Led by a pair of state champions, the Chattanooga area has a total of 12 boys' basketball players who have received all-state recognition from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for the 2023-24 season.
Chattanooga Prep junior Eli Gaines and sophomore teammate Derrick Roberson, who helped the Sentinels go 27-6 and win Hamilton County's first boys' basketball state title in 17 years, headline the TSSAA Class 1A team. Both were also named to the all-tournament team at state last month, with Roberson the MVP of that event in Murfreesboro.
The Class 2A team includes Tyner junior Rodney Henderson, who averaged 20.5 points and six rebounds this past season, and Brainerd senior Ashton Munson, who averaged 22.6 points and 5.9 assists. East Ridge junior Hasani Jackson, who averaged 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Red Bank senior Anthony Bonner, who helped his team reach the state tourney by averaging 21 points per game, were part of the 3A squad. Bradley Central junior Tyrese Stovall made it in 4A.
Among those making up the Division II-A team were Silverdale Baptist Academy's Kennedy Okpara, a 6-foot-7 junior who helped his team to 30 wins by averaging 16.4 points and 9.5 rebounds, and Notre Dame junior Gaas Herman, who averaged 19 points and eight rebounds. In DII-AA, there were a trio of selections from local programs: Baylor's Nyziah Whaley, who averaged 14 points and five assists, Chattanooga Christian's Dre Jackson, who was a state Mr. Basketball finalist, and McCallie's Kenneth Chime.
Staff file photo by Patrick MacCoon / Chattanooga Prep's Derrick Roberson, with ball, was the TSSAA Class 1A state tournament MVP last month. Now he's also a TSWA all-state selection in boys' basketball.2024 TSWA ALL-STATE BOYS' BASKETBALL TEAMS
CLASS 4A
Caden Windle (William Blount), Kyle Cloninger, Morristown East), K.J. Tenner (Cordova), Christian Alston (Bartlett), R'Chaun King (Bartlett), Jett Montgomery (Independence), Tylan Lewis (Independence), Tyrese Stovall (Bradley Central), Jacob Edwards (Rossview), Christian Brown (Franklin), Daniel Cochran (Brentwood), Carter Webb (Siegel), Landon Bryant (LaVergne), Cortez Graham-Howard (Hillsboro), Josh Heard (Cookeville).
CLASS 3A
Tyler Lee (Knoxville Fulton), Taj Kimber (Knoxville Fulton), Denaj Kimber (Knoxville Fulton), Trey Thompson (Greeneville), Cade Capps (Stone Memorial), Brian Carter (Ridgeway), Ty Cobb (Upperman), Murray Norman (Munford), Mason Brown (Central Magnet), Colin Brown (Tennessee High), Jeremiah Hayes (Fayette-Ware), Anthony Bonner (Red Bank), Michael Nwoye (Hume-Fogg), Tracy Jones (Bolivar), Hasani Jackson (East Ridge).
CLASS 2A
Jahvin Carter (Alcoa), Ty Glasper (Gatlinburg-Pittman), Shane Cherry (Austin-East), TaQuez Butler (Douglass), Jarmon Brittman (Douglass), Ayden Melton (Camden), Ja'Marion Whitelow (Ripley), Ja'Marcus Whitelow (Ripley), Rodney Henderson (Tyner), Christian Derry (Chuckey-Doak), Cooper Kelley (South Greene), Avery Coles (White House-Heritage), Cooper Abner (Westmoreland), Ashton Munson (Brainerd), Grayson Burleson (Summertown).
CLASS 1A
Jordan McCullum (Harriman), Malaki Brooks (Union City), Jordan Allen (Hillcrest), Carson Bolton (Jellico), Ty Pryor (Rockwood), Auden Slaughter (Santa Fe), Jason Britton (North Greene), Aiden Dicus (Frank Hughes), Derrick Roberson (Chattanooga Prep), Eli Gaines (Chattanooga Prep), A.J. Murphy (University School-Johnson City), Stephon Shivers (Humboldt), Elijah Groves (East Robertson), Sam Willoughby (Fayetteville), Jacob Amonett (Pickett County).
DIVISION II-A
Cello Jackson (First Assembly Christian School), M.J. Hayes (First Assembly Christian School), Tyler Jones (Evangelical Christian), Jeremy Jackson (Columbia Academy), Judson Bjornstad (Providence Christian), Preston Wade (Providence Christian), Ayden Shaw (Jackson Christian), Kavien Jones (Battle Ground Academy), Jayden Jones (Goodpasture Christian), Kennedy Okpara (Silverdale Baptist), Trae Rideau (Clarksville Academy), Gaas Herman (Notre Dame).
DIVISION II-AA
Tyler Tanner (Brentwood Academy), Jaylen Pompey (Knoxville Webb), Cooper Haynes (Briarcrest Christian), Fred Smith (Briarcrest Christian), Keeper Jackson (Christian Brothers), Fred Bailey (Pope Prep), Dre Jackson (Chattanooga Christian), Cam Blivens (Lipscomb Academy), Trey Pearson (Pope Prep), Nyziah Whaley (Baylor), Drake Ingram (Knoxville Webb), Kenneth Chime (McCallie).
Compiled by Stephen Hargis. Contact him at shargis@timesfreepress.com.