Knoxville, TN -With Boo Williams spring tournament going in the tidewater area, most people in the south heard the rumbling sound coming from the campus of The University of Tennessee in Thompson Boling Arena. Event Director Mikki Allen, a graduate and national winning football player from UT, surrounded himself with some of the best in the grassroots business to see his dream come true. With the enlistment of Co- director Ced Canty of Elite 75 Prep and Jeff Mcgruder Director of Basketball Operation the KnoxVegas Heat Invitational had over 140 teams at the 1st annual event. With help from Ced Canty (Elite 75 Prep), Andre Whitehead (TNHoop Prep), Patrick Stanwood (Hoopmasters, Hoopscoop) Ish Hinson (Generation Next Basketball), Mike Talbott (Starhoopers), and our friends from CourtCred.com the magic starting very quickly in Knoxville. The event hosted ages 12u to 17u and the talent level did not skip a beat up ladder.





TEAM UNITED
HOOP PLANET
ST.LOUIS MAJESTICS
SYF PLAYERS
TEAM NASHVILLE
ALABAMA LASERS
HIGHER LEVEL BASKETBALL BLK
TN EDGE*
WISCONSIN PLAYGROUND WARRIORS
ALABAMA ELITE
K-Y PLAYERS
NORTH CAROLINA STARS
BIRMINGHAM METRO EXPRESS
CHARLOTTE COURT
SHINNING STARS MCFARRLAND
West Virginia recruit 6'1 PG Noah Cottrill played with the Wisconsin Playground Warriors 17u and after a stellar semi-final performance against CP3 All-Stars he helped led the Warriors to a Championship title against the Queen City Prophets.
The 17u Division was simply loaded with such names as 6'5 jr SG Reggie Bullock who has already verbal to UNC Chapel Hill, 6'8 jr SF Melvin Tabb verbal Wake Forest , 6'5 soph SG PJ Hairston, and 6'4 jr WF Jay Canty whom all competed this weekend for Chris Paul's CP3 team which made the semi final round. Coach Derby rolled into town from Atlanta with his power packed Hoop Planet squad led by his top recruits 6'7 jr guard Jelan Kendricks who dominated much of the event and 6'5 jr SG/SF Jamil Jones who also made the semi final round, SYF Players from the Midwest was led by 6'8 jr SF Dominique Ferguson who missed out of the elite 8 on a hard fought lost against Playground Warriors, Team United formerly the United Celtics were led by Florida State recruit 6'2 jr PG Ian Miller with teammate 6'6 jr SG jr Jarrell Eddie a Virginia Tech recruit not able to make the trip due to a out of town commitment, 6'6 jr SF Manny Dias stepped up and filled the void with contributed guard play from 6'1 jr PG/SG Jeremy Ingram and 6'2 jr guard Jamar Simmons, 6'4 jr SG Trey Erby, and new comer big 6'8 jr PF Joshua Clyburn .  Team United lost the tough battle against a scrappy Queen City Prophets team. Alabama Lasers 17u were studded with 6'6 jr SF Josh Langford and 6'3 jr SG Jamar Pope but ran out of gas to Team Vision who had a group of kids that played hard and won their pool.  We also took notice to Shinning Stars McFarland team which we saw 6'4 jr SG Chad Jackson , 6'2 jr PG Josh Sewell, and 6'1 jr SG Austin Flannery played well, but to Birmingham Metro Express in opening bracket play. Georgia's Wheeler High School 6'0 jr PG Phil Taylor and 6'6 jr SF Kameron Belin helped WorldWide Renegades make a push in bracket play with Taylor scoring 52pt's in one game, but fell in the later round to their instate rivals Hoop Planet on Saturday. Team Nashville after winning their pool was led byTeraes Clemmons ,Emmanuel Andrews, Fred Lee and Daniel McFadden had a good run before losing to the tournament champions in the quarter-finals. Baylor Basketball made a name for itself by advancing out of pool and beating a good Atlanta Express team formerly Team Pony Express from Atlanta to start bracket play. The Kentucky program Higher Level Basket shocked some heads by their preformance and mking it into bracket play. Team Memphis led by a pair of sophmores playing up with 6'1 soph PG Darious Paige and 6'4 soph SF Jaffrey Graham had a close lost against a good Mark Trail All-Star team from Georgia in brackets.  Queen City Prophets marched to the championship game with 6'7 jr SF Allen Payne, 7'2 soph C Deng Leek, and 6'6 jr SG Kenny Knight. But it was the likes of Wisconsin Playground Warriors's 6'1 jr PG Noah Cottrill, 6'8 jr SG Dakota Euton a Kentucky recruit,  Wisconsin recruit 6'11 jr C Evan Anderson, and Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit 6'1 jr PG/SG Kameron Cerroni who were able to clinch the championship crown.
