Kevin Giltner

The Tennessee Travelers play host to one of the hottest tournaments of the summer.

Nashville will be buzzing with excitement as Ensworth High School and it's fabulous facility host the Nike Memorial Day Classic. The top Nike sponsored squads in the country make their way to the Music City for competition and a chance to show who's the best on their circuit.

The Volunteer state will be represented by the host team Tennessee Travelers, who will field a team in all three age groups, the Tennessee Thunder in the 17's and the Memphis YOMCA, which also features three squads, with the 16 and under version being the Tennessee YOMCA Tigers based in Nashville.

In the 17 and under the state's top squad will do battle in Pool H with the likes of Team Melo and Team Texas. The Yomca will be led by the phenominal Briarcrest three, Leslie McDonald, Gregg Wooten and Johnny Williams. The fun doesn't end their with future stars Farrahkon Hall (MUS) and some very good additions in Tim Ware (BTW), Tonye Smith (Treadwell) and Jason Jones (Ridgeway).

Joining the Y in Pool H will be the Thunder who have a great opportunity to make some noise on a national level with a strong showing. They will be led by Kyle Upton (Antioch), Michael Williams (Antioch), Keith Morris (Ravenwood) and Michael McAdoo (Antioch). Several dozens members of the media will be covering the event and this is a showcase for someone to step up and be heard.

The host team, Tennessee Travelers, will have a very tough pool led by perennial power Team Florida, Arizona Stars and one of the nations best in Athletes First. The Travs are led by a sterling group of solid guards and wings including Tyler Cutter (Seigel), Kevin Giltner (Harpeth), Ryan Walden (Knoxville Catholic) and Quinche Dowdell (Oak Ridge). The Travlers could make some noise if the production from their big guys Joe Meady (Knoxville Carter) and Tahj Wells (Antioch) exceeds expectations.

Two of the state's best will be fighting it out in the 16 and under set with the Tigers and Travs hoping to advance strongly from their pools. The Tigers have won over 30 games thus far this summer and feature a plethora of talented players including Zaccheus Mason (CPA), Taverrus Jefferson (Ensworth), John Jenkins (Station Camp) and Hunter Miller (CPA). They can go as far as their talent and effort will carry them.

The Travelers have everything to make a big run at this event. Their guards led by James Gallman (Fulton) and Steve Cook (Chattanooga Christian), big time wings in Blake Jenkins (Bearden) and William Moore (Chattanooga Christian), a solid combo player in Ashlon Adams (Science Hill) and a group of posts led by Kyle Teichmann (Brentwood)  and (Patrick Shaughnessy (Grace Baptist). This will be a fantastic opportunity for this group to make a big run.

The 15 and under division features the two squads who tore up the state tourney last week, the Travelers and Memphis YOMCA. Guard play dominates both rosters. For the Travelers look for huge weekends from Emmanuel Andrews (Shelbyville), Jalen Steele (Fulton) and Brandon Herman (Grace Baptist).

For the Y the guard play is equally as strong with their triumvirate of Nicholas Mason (Fairley), Julian Burton (White Station) and Mardracus Wade (Mitchell). The key to Memphis making a solid run will be the continued development of their two big men Tyler Stone (Memphis Central) and Quinton Alton (Fairley).

If you reside in the Nashville area and love the hoops make sure the Nike Memorial Day event is on your calendar you will not be disappointed.