Bradley Central Bearettes point guard Rhyne Howard (23) 
McCallie’s Jr. Clay, right, dribbles around Hamilton Heights’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker during their Dr Pepper TEN Classic basketball tournament game at McCallie School on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Jacobi Lynn (10) has the chance to become the all-time scoring leader at McMinn Central, one of the most tradition-rich girls’ basketball programs in the Chattanooga area.Leadership qualities and versatility are two common traits linking Bradley Central’s Rhyne Howard, McMinn Central’s Jacobi Lynn and McCallie’s Jr. Clay. Another similarity now is that all three were named finalists for the state’s top prep basketball awards.
The TSSAA announced Clay as a finalist for the Division II-AA Mr. Basketball award, while Howard and Lynn are finalists for Miss Basketball in Class AAA and AA, respectively.
The awards will be presented to the top girls and boys in five classifications at Murphy Center on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University on March 7 at 8 p.m. EST.
The 6-foot Clay has averaged 14 points, five assists and 2.5 steals while helping the Blue Tornado, one of the deepest teams in the state, to a 25-5 overall record. McCallie reached the state semifinals last season and is looking to build on that and take the next step behind its junior point guard.
Clay is being recruited by Georgia Southern, UNC-Asheville, Middle Tennessee State University and Furman.