Lighthouse Thanksgiving Classic
Final Thoughts
The stats are provided by Blake Long and his Northeast MS CC crew. They are the best in the business at keeping stats and can’t be thanked enough for the great job that they do.
This report will cover the following games (18) or events: Lighthouse Thanksgiving Classic Day 1 (Kossuth, Falkner, Alcorn Central, Waterloo (AL), Aspire Academy (KY), West Oaks (FL), Hamilton Heights (TN), Wesley Christian (KY), Wenonah (AL), Olive Branch, Lee-Huntsville (AL), Florence, Callaway, Memphis East (TN), Mountain Brook (AL), Bearden (TN), Corinth Marshall County (TN)), Lighthouse Thanksgiving Classic Day 2 (Saltillo, Potts Camp, Huntsville (AL), Callaway, Bearden (TN), Center Hill, Aspire Academy (KY), West Oaks (FL), Hamilton Heights (TN), Wesley Christian (KY), Wenonah (AL), Grayson (GA), Olive Branch, Mountain Brook (AL), North Little Rock (AR), Sophie B Wright (LA), Corinth, Sacred Heart (TN)).
November 23-24, 2018
Lighthouse Thanksgiving Classic
From Corinth HS
Corinth, MS
Final Thoughts: Another Lighthouse has come and gone. Many hours go into putting on the best show in Mississippi. Vince Overholt, Gary “BG” Caveness, their family and many volunteers spend countless hours making sure the fans have the best show to watch. Last year I said there will be no way to top what they did last year and I walked away saying the same thing this year too. How they continue to up the show every year amazes me, not only me but the national media as well. The Lighthouse has continuously been named one of the top events in the country. Thanks to the many people that help put this event on and have built it to what it is today.
There was a media frenzy at this event also. National media and many local media outlets flocked to Corinth High School to cover the nationally known event. Tanager Sports broadcast the games live on YouTube for The Grind Session. 95.1 The Fan ESPN radio did an innovative remote broadcast from the games on Friday which was a huge hit and success. Other media attending the event were as follows: Tippah Sports, Pro Films, Torrance Pollard Phototgraphy, WTVA, Southern Sentinel, Prep Hoops, Prep Hoops TN, Fast Break Entertainment, Video Stream, MS High School Hoops, HoopSeen, HoopSeen AL, Mykal Anthony, Ballers Bridge, Southern Sport Platform, Phenom Hoops Report, Grind2Shine and Overtime. The Daily Corinthian also provided a three-man crew to cover every game.
There were many college coaches from all levels as well as many scouting services in attendance. Another pleasant surprise for me was the very high amount of non-participating high school coaches and players watching the event.
A very special thanks goes out to the ones that helped me do what I do. Cole Street was my stat runner and Chris Street was my eyes when I was busy doing other stuff. Wesley Odle just does what Wes does with networking and advertising. Thanks to Wes for also supplying a place to stay and hang out. To my family for allowing me to be gone and miss all the Thanksgiving festivities.
For the most part the games, teams and players were very exciting (even the early ones). The Grayson (GA) vs Wenonah (AL) and North Little Rock (AR) vs Sophie B. Wright (LA) games were boring…….. to the average fan. They were defensive slug fests for hardcore fans like me. I heard grumblings around the gym of these guys aren’t that good or they are not fun to watch. That is for the run-of-the-mill fans that just live for Sportscenter type plays. NCAA tournament fans loved these teams and games. They also followed the Lighthouse Challenge Championship game and a top 25 nationally ranked game. As my eyes in the stands, Chris Street, pointed out that big time players and teams sell tickets but teams like them that play defense win state championships. Speaking of state championships, 13 different classifications were represented from 6 different states. I dare to says that there will be at least 10 state champions from this years list of teams.
How did your state do:
Arkansas 0-1
Louisiana 1-0
Georgia 1-0
Florida 1-1
Kentucky 1-3
Tennessee 3-3
Alabama 1-5
Mississippi 6-1
This is probably not the best or most unconventional thank you. In fact, it’s probably never happened before. A common theme with just about every post game interview was the praise of the officials. They were continually thanked for “getting it” and letting the players determine the outcome of the games. I know they don’t get the recognition they deserve usually but I’d like to thank: Mopey McGaughy, Tommy Williams, Brandon Robbins, William Ratliff, Marty Wade, Earnest Williams, Kenny Lester, Kathy Thompson, Mark Wardlow, Jackie Cayson, Freddy Beene, Bobby Robbins, Ron Thompson, Barry Welch, Fernando Davis, Ryan Smith and Dwyan Suggs
The final thanks goes out to the fans that showed up and showed out. Every team mentioned the fans and how loud the gym was. It felt like state tournament games in there was a comment I heard very often. The atmosphere was crazy.