KnoxVegas Heat Invitational
2009  Event Recap
CP3 ALL-STARS
QUEEN CITY PROPHETS
ALABAMA FIGHTING TERRIERS
E.A. PREP STARS
TENNESSEE TEAM HUSTLE
HIGHER LEVEL BASKETBALL GOLD
ATLANTA EXPRESS
MARK TRAIL
WORLD WIDE RENEGADES
TEAM MEMPHIS
NORTH CAROLINA FLIGHT
TEAM VISION
EAST TENNESSEE MAGIC
HIGHER LEVEL BASKETBALL PURPLE
BAYLOR BASKETBALL
17u Review
17u Review
KnoxVegas 17u Champions- Wisconsin Playground
KnoxVegas 17u Runner Ups- Queen City Prophets
The 16u Division was another loaded with such names as 6'1 soph PG Marquise Rankin,  6'8 soph SF Bernard Sullivan,  6'2 soph PG/SG Jacoby Davis, 6'8 soph C Javon Pressley, 6'7 soph SF Tony Mitton, whom all competed this weekend for Team United team which made the elite 8 final round before losing to the eventual tournament champions Mid Tennessee Hoops. Elite 75 Prep had the pleasure again to see Coach Willie Dillard's Birmingham Wildcats controlled by quick 5'9 soph PG Marvin Whit who helped on a big win over Wisconsin Playground to make the final four. A delight surprise from the VA area, the Virginia Squires attended with 6'8 soph PF Lavon Harper, 6'4 soph G RJ Price , 6'8 soph C Quayshad Williams, and 6'3 soph SG Joel Hopkins. ST. Louis Majestics advanced out of pool to Saturday night bracket play and tried to hang in their against Team United size and talented guard play, but Team United was victorious it the end. Team National Guard came into the event with major buzz with some major wins already under their belt . Baylor Basketball were the shocker team in every age group with gritty play but also were subject to the twin power of Mid Tennessee Hoops. Charlotte Court a Kentucky team made it past pool play and tried to last against the big and strong VA Squires and only lost by a few to start bracket. SYF Players were already buzzing the event with talent and size and had a tough match up Saturday night in bracket play against the Devon Harris All-Stars. Devon Harris All-Stars slid by 8pt's to advance. Again Team Nashville group finished by winning their pool play led by Weldon Garlington, Andre Brown, and Justin Perry. The newly formed LouWill Stars from Georgia came in under the cool hand of 6'5 soph G Corey Blackwell and 6'8 soph C Andrew Osemher. It was great to see Arkansas college standout Todd Day coaching his Memphis Hawgs team out of pool play into a bracket run before bowing out to the Queen City Prophets who were trying to make a tournament name but just in a different age group. Wisconsin Playground all ready had their eyes on one championship and was trying to steal another with strong play from 6'7 soph F Trevor Jorgenson, 6'4 soph W Quevyn Winters, and 6'9 soph C David Condon. The Jacksonville Nets made a strong push to try and prove why they belong in the brackets but fell to a very scrappy and good Birmingham Storm team who made the final four before reaching the Mid Tennessee Hoops who were already on a tear. Devon Harris All-Stars to the championship game with 6'7 soph SF Darnell Harris and 6'6 soph F Elgin Cook. Middle Tennessee Hoops were anchored by the smith twins 6'5 soph SF Malcolm Smith and 6'5 soph SF Martin Smith who rode their twin power straight to the champion lane against Devon Harris All-Stars.
16u Review
16u Review
KnoxVegas 16u Runner Ups- Devon Harris All-Stars
KnoxVegas 16u Champions- Mid Tenn Hoops
BAYLOR BASKETBALL
TN EDGE
COLUMBIA HOYAS
MEMPHIS HAWGS
DEVON HARRIS ALL-STARS
ILLINOIS BALLERS
ST. LOUIS MAJESTICS
J-TOWN BALLERS
LOU WILL STARS
BIRMINGHAM STORM
CHARLOTTE MUSTANGS
TEAM IMPACT
VIRGINIA SQUIRES
JACKSONVILLE NETS
BIRMINGHAM METRO EXPRESS
HOTLANTA HOOPSTARS



