Best of Preps teams
Boys Arts & Sciences Baylor Brainerd Central East Hamilton McCallie Ooltewah TynerGirls Arts & Sciences Baylor Central GPS Meigs County Notre Dame Soddy-Daisy Tyner
For area high school basketball fans Christmas will come a day late, but it'll be worth the wait.
The annual Times Free Press Best of Preps tournament will feature the toughest, most accomplished field of teams in the history of the event.
The tournament, which tips off Dec. 26 and continues Dec. 28-29 at Chattanooga State, will feature four boys' teams that had 20-plus wins last season, including three that won their district or region titles and four that reached the TSSAA state tournament. Two of the girls' teams also reached the state tournament and four others either won their district titles or 18-plus games.
"This is the best field we've had for both brackets," said Chattanooga State coach and assistant tournament director Jay Price. "As far as the quality of teams and individual players, this will give high school basketball fans in Chattanooga a reason to get excited and pack the gym every day.
"This has become not just the best tournament in the city but one of the best in the state."
The boys' bracket includes perennial Class A contender Arts & Sciences, Baylor, Brainerd, Central, East Hamilton, McCallie, Ooltewah and Tyner.
The girls' bracket will include Arts & Sciences, Baylor -- led by the 2015 Division II-AA Miss Basketball Kaleigh Clemons -- Central, GPS, Meigs County, Notre Dame, Soddy-Daisy and Tyner.
"It's become such a huge deal for the kids to get to play in the Best of Preps at Chattanooga State," said Baylor girls' coach John Gibson, who has led his team to three consecutive Best of Preps titles. "Kids come from all around the area, even if they're not playing, along with fans from all over to fill the gym, and that makes it a great atmosphere.
"The level of competition helps us get ready for the postseason tournaments, and to me it's impressive that we can sell out a high school tournament in our city right after Christmas. It's become a really big deal to get to be a part of it."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.