Prospects Nation: Recap: End of the Road -- Tennessee
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- The fall exposure weekend serves several purposes for prospects and college coaches alike. For seniors it sets the stage for the final chance of exposure while playing in an elite setting in front of coaches. However, the greatest advantage gained was for younger players who were able to play on the big stage and get a head start on exposure. The Franklin Fieldhouse provided the venue for the End of the Road Championships. Here are the top performers from the last weekend in September.
FEATURE PROGRAM
Tennessee Flight
A standard of excellence will continue to be upheld by the Tennessee Flight moving into next year. Program director Tom Insell has multiple teams that are loaded from the starting five to the end of the bench with potential college prospects. Last years team featured three ELITE 150 prospects in No. 25 Kaylan Pugh of Collierville, Tenn., No. 34 MeMe Jackson of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and No. 114 Alex Johnson of Murfreesboro, Tenn. In all the Flight will have close to a dozen class of 2015 players who will sign a Division I scholarship this November.
The End of the Road Championships showcased what the Flight has to offer for years to come. In the class of 2016, post player Jaiden McCoy of Knoxville, Tenn., is establishing herself as one of the more productive posts in the region. At 6 feet 3 inches, she was effective at finishing plays on the off-side of the glass and providing length in the lane. A new edition for the Flight this fall was Breanna Glover of Glasgow, Ky., who showed terrific athleticism on both ends of the court. She wowed the crowd by swatting several shots out of the air. She will make a push as one of the top high school players in her state this year.
The class of 2017 is full of promise for Insell and his staff. Point guard Anastasia Hayes of Murfreesboro, Tenn., is currently rated No. 17 in the ELITE 25. The 5-7 dynamo is crafty and explosive with the ball in her hands, which usually leads to scoring opportunities for her and her teammates. Along the frontline is Keondra McKinney of Knoxville, Tenn., who demonstrated an expanded skill set at the End of the Road Championships. Currently ranked No. 14 in her class, she showed polish with her footwork in the pivot. However, it is her length and athleticism that set her apart as one of the top combo forwards in the nation.
Insell has already set the deck for years to come with talented class of 2018 players as well. Another point guard, Jordyn Cambridge of Nashville, Tenn., is already on the ELITE 25 Watch List. She teams up with wing-forward Brinae Alexander of Murfreesboro, Tenn., to make up a 1-2 punch that already has coaches along the back line talking. Add in a middle school prospect of Jayla Hemingway of Collierville, Tenn., who is just in the class of 2019, and the Flight will attract a large following of coaches for years to come.
AROUND THE RIM
♦ Team Memphis Elite put together plenty of talent at the End of the Road Championships. Forward TaeLour Richardson of Nesbitt, Miss., in the class of 2016 is an athletic force on both ends of the floor. Meanwhile, class of 2016 wing Tori Sewell of Millington, Tenn., complements the team with her ability to shoot from long range.
♦ We have had multiple looks at the Memphis Dream team coached by Wilbert Cooper and Andre Pruitt. This collection of class of 2017 prospects is headlined by point guard Tamia Jones and post Antionette Lewis who are both from Memphis, Tenn.
♦ Team Tennessee Glory brought energy and effort to the floor all weekend long. Class of 2016 point guard Tatiana Love of Bartlett, Tenn., and wing Morgan Morris of Memphis, Tenn., both had leadership roles in that effort.