There were plenty of big names to be found Wednesday when the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association announced its finalists for Mr. Basketball.
University of Memphis signee Adonis Thomas of Melrose and Minnesota signee Andre Hollins of White Station are up for the award in Class AAA. Future Vanderbilt Commodore Kedren Johnson of Marshall County is the favorite in Class AA.
But Class A candidates Malcolm and Martin Smith of Clarksville Academy upstaged their big-school counterparts by becoming the first brother combination to be named finalists for the prestigious honor in the same season. The identical twins are headed to Division I Lipscomb University in Nashville next season.
Martin (left) and Malcolm Smith are headed to Lipscomb.
Photo courtesy of Clarksville Academy
"They have completely transformed our program," Clarksville Academy head coach Josh Smith (no relation) said.
After suffering through a 5-23 record in 2006-07, the twins arrived as freshmen the following season and helped the Cougars go 22-9. The program is 90-9 since the beginning of their sophomore years with a state title in 2010 and a 27-1 mark this winter. Josh Smith isn't naming a favorite when it comes to the Mr. Basketball honor.
"There's no way I could do that," said Smith, who believes Clarksville Academy's standing in the state's smallest classification may have caused the duo to be overlooked by other Division I programs.
Malcolm, a 6-5, 200-pound forward, is averaging 23.5 points and 11.0 rebounds this season. He posted a monster statline of 36 points and 19 rebounds in an early January win over McEwen.
"Malcolm is outgoing and extroverted," Smith said. "He's always the center of group and that's how he plays. You know he is on the floor."
Martin, also 6-5 but a little lighter at 190 pounds, is posting 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He poured in a season-high 32 points against Lawrence County in late December to go along with 11 boards and three assists.
"Martin is extremely laid-back and let's things come to him," Smith said. "He does a little bit of everything. He's extremely well-rounded."
Satch Sullinger, Northland
Photo by Wayne Litmer
The Columbus Dispatch reported Wednesday that Satch Sullinger, father of Ohio State freshman phenom Jared Sullinger, will retire as head coach at Northland (Columbus, Ohio) following the season.
"Honestly, it's not something I've been thinking about. It just hit me that the time is right," Sullinger told the Dispatch. "I thought about all the things over the years that I've been missing – missing being a father and a grandfather and losing half of the Ohio State basketball season."
The Vikings are 19-1 this season and were ranked among the nation's top 25 teams by MaxPreps before losing to St. Edward (Lakewood) Feb. 5.
Northland is 114-5 since the 2006-07 season under Sullinger and has won five-straight city titles.
Famous fathers follow-up
Received some e-mails regarding the "famous fathers" story that ran Tuesday. There were a couple of notable omissions that readers helped uncover.
First is Ryan Ripken, a junior at Gilman (Baltimore, Md.) and the son of baseball ironman Cal Ripken Jr. The 6-foot-5 lefty wing-forward is averaging 17.6 points per game with a season-high 32 coming against Severn (Severna Park) in early January. Not surprisingly, Ripken is also a baseball standout, receiving all-city honors from the Baltimore Sun last spring.
According to Gilman head coach Owen Daly, Cornell and Princeton are recruiting Ripken for basketball. College baseball is also an option.
Next is Alton Lister Jr., a 6-4 freshman at Boulder City (Nev.) and the son of 16-year NBA pro Alton Lister. The elder Lister played for Milwaukee, Seattle, Golden State and Boston among others before retiring in 1998. The 7-footer accumulated over 6,000 points, 5,900 rebounds and 1,400 blocked shots during his lengthy career. Lister Jr. has already shown an aptitude for blocking shots, swatting five in a recent game against Virgin Valley (Mesquite).
Nike's EYBL returns
After a successful inaugural run last summer, Nike's Elite Youth Basketball League initiative will return in 2011 with 38 teams and stops in Virginia, Texas, California and South Carolina.
District of Columbia-based Team Takeover returns as the circuit's defending champion as well as clubs from 23 states and Canada.
Here is a glance at the EYBL's four events beginning in April;
April 8-10 – Hampton, Va.
April 30-May 1 – Dallas, Texas
May 27-30 – Los Angeles, Calif.
July 12-15 – North Augusta, S.C. (Peach Jam/EYBL Championship)