VIRGINIA SQUIRES
JACKSONVILLE NETS
BIRMINGHAM METRO EXPRESS
HOTLANTA HOOPSTARS
QUEEN CITY PROPHETS
SMYRNA STARS
TEAM NASVHILLE
HIGHER LEVEL BASKETBALL
TEAM UNITED
GEORGIA STARS
CHARLOTTE COURT
CLARKSVILLE SOLDIERS
WISCONSIN PLAYGROUND WARRIORS
TEAM NATIONAL GUARD
SYF PLAYERS
COLUMBIA HOYAS




15u Review
15u Review
ILLINOIS BALLERS
CHARLOTTE COURT
COLUMBIA HOYAS
J-TOWN BALLERS
D1E
ST. LOUIS MAJESTICS
ATLANTA EXPRESS
CLARKSVILLE SOLDIERS
J. SMOOVE
QUEEN CITY PROPHETS
HIGHER LEVEL BB GOLD
TENNESSEE ICE
VIRGINIA SQUIRES
SYF PLAYERS
CHARLOTTE SELECT
BIRMINGHAM STORM

CP3 ALL-STARS
HOOP PLANET
CELTICS SOUTH
TENNESSEE RHINOS
WISCONSIN PLAYGROUND WARRIORS
NASHVILLE ELITE
SOUTHERN KINGS
ALABAMA FIGHTING TERRIERS
TEAM UNITED
HIGHER LEVEL BB BLACK
HOTLANTA HOOPSTARS
TENNESSEE WARRIORS
ATLANTA CELTICS
ILLINOIS T-WOLVES
JACKSONVILLE NETS
MEMPHIS HAWGS


KnoxVegas 15u Runner Ups- Virginia Squires
KnoxVegas 15u Champions- CP3 All-Stars
The 15u Division had some young up and coming names such as Atlanta Celtics 6'3 frosh PG Jordan Price and 6'3 frosh SG Jordan Adams. Another Atlanta team stop into Knoxville to make an appearance Hoop Planets 15u was helped by 6'1 frosh PG Nate Bucher, 6'6 frosh SF Nate Simms, and 6'0 frosh PG Jaquay Williams. After winning their pool and going undefeated Team United 15u headed to brackets led by 6'3 frosh G Julius Hamilton, 6'3 frosh PG/SG Jasen Eddie, 6'1 frosh G Chris Nixon, and 6'4 frosh WF Juan Smith, and 5'5 frosh PG Tyree Bailey. Again we saw Arkansas's Todd Day team the Memphis Hawgs advance from pool to bracket play in this age group. The newly formed Celtics South from South Carolina emerged also from pool play to the brackets before seeing the likes of the 15u Wisconsin Playground Warriors who made it to the final four of the tournament before getting knocked out by the Virginia Squires. ST. Louis Majestics advanced out of pool to Saturday night bracket play. Atlanta prospect and young phenom 6'5 7th grader WF Kejuan Johnson, who played up, helped control Coach Slaughter and the 14u J-Smoove team thru bracket play until they were knocked out by Birmingham Storm who made a tremendous run all the way to the final four. Another South Carolina program the Columbia Hoyas were also evaluated and survived pool play. Other teams to mention that advance thru bracket play before the quarter final rounds were Nashville Elite, Queen City Prophets, and Team D1E.
The Virginia Squires played well all weekend but ended short in the championship game but their were led with leadership play from 6'5 frosh SF Shaq Patterson, 6'2 frosh SG James Ford, and 6'0 frosh PG Madison Jones.Making their way to the championship game and sealing the deal was the CP3 All-Stars their roster including 6'3 frosh SG Reggie Dilliard, 5'9 frosh PG Waymond Wright, and 6'7 8th grader Tyrek Coger.
12u Review
TENNESSEE RHINOS
ILLINOIS EXPLORERS
IN FULL MOTION
ATLANTA SELECT
TENNESSEE TEAM HUSTLE
KNOXVILLE LAKERS
ILLINOIS BALLERS
TENNESSEE BANDITS


The 13u division gave us a chance to get to see players for the Midwest all the way to the southeast. The top two teams in every pool were advanced into bracket play. The Tennessee Rhinos, The Tennessee Bandits, Illinois Explorers, and The Illinois Ballers all advanced out of pool. The smoke cleared after semi final rounds and it was a championship game between the Tennessee Rhinos and the Illinois Explorers.With the Tenn Rhinos being very disciplined and the Explorers were very athletic, but it was the Tenn Rhinos that gained the upper hand to win the championship game.

