High school diplomas have been earned, prep stats are all in the books and the charge to succeed at the next level has been given.

Monday night at the 2016 Chattanooga Basketball Senior Banquet held at the Car Barn, 33 graduates were honored by coaches and administrators of AAU basketball teams Chattanooga Elite and Tennessee Extreme.

“We are proud of our seniors who have been part of our program for several years and are pleased that we have had a part in their success,” said Chattanooga Elite president Kelcey Watson.

“We are here to not only coach these boys and girls and help them be better players, but also help in any way we can as they move to the next level, including as they apply for college scholarships and help defray their cost of taking the SAT and ACT exams.”

Whether it’s a year or two at a junior college to gain more basketball maturity, attending solid four year public colleges or nationally-recognized private universities such as Sewanee or Harvard, the more than 30 recent high school graduates will be in college in the fall working towards a degree.

Guest speaker UTC men’s basketball coach Matt McCall told the seniors, “look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself ‘how can I get better.’

“You will be respected in the college locker room if you have a strong work ethic and if you do well in the classroom.

“Put your nose to the ground and get to work.”

McCall has the resume to prove he can back up his words as he was a U. of Florida assistant coach for two NCAA champions and this past year led the Mocs to a 29-6 record, a Southern Conference title and a trip to the NCAA tourney.

Coming Up: The 13-under boys Chattanooga Elite team heads to Greensboro, N.C. this weekend to compete in an AAU National Classic (level II) tournament.

This state championship team is 32-3 record is coached by former Riverside HS coach Leroy Alexander. A year ago 13-under squad placed third in the national classic division tournament and was Tennessee state runners-up.

Chattanooga Elite Basketball

 Senior Honorees

 

Player                         College                                                            High School

 

·         Malik McConnell        Walters State                                                  Red Bank*

·         Ryan Montgomery      Lee University                                                 Central*

·         Corey McDonald         Austin Peay University                                    McCallie**

·         Bradley McCurty         Bryan College                                                 Bradley Central*

·         Peyton Parker             Maine Maritime Institute                               Bradley Central*

·         Adrian Thomas            Sewanee: The University of the South            McCallie*

·         Tae Tae Ross               ____________(undecided)                             Brainerd*

·         Hunter Erickson          Covenant College                                            Heritage*

·         Patrick Good               Appalachian State University                          Davey Crockett*

·         Todd Lansden              Tennessee Wesleyan                                      CSAS*

·         Isaiah Shropshire        _____________(undecided)                           Brainerd

·         Emannuel Lane           Cleveland State                                               Central *

·         Malik Beavers                         North Dakota State College of Science          Brainerd**

·         Tyler Byrd                   Florida Atlantic Gulf Coast                              Notre Dame*

 

* College Basketball

** College Football

 

Player                         College                                                            High School

·         Maddie Wright           Belmont                                                          Boyd Buchanan *

·         Azhia Little                  MTSU                                                              CSAS (Not Playing)

·         Akia Harris:                 TN Tech                                                           Hamilton Heights *

·         Crystal Eally                Hiwassee                                                         CSAS *

·         Jaz Simpkins                Harvard                                                           Baylor (Not Playing)

·         Abby Hubert                Cleveland State                                               Baylor *

·         Meghan Lewis             Union                                                               Silverdale *

·         Jamie Ward                 Chipola                                                            Hamilton Heights *

·         Shawnia Anderson      Univ of North Georgia                                    Cleveland *

·         Keturah Billings           Carson Newman                                             CSAS *

·         Kat Alomar                  undecided                                                       Walker Valley

·         Dammie Balogun        Bethel College                                    Rabun Gap High School *

·         Victoria Monyei          N. Carolina Central                             Fayetteville Christian*

·         Kendall Caudle            Lincoln Memorial                                           East Hamilton *

·         Maria Bardeeva          Nova College                                       Northwood Temple Acad.*

·         Destiny Irvin                Lane College                                                   Ridgeland *

·         Destiny Black              Bryan College                                                 East Hamilton *

·         Brei Denton                 Martin Methodist                                           Central *

·         Tatiana Staton             Johnson College                                              Hixson *

* College Basketball

 

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net