TSSAA announces Mr., Miss Basketball finalists, 3 area players selected

Bradley Central point guard Rhyne Howard shoots a jumper Feb. 6, 2017, against East Hamilton. The Bearettes won the game 69-38 to clinch the regular season District 5-AAA title.
Bradley Central point guard Rhyne Howard shoots a jumper Feb. 6, 2017, against East Hamilton. The Bearettes won the game 69-38 to clinch the regular season District 5-AAA title.
photo Bradley Central Bearettes point guard Rhyne Howard (23)
photo 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.
photo 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.

"It's great to have that kind of recognition for Jr. and for our program," McCallie coach John Shulman said. "Awards come to players who lead their teams, and he's done a really good job of leading us to a lot of big wins.

"It's a great honor for him and McCallie, and I'm excited for him to be in that select group of players."

The 6-foot Howard can play any position on the floor and has averaged 19 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while leading Bradley Central to a 26-0 record. Only a junior, Howard has narrowed her list of college offers to Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Purdue, North Carolina State and Georgia Tech.

"The last time we had a finalist was Brittany Jackson in 2001, so it's a very big honor just to be nominated," Bradley coach Jason Reuter said. "She's very deserving. I'm biased, but I think this proves the consensus is that she's one of the top three players in the state."

Lynn, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga signee, averages 23.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.9 steals per game. She's already had two games of 40-plus points this season for the Chargerettes.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com.

Finalists

Division II-A› Ashtyn Baker (Northpoint Christian)› Anna Jones (Univ. School of Jackson)› Antoinette Lewis (Harding Academy)Division II-AA› Jordyn Cambridge (Ensworth)› Sydni Harvey (Brentwood Academy)› Myah LeFlore (St. Benedict)Class A› Ali Golden (Huntland)› Taylor Lamb (South Greene)› Kara Meadows (Clarkrange)Class AA› Akira Levy (Upperman)› Jacobi Lynn (McMinn Central)› Erica Haynes-Overton (East Nashville)Class AAA› Anastasia Hayes (Riverdale)› Jayla Hemingway (Houston)› Rhyne Howard (Bradley Central)MR. BASKETBALL FINALISTSDivision II-A› Chase Hayden (St. George’s)› Malik Riddle (Rossville Christian)› Chase Ridenour (Knoxville Webb)Division II-AA› Jr. Clay (McCallie)› Darius Garland (Brentwood Academy)› James Wiseman (Ensworth)Class A› Josh Conrad (W.E.B. Dubois)› Tyreke Key (Clay County)› Parker Stewart (Union City)Class AA› Parrish Hewitt (Douglass)› Bo Hodges (Maplewood)› Luke Smith (Knoxville Catholic)Class AAA› Tyler Harris (Cordova)› Tajion Jones (Oak Ridge)› Alex Lomax (Memphis East)

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