John Jenkins

Despite being outsized and outmanned the Tennessee YOMCA Tigers adapted and overcame.

It must have been a daunting task coming out for the opening tap and witnessing the sheer size of your opponent. With four starter dwarfing your "big man" butterflies: as well as, numerous other emotions churn in your stomach.

To make matters worse your only true inside presence is laced with early foul trouble, the task at hand must have seemed unbearable to say the least.

Oh ye of little faith have never seen or watched the Tigers in action. Behind 31 big points from John Jenkins (Station Camp) and 23 more from do-it-all floor general Taverrus Jefferson (Ensworth) the Tigers scored their Showcase high 95 points in route to a sterling 95-85 victory over National Christian to capture the National Championship in the Silver Bracket of the 16 and under Super Showcase.

Jenkins has been on fire for the majority of this month. Dropping 30 point games on his defender like he was Gilbert Arenas. The rising junior has made the argument that he is the biggest mover in this class with his sterling summer performance.

Jefferson continues to amaze the more you watch him. His penetrate and dish skills give Jenkins and Hunter Miller (CPA), who scored 14 of his own, ample opportunity to fire up the comfortable three. His ability to control the tempo of the game and his defensive effort are second to none. His quickness is next level and he has the strength to get where he needs to go when driving to the rack.

Miller was outstanding knocking down open shots and proving he was valuable without the ball in his hands, moving to create open opportunities and using his ball fake to knock down shots just inside the 3-point line. His stock has turned to an up arrow as well.

Gaining plenty of praise for his uncanny defensive skills was Miles Asafo-Adjei (Ensworth). Called by many of the coaches who surrounded the Tigers during their Orlando tour, the best perimeter defender in the event.

Despite fouling out and being plagued with foul trouble in this contest, the Tigers could not have made the distance without the exploits of big Zaccheus Mason (CPA). His timing on shot blocking is sweet to behold and he has added a bit of an outside game to his reportiore.

Acheiving weel beyond what anyone expected is the sudden emergence of Joshua Lee (Maplewood). His improvement has been substanial and could be a nice sign for the future with two more years of school ball and one more summer left in his tank.

Great effort by the Tigers and congrats to a squad that finished the summer sporting a 49-12 record and a two year mark of 99-22. Quite an accomplishment for a squad without a true post presence.