Tennessee high school boys basketball state tournament preview
Michael Murphy
The TSSAA Boys Basketball Championships tip off on Wednesday. Here is a look at the tournament:
What to know
► When: Wednesday-Saturday
► How much: $10 admission ($12 on Saturday), $5 parking
► Where: Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center in Murfreesboro
More:Tennessee high school boys basketball state tournament schedule
3 notes to track
Welcome (back): In addition to three teams — Douglass, Mt. Juliet and Oakdale — making their state tournament debuts, a handful more will be returning for the first time in decades. It has been 16 years since Stratford’s last state tournament appearance, while North Greene last reached the quarterfinals in 1992. Riverdale (1986) and Whitehaven (1985) haven’t been since the mid-1980s, and it has been four decades since Monterey’s first-round exit to the Class A tournament in 1978.
Memphis East seeking three-peat: East will be looking to become the first Class AAA boys team to win three straight titles since fellow Memphis school White Station did so from 2001 to 2003. The eight-time state champion Mustangs (28-3), who are ranked sixth nationally in the USA TODAY Super 25, have outscored their first six postseason opponents by an average of 31.7 points.
Lone unbeaten: Blackman might boast the state’s only undefeated record, but the Blaze will be decided underdogs in their Class AAA opener. District 7-AAA and Region 4-AAA champion Blackman (32-0), which is back in the quarterfinals for the sixth time in seven seasons, squares off against top-ranked Memphis East in Wednesday’s 1:15 p.m. quarterfinal.
20 players to watch
► Martrell Brooks, Hamilton: 6-foot-3 senior averages 17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and 2.4 steals.
► Juwan Carpenter, Stratford: 6-foot-2 junior averages 12.4 points, 5.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds.
► Carson Cary, Columbia Academy: 6-foot-2 junior averages 18.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals.
► Trey Davis, Fulton: 6-foot junior averages 15.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2.2 steals.
► Trent Gibson, Blackman: 6-foot-4 senior averages 16.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists.
► Arecko Gipson, MASE: 6-foot-5 senior Mr. Basketball finalist averages 25.4 points and 8.8 rebounds.
► Ques Glover, Bearden: 5-foot-11 sophomore averages 20.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals.
► Dante Harris, Alcoa: 6-foot-1 sophomore averages 19.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists.
► Jackson Hicks, Oakdale: 6-foot-2 senior Mr. Basketball finalist averages 22 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 3.3 steals.
► Jordan Johnson, Hamilton: 6-foot-2 senior averages 19.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.6 steals.
► Cameron Jones, Whitehaven: 6-foot-6 Jacksonville State signee averages 15.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals.
► Alec Kegler, Northeast: 6-foot-4 junior averages 20.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 steals.
► Alex Lomax, Memphis East: 6-foot-1 senior Wichita State commitment averages 14.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 3.2 steals.
► Bryce McBride, Jackson South Side: 6-foot-1 sophomore averages 15 points, four assists and three rebounds.
► Matt Murrell, Whitehaven: 6-foot-3 sophomore averages 16.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals.
► Deron Perry, Riverdale: 5-foot-10 junior averages 12.6 points, 2.9 assists and 2.0 rebounds.
► Dennis Stallings, Whites Creek: 6-foot-2 senior averages 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
► Isaac Stephens, Mt. Juliet: 6-foot-6 senior averages 13.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.
► Ryan Weathers, Loretto: 6-foot-2 Vanderbilt baseball signee averages 19 points and 6.9 rebounds.
► James Wiseman, Memphis East: 6-foot-11 junior and the nation's top-ranked 2019 prospect averages 18.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks.
Who will win?
High school sports writers from the USA TODAY Network - Tennessee give their state tournament predictions:
CLASS AAA
Cecil Joyce, The Daily News Journal: Memphis East over Whitehaven
Tom Kreager, The Tennessean: Memphis East over Whitehaven
Michael Murphy, The Tennessean: Memphis East over Northeast
Diana Nearhos, The News Sentinel: Memphis East over Whitehaven
Michael Odom, The Jackson Sun: Memphis East over Whitehaven
George Robinson, The Leaf Chronicle: Memphis East over Northeast
Luis Torres, The Jackson Sun: Memphis East over Whitehaven
John Varlas, The Commercial Appeal: Memphis East over Whitehaven
CLASS AA
Cecil Joyce, The Daily News Journal: Hamilton over Fulton
Tom Kreager, The Tennessean: Hamilton over Fulton
Michael Murphy, The Tennessean: Hamilton over Stratford
Diana Nearhos, The News Sentinel: Hamilton over Fulton
Michael Odom, The Jackson Sun: Hamilton over Stratford
George Robinson, The Leaf Chronicle: Hamilton over Stratford
Luis Torres, The Jackson Sun: Hamilton over South Side
John Varlas, The Commercial Appeal: Hamilton over Stratford
CLASS A
Cecil Joyce, The Daily News Journal: Douglass over Columbia Academy
Tom Kreager, The Tennessean: Douglass over Loretto
Michael Murphy, The Tennessean: Douglass over Columbia Academy
Diana Nearhos, The News Sentinel: Douglass over MASE
Michael Odom, The Jackson Sun: MASE over Douglass
George Robinson, The Leaf Chronicle: Douglass over Monterey
Luis Torres, The Jackson Sun: Douglass over MASE
John Varlas, The Commercial Appeal: Douglass over MASE
Reach Michael Murphy at mfmurphy@tennessean.com, 615-259-8026, and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.