By Donovan Stewart
MaxPreps.com
John Jenkins has seen every defense under the sun during his senior season at Station Camp High School.
But opposing teams still can’t stop Jenkins, a Vanderbilt signee who is staking his claim as the best basketball player in the state with a 41.5 points per game scoring average.
The reigning Class AA Mr. Basketball, who should collect his second Mr. Basketball next month, has his Bison out to a 19-6 record and a perfect 8-0 in district 8-AA.
Jenkins has 10 30-point games, eight games scoring in the 40s and four games with 50 or more.
His high for the year was a 57 point explosion in a 76-65 win over Harpeth on Dec. 9. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard can shoot it from anywhere on the floor as he hit nine 3-pointers during his 57-point game.
Jenkins also made the list of Tennessee Nominees for the 2009 McDonald’s All-American Game that will be played April 1 in Miami.
The McDonald’s rosters will be trimmed down to 12 for each team on Feb. 18.
Jenkins and University of North Carolina signee and reigning Division II Mr. Basketball Leslie McDonald from Briarcrest lead the way, below is the full list.
Boys McDonald’s All-American Nominees
Name, High School, College
Drew Barham, Christian Brothers, Southern Illinois
Reginald Buckner, Manassas, Mississippi
Ian Clark, Germantown, Belmont
C.J. Crittendon, Dyer County, Undeclared
James Gallman, Knoxville Fulton, Middle Tennessee State
Ferrakohn Hall, White Station, Undeclared
Blake Jenkins, Knoxville Bearden, Undeclared
John Jenkins, Station Camp, Vanderbilt
Drew Kelly, Centennial, Miami (Ohio)
Zaccheus Mason, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Mississippi (football)
Skylar McBee, Grainger, Undeclared
Leslie McDonald, Briarcrest, North Carolina
Nathan Parker, Knoxville Bearden, Undeclared
Jeremy Sexton , Tennessee Temple, Undeclared
DeMonte Simpson, Knoxville Bearden, Undeclared
Johnnie Williams, Briarcrest, George Mason
Gregg Wooten, Briarcrest, Undeclared
On the girls’ side, reigning Class AAA Miss Basketball and University of Georgia signee Jasmine Hassell from Wilson Central heads up the nominee list.
Girls McDonald’s All-American Nominees
Name, High School, College
Jessica Brown, Booker T. Washington, Undeclared
Kayla Christopher, Oliver Springs, Chattanooga
Faith Dupree, Knoxville Webb, Tennessee
Jessica Goswitz, Knoxville Webb, Rice
Jasmine Hassell, Wilson Central, Georgia
Jasmine James, Bartlett, Georgia
Kortni Jones, Oak Ridge, Middle Tennessee State
Christina Lasane, Craigmont, Undeclared
Lauren March, Marshall County, Middle Tennessee State
Adrienne Pratcher, Memphis East, Texas A&M
Dymon Raynor, Smyrna, Middle Tennessee State
Ashley Robinson, Millington, Memphis
Sarah Watkins, Houston, Arkansas
Kamiko Williams, Northeast, Tennessee
Football: Recruiting still in full swing
Although Signing Day is over, that doesn’t mean that college head coaches stop recruiting as SEC powerhouses Alabama and Tennessee got a jump on the class of 2010.
New Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin got an early verbal commitment from Ooltewah defensive end Jacques Smith, while Alabama coach Nick Saban went to Memphis and got a verbal from Mitchell wide receiver Keiwone Malone.
Smith, the reigning Class 5A Lineman Mr. Football will arguably be the best recruit in the class of 2010.
The 6-3 inch, 240-pound defensive end had 76 tackles, including 28 for loss and 13 sacks, as he led the Owls to a Class 5A semifinal appearance in 2008.
The Volunteers beat out North Carolina, Auburn, Alabama, Georgia and Florida for his commitment.
Malone wanted to commit so the pressure would be off him for his senior year. He is the best receiver prospect in the state for 2010 after a record-breaking junior year.
Malone (6-1, 170) helped lead his team to a Class 3A runner-up finish after catching 76 passes for 1,438 yards and 19 touchdowns.
He also set a TSSAA record for most receiving yards in a game as he caught 13 passes for 358 yards in a win over Dyersburg in the state quarterfinals.
Saban and the Tide beat out Illinois, Oregon and fellow SEC schools Georgia, Tennessee and Mississippi for Malone’s services.
Questions? Comments? Contact Donovan at dstew4vu@yahoo.com.
