A Gatlinburg Sunday
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Several Tennessee-based AAU programs invested their Sunday at an event in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Shane Cherry Shane Cherry 5'9" | PG Austin-East | 2025 State #353 Nation TN (BMaze 16u) For much of the first half of his first game of…
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Continue ReadingSeveral Tennessee-based AAU programs invested their Sunday at an event in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Shane Cherry Shane Cherry 5'9" | PG Austin-East | 2025 State #353 Nation TN (BMaze 16u)
For much of the first half of his first game of the day Shane Cherry Shane Cherry 5'9" | PG Austin-East | 2025 State #353 Nation TN looked either tired or bored. He wasn’t sharp at all relative to his elite standard. Shane is the quickest guy in the court everyday, in fact he’s probably the quickest guy in the gym everyday. To begin his Sunday SC was not sharp, consistently second to loose balls. Gambling in passing lanes without his ordinary speed.
Realize Shane plated exceptional just yesterday. Obviously, he is not a bad player. This was just not a good segment for him, as the top point guard in 2025. As a player deserving of the top PG spot, the critical eye becomes more critical and judgmental. Sadly. It is lonely at the top.
Cherry’s best play of the first half occurred with just under 7 minutes left, as Cherry was handed a turnover and he elevated to dunk easily with both hands. Cherry did hit a three-pointer to bring his team to 38-33 down late in the first half. It was a rare make from there. Shane’s biggest weakness currently is outside shooting. He plays like a young Nate Robinson. Elite bounce. Quickness. A little shorter than ideal NBA point guard. Acrobatic. Creative. Clever. Shane is a better passer than Nate Robinson ever was. That will be his most marketable basketball skill long-term.
Deondrea Lindsey Deondrea Lindsey 6'7" | PF Oak Hill Academy | 2025 #115 Nation VA (BMaze 16u)
Deondrea was fantastic early against Team Mayo. Lindsey hit the defense with a gorgeous spin-move, a Hakeem Olajuwon joint, finishing with a slick two-handed rim pull-up. Lindsey’s mobility out in space is so much better than even months ago. It speaks to his physical development and suggests there is a world within which he can play wing at the D1 level. This has always been my greatest concern with his ceiling. Can he be a face-up guy and/or defend the three-point line? He looks like a 6-foot-5 or 6-foot-6 lifer, so the more positions that he can play the higher his value to a college staff.
Inside the post, Team Mayo had no answer for Deondrea Lindsey Deondrea Lindsey 6'7" | PF Oak Hill Academy | 2025 #115 Nation VA , which was expected. They didn’t have any size at all and he is wonderful against smaller defenders. A very refined post player.
Reed Ownby Reed Ownby 6'4" | SG Sevier County | 2025 State TN (BMaze 16u)
Reed Ownby Reed Ownby 6'4" | SG Sevier County | 2025 State TN was not called upon much offensively for BMaze 16u in the morning game against Team Mayo. He is a much more deadly weapon than shown in that small smaple. Cherry was ball-dominant, which was not a bad thing, but it inhibited the offensive demonstration of Ownby.
One aspect of his game that Reed did show off was his on-ball defense. He slid his feet well and kept a small point guard in front of him. Keep in my Team Mayo is hardly an elite, powerhouse program filled with college-bound guards, but the ability of Ownby, a taller guard, to defend short, quick guards will project favorably beyond high school. And he will play beyond high school.
Team Loaded Stomps BMaze 17u in Championship
Team Loaded (NC) met the host BMaze 17u in Gatlinburg in a meeting of the superpowers. Surprisingly, the game was anything but close. Team Loaded crushed BMaze 17u, 72-49. Eli Ellis scored 41 points in the win. Overall, BMaze fell because their jumpers failed to float in.
Jahvin Carter Jahvin Carter 6'2" | PG Alcoa | 2024 State #214 Nation TN (BMaze 17u)
Jahvin Carter Jahvin Carter 6'2" | PG Alcoa | 2024 State #214 Nation TN , the State Champion and Class AA State Tournament MVP hit his free throws, as per usual. In the first few minutes Carter’s strategy was clearly to attack the rim. He only shot one outside shot in the opening five mionutes, and this would have been astute if he would have earned more fouls, more whistles. Instead, Team Loaded appeared to give up the lane and then hope Jahvin missed around the rim protectors. To open the game, Carter did miss a couple of tough layups, layups that he did hit in the State Tournament run.