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Eagleville 69</em><br>Pickett County 66</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayne County 42<br><em>Middle College 49</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hampton 41<br><em>Jackson County 53</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semfinals</strong> <br>Humboldt - Eagleville<br>Middle College vs. Jackson County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2622887"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bc9299c47ff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/19/26: </strong>Darion was tremendous, as always. He scored 25 points along with six rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks. Darion dominates Class A basketball games always. This was the typical performance. Taylor and his Vikings are searching for their first State Championship since 2013 and their first State Championship appearance since 2019. "He is a good all-around person," said Humboldt Head Coach Ronald Abernathy. "He is a great kid. Great student. Raw athlete. Whatever he works hard at, he gets it done. It is hard to find kids that work as hard as he does with the potential that he has. When kids are as good as he is they kind of take the backseat and relax."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3541255"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bc9299c489a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/19/26: </strong> Unaka made a whole county proud advancing to this tournament. [player_tooltip player_id='3541255' first='John' last='Hardin'] finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. "I told them I have been here 18 years, and I have dreamed about being at the Murphy Center," said Unaka Head Coach Aaron Dugger. "At some point you realize that it might not happen."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Well, Unaka made the State Tournament in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsTN/status/2034788114330214610?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/PrepHoopsTN/status/2034788114330214610?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1959189"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bc964037176"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/19/26:</strong> Cayman is a true talent. He hit a three-pointer early and then scored a lovely floater off an inside curl. Wayne County gives him many opportunities to thrive and Camfield takes advantage with velvety soft touch. Late in the first half Cayman took a knock and winced a bit as he rose. Credit the Bulldogs for clamping down on Cayman in the second half. They put a tank of a young man Cedrick Kirkwood on Cayman. He threw his 230+ pounds at Camfield and just knocked him off of his spots. It was effective. The loss crushed Cayman. He and his county had bigger dreams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We had to triple team him sometimes to get him to pass the ball," said Middle College guard Matthew Manuel.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2866237"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bca2a65d948"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/19/26:</strong> Jaylon is a bit raw, but a player worth watching as the years pass. He scored five points in the game's first three quarters and defended the rim capably at the Class A level. Pettigrew projects as a wing, possibly at the small college level if he can bulk up and develop his skills along the same trajectory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2895620"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bca2a65d9b9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/19/26:</strong> Bull strong. Logan is the team's vocal leader and energy guy. He thrives off of success and lifts his teammates after their successes. He was not quick with the dribble, but he did not turn the ball over much against a speedy Middle College team. He did not score much, which the Wildcats certainly could have used. The game devolved into madness in the fourth quarter. Fouls and turnovers carried the day. A senior like Logan needs to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and settle it down. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2865808"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bca2a65da0f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/19/26:</strong> Miles played incredibly against Wayne County. The Wildcats of Wayne County are a methodical, powerful, patient team. Middle College took a beating in the first half but found their footing in the third quarter thanks to a series of turnovers and constant Helton fastbreaks. He showed off some nice mid-air agility and spring. He did not take shots from range, but that would be an obvious are for him to develop. Wonderful energy and productivity. Middle College managed a 23-5 run largely thanks to Helton a couple of Bulldog guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2865808' first='Miles' last='Helton'] finished with 17 points and six rebounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Without my defensive energy they were getting a lot of easy buckets," said Helton on his halftime mindset. "Me stepping up my defense caused a chain reaction."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2364080"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69bcb6c72bf3f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>3/19/26:</strong> What more can you say about [player_tooltip player_id='2364080' first='Will' last='McCrary'] that his basketball playing has not already done? Footwork of a ballerina. Touch of a tailor. Grit of a miner. Will just makes big play after big play. There is no stage too big for him. "He is the real deal," said Hampton Head Coach Ned Smith after the game about [player_tooltip player_id='2364080' first='Will' last='McCrary'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are set up for a fantastic finish here in the nightcap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>41-38 Jackson County leads. They are being very methodical.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>@willmccrary_22 is going bonkers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>24 points. 9 rebounds. The Hampton Bulldogs are draped all over him, but he keeps scoring. Just a courageous effort. - @PrepHoopsTN </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->