KY TIGERS
MIDDLE TN HOOPS
TN TEAM HUSTLE
KNOXVILLE LAKERS
ALABAMA TERRIERS
TEAM UNITED STARS


In the 12u division we got to see some young talent. All teams were in a round robin format and were seeded into bracket play. KY Tigers were seeded in first place with the Knoxville Lakers in second and the United Stars from Charlotte,NC in third. After some tough semi final games and a hard fought battle between the Knoxville Lakers and the United Stars the championship game was set with a rematch game between the KY Tigers and the United Stars. With the inside size that the KY Tigers used to their advantage, the KY tigers were able to clinch the 12u championship title of the 2009 KnoxVegas Heat Invitational.
12u Review
13u Review
13u Review
KnoxVegas 13u Runner Ups- Ilinois Explorers
KnoxVegas 13u Champions- Tennessee Rhinos
KnoxVegas 12u Runner Ups- Team United Stars
KnoxVegas 12u Champions- KY Tigers
14u Review
14u Review
TENNESSEE A GAME TEAM UNITED
TEAM MARYLAND CHARLOTTE COURT(KY)
HICKORY HURRICANESKNOXVILLE LAKERS
ILLINOIS BALLERS TENNESSEE SHOCKERS
ATLANTA CELTICS EAST TENNESSEE PYRO



ILLINOIS WILDCATS
KENTUCKY ELITE (KY)
TENNESSEE RHINOS
TEAM TEMPO
SOUTH COOK JAGUARS TEAM ATLANTA STARSTRUCK
INDY RAVENS (IN)-BAYLORMEMPHIS MAGIC
TENNESSEE THUNDER ILLINOIS EXPLORERS
KnoxVegas 14u Runner Ups- Team United
KnoxVegas 14u Champions- Atlanta Celtics
6'7 PF 8th grader Terrance O'Donohue played well all weekend for the Atlanta Celtics 14u and at the end of the tournament it was the "O'Donohue Show" to the Championship.
KnoxVegas Heat Invitational
Extra Media
KnoxVegas Heat Invitational
Extra Media
Atlanta Celtics was commanded by 6'8 8th grader PF Terrance O'Donohue who led the Celtics to the 14u championship crown over the former United Celtics who were under their new title of Team United. Team United fought hard in championship game by relying on their 6'3 8th grader Point Forward BJ Gladden.Hickory Hurricanes came in from the NC Mountains to make some noise by winning their pool with 6'3 8th grader SF Darius Malbon, but after their bye came up short to Team United in bracket play. The most disciplined team watched this weekend was the Illinois Wildcats who were knocking off teams in pool and could not maintain in bracket play. Talk of the tournament early was the Indy Ravens, who was able to pull off a pool game win over the Atlanta Celtics with a team full of Athletic players, but also fell to the newly formed Team United. Coach Larry Wyatt from Atlanta brought his crew of Georgia scrappy players led by his guard 5'9 8th grader PG Kyle Brown, but ran up on their instate rival program the Atlanta Celtics and could not get past their dominate guard and post play. Tennessee "A" Game was loaded with guards such 6'0 8th grader PG Asa Duval, 6'0 8th grader PG Demontre Wade, and 5'10 8th grader PG/SG Jordan Smith. They held down in the middle by 6'3 8th grader PF George Theragood. They made good run in pool and had to face a tough noise Team Atlanta to advance.

Knoxvegas Heat,


I love the tourney Knoxvegas, in Knoxville. There were quality teams and great competition. The tourney was ran well also.
All of our games started on time and we played in nice facilities on the campus of Tennessee. We the Atlanta Celtics will be back!

Karl McCray- The Atlanta Celtics


Knoxvegas Heat,

Great event and talent in Knoxville. Excellent venues and staff. This should be a tournament for all travel teams schedules.
We will be attending next year!

North Carolina- Team United




To Knoxveags Heat:

The Knoxvegas tournament was competitive and a well ran event.The staff were professional and the atmosphere was astonishing.  The University of Tennessee campus was beautiful and amazing .Being on this campus should have motivated every student athlete to strive hard to achieve in the classroom as well as on the basketball court.

Baylor Basketball




Knoxveags Heat,

We have unfinished business in Knoxville for 2010!

Coach Darby- Hoop Planet



Knoxvegas Heat Staff:

Thanks So Much having a quality event in the south. Nice to see kids get mentioned on Slamonline.com and Hoopmasters.com. That is big for many kids.


Hoops for life,

Tina Grover
Event Testimonials