Man, this TSSAA thing is no joke if you wanna spot the real deal early. Woke up at like 5 AM feeling half-dead, but caffeine is my best friend on scouting days. Packed my usual junk: a decent pen that won’t leak (learned that the hard way!), that little battered notebook I’ve had for years, and my halfway decent camera. Needed to be courtside early to catch the warm-ups – sometimes you see the real focus then.
The Early Bird Gets… the Best Seats
Got to the main stadium complex around 7 AM. Place was already buzzing, coaches yelling drills, parents looking more stressed than the players, kids trying to look cool. Grabbed my coffee from the sketchy concession stand – tasted like burnt tires, but hey, wake-up juice. Plopped myself down courtside with a clear view of the main court and started scribbling names and numbers down as teams shuffled in.
- #23 Johnson from Oak Ridge: Kid moves differently. Fluid. Glides. Didn’t see him miss a single layup during pre-game. Hands looked massive for his age.
- #3 Vasquez (Brentwood): Point guard. Talking constantly, directing traffic like a tiny general. Saw him pull a rookie teammate aside after a messed-up drill, not yelling, just correcting. Leadership sticks out.
- #15 McIntyre (Farragut): This dude… strength. Bullied his way during a rebound drill like it was nothing. Needs polish? Sure. But that raw power? Couldn’t teach it.
Game Time: Seeing Who Shows Up
First whistle. You see how kids react under real lights, real crowd. That’s the real test. Notebook was flying.
- Johnson (#23): Smooth translated right into the game. Didn’t force shots. Smart passes. Defensively, his length bothered shooters constantly. Not flashy, just effective. Needs to bulk up, but the instincts are elite.
- Vasquez (#3): Ran that Brentwood offense like he coded it. Crisp passes, always a step ahead. Defense? Pesky as heck. Annoyed the opposing PG into two quick turnovers. His shooting was cold early, though. Gotta see that stroke warm up tomorrow.
- McIntyre (#15): A physical force inside. Grabbed boards like it was his personal mission. Finished strong through contact. But man… foul trouble haunted him. Reached too much, caught leaning. Needs serious work on that footwork to avoid cheap ones. But the potential? Raw, but loud.
Beyond the Big Names
You gotta keep your eyes peeled. Saw a kid from Memphis East come off the bench cold and drain three straight threes like he was shooting free throws. Pure confidence. Made a note: #10 Thompson. Also spotted a wiry defender on Science Hill – #5 Reed – who was just glued to his man, relentless hustle. That kind of effort jumps out even if the stats don’t explode.
Ended the day feeling wrecked. Feet throbbing, my back complaining about the bleachers, my hand cramping from writing, and that camera battery blinking red. Grabbed a cold, sad burger on the way home – scouting fuel. Now I’m sitting here with my scribbled notes spread out, replaying key moments in my head.
Overall? Confirmation and surprises. Johnson and Vasquez look like legit future D1 prospects if they keep grinding. McIntyre? Could be dominant if he figures out defense without fouling himself out of games. Thompson and Reed? Need way more looks tomorrow – that kind of spark off the bench or pure defensive grit is gold. Gotta be back at it tomorrow, see how these kids handle Day 2 pressure. You learn more when they’re tired. Sleeper picks emerge.