Magnolia Hoops Fantasy Non-MS Head of the Class
The best players in their respective classes for this time period based on stats. Out of state
2019: KJ Johnson
6-2 G Marshall County (TN)
2020: Jordan Rawls
6-2 G Hamilton Heights (TN)
2021: TJ Toney
5-10 PG Aspire Academy (KY)
Magnolia Hoops Non-MS Fantasy 5
The top five players for this time period based on stats. Out of State
KJ Johnson
6-2 ’19 G Marshall County (TN)
James Wiseman
7-0 ’19 C Memphis East (TN)
Jordan Rawls
6-2 ’20 G Hamilton Heights (TN)
Damiree Burns
6-6 ’19 SF Sophie B. Wright (LA)
Oussema Marnaoui
6-5 ’19 G Wesley Christian (KY)
Magnolia Hoops Non-MS Head of the Class
The best players in their respective classes for this time period based on performance. Out of state
2019: James Wiseman
7-0 C Memphis East (TN)
2020: Jordan Rawls
6-2 G Hamilton Heights (TN)
2021: Sekou Sada Kalle
6-10 PF Aspire Academy (KY)
Magnolia Hoops Non-MS Starting 5
The top five players for this time period based on performance. Out of state
James Wiseman
7-0 ’19 C Memphis East (TN)
Trendan Watford
6-9 ’19 G/F Mountain Brook (AL)
Jordan Rawls
6-2 ’20 G Hamilton Heights (TN)
Samson Ruzhentsev
6-7 ’20 G/F Hamilton Heights (TN)
Puoch Puoch
6-8 ’19 G Wesley Christian (KY)
Magnolia Hoops MS Fantasy Head of the Class
The best players in their respective classes for this time period based on stats.
2019: Calvin “Smurf” Harris
6-2 G/F Saltillo
2020: Chauncey Jackson
6-2 F Falkner
2021: Kaeden Laws
6-4 G/F Center Hill
2022: Jalon McNair
6-5 C Florence
Magnolia Hoops MS Fantasy 5
The top five players for this time period based on stats.
Calvin “Smurf” Harris
6-2 ’19 G/F Saltillo
Jaylen Forbes
6-4 ’19 SG Florence
Kaeden Laws
6-4 ’21 G/F Center Hill
DJ Jeffries
6-7 ’19 G Olive Branch
Calvin Temple
6-1 ’19 G Center Hill
Magnolia Hoops MS Head of the Class
The best players in their respective classes for this time period based on performance.
2019: DJ Jeffries
6-7 G Olive Branch
2020: Cameron “Mook” Matthews
6-6 F Olive Branch
2021: Daeshun Ruffin
5-11 G Callaway
2022: Kevion Hunt
5-9 PG Callaway
Magnolia Hoops MS Starting 5
The top five players for this time period based on performance.
DJ Jeffries
6-7 ’19 G Olive Branch
Daeshun Ruffin
5-11 ’21 G Callaway
Jaylen Forbes
6-4 ’19 SG Florence
Cameron “Mook” Matthews
6-6 ’20 F Olive Branch
Calvin Temple
6-1 ’19 G Center Hill
Katie Roberts Photography Senior Squad
DJ Jeffries
6-7 G Olive Branch
Jaylen Forbes
6-4 SG Florence
Calvin Temple
6-1 G Center Hill
Joee Cooper
6-0 PG Olive Branch
Lerenzo “Trey” Fort
6-2 G Florence
Magnolia Hoops Overall Fantasy Head of the Class
The best players in their respective classes for this time period based on stats.
2019: Calvin “Smurf” Harris
6-2 G/F Saltillo (MS)
2020: Jordan Rawls
6-2 G Hamilton Heights (TN)
2021: Kaeden Laws
6-4 G/F Center Hill (MS)
2022: Jalon McNair
6-5 C Florence (MS)
Magnolia Hoops Overall Fantasy 5
The top five players for this time period based on stats.
Calvin “Smurf” Harris
6-2 ’19 G/F Saltillo (MS)
KJ Johnson
6-2 ’19 G Marshall County (TN)
Jaylen Forbes
6-4 ’19 SG Florence (MS)
James Wiseman
7-0 ’19 C Memphis East (TN)
Jordan Rawls
6-2 ’20 G Hamilton Heights (TN)
Magnolia Hoops Overall Head of the Class
The best players in their respective classes for this time period based on performance.
2019: James Wiseman
7-0 C Memphis East (TN)
2020: Jordan Rawls
6-2 G Hamilton Heights (TN)
2021: Daeshun Ruffin
5-11 G Callaway (MS)
2022: Kevion Hunt
5-9 PG Callaway (MS)
Magnolia Hoops Overall Starting 5
The top five players for this time period based on performance.
Magnolia Hoops 