Five of the six area boys who earned spots on the Tennessee Sports Writers Association's all-state basketball lists helped get teams to the state tournament this season.

Arts & Sciences guards Sharif Cobb and Alex Stallion were named all-state in Class A, while Howard's Barry Griffin in AA, McMinn County's Dante Arnwine in AAA and McCallie's Chad Lee in Division II also played for state-tourney teams. Also chosen in AA was Red Bank's Nick Ross, who averaged 26.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.9 steals per game and scored 2,419 career points.

Cobb was a three-year Patriots starter who averaged 18 points, four assists, three steals and four rebounds last season. Stallion averaged 15 points for CSAS, which reached the state tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.

Griffin averaged 12.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and three blocks per game for the Hustlin' Tigers, who were not picked to finish in the top four of their district but won the league and reached the state semifinals. Arnwine, a senior guard, averaged 14 points in the regular season and increased that to 16 points in the postseason to help the Cherokees reach the state tournament for the first time since 1991.

Lee was the only senior starter for McCallie, averaging 10.5 points and 10 rebounds per game to help the Blue Tornado reach a state basketball final for the first time.