2023 Lighthouse Classic
Day 2 Recap
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.
Lighthouse Classic
Saturday November 25, 2023
From Corinth HS
Corinth, MS
(B) Alcorn Central Bears 2-4 (3A Glen, MS) 61
Marshall Academy Patriots 1-1 (MAIS 4A Holly Springs, MS) 30
Notes: Last year at the Lighthouse Classic a freshman named Wilson McDonald stole the show and the ball. This year at the Lighthouse Classic a sophomore named Wilson stole the record and the ball. Wilson McDonald (6-3 ’26 G Alcorn Central 21 pts 2 3’s 8 reb 1 ast 9 st) came off the bench last year and nearly snagged the steals record but he ended up tied for second with seven. He had every single person in the gym saying, “Who’s that Kid?”. This year he took sole possession of the steals record with nine steals and had every person in the gym saying, “There goes Wilson again!”. He has transformed into a local celebrity in the past year. O yeah, he nearly had a triple-double on his way to earning the MVP award.
Carson Orman (5-8 ’25 G Marshall Academy 16 pts 4 3’s 7 reb 2 ast) played a solid game for the short-handed Patriots.
Alcorn Central (traveled 6 miles) 61
’24’s
Andrew Williams 5-11 G 6 pts 8 reb 1 st
Drew Eaton 5-11 G 4 pts 2-2 fg 3 reb 2 ast 1 st
Owen DePoyster 5-11 F 8 pts 9 reb 1 ast
’25’s
Matt Oaks 5-8 G 2 pts 1 reb 3 ast 1 st
’26’s
Wilson McDonald 6-3 G 21 pts 2 3’s 8 reb 1 ast 9 st
Memphis Saenz 6-3 C 8 pts 4-5 fg 5 reb 1 st
’27’s
Ty Whitten 5-8 G 3 reb
Marshall Academy (traveled 65 miles) 30
’25’s
Carson Orman 5-8 G 16 pts 4 3’s 7 reb 2 ast
Eric Abbott 6-3 G 3 pts 3-4 ft 7 reb 1 ast
Tucker Chumney 6-3 G 9 pts 3 3’s 5 reb 1 st
’26’s
Carlos Young 5-10 G 2 pts 4 reb 3 ast 1 blk 1 st
Lighthouse Classic MVP
Wilson McDonald
Alcorn Central
6-3 ’26 G
21 pts 2 3’s 8 reb 1 ast 9 st
Katie Roberts Photography
Senior Snapshot
Owen DePoyster
Alcorn Central
5-11 ’24 F
8 pts 9 reb 1 ast
(B) Cordova Wolves 6-0 (4A Cordova, TN) 65
Cullman Bearcats 7-1 (6A Cullman, AL) 62
Notes: KJ Tenner (5-10 ’24 PG Cordova 9 pts 1 3’s 2-2 ft 1 reb 2 ast 1 st) had the game saving steal to help Cordova get the win. King Thedford (6-4 ’24 G Cordova 19 pts 8-13 fg 3-4 ft 7 reb 5 ast 1 blk 1 st) earned the MVP award with his strong play. Cordova is a very good team and is all over the court defensively. They apply full pressure and double the ball to create turnovers. It was also great seeing Jay Tyler (5-11 ’24 G Corodova 10 pts 3-5 fg 2-3 3’s 2 reb 5 ast 1 st) in his senior season. The Mississippi native is a key cog for the Wolves this season. His body has gotten much stronger and he is going to be great on the next level.
Evan Wilson (6-8 ’25 F Cullman 16 pts 5-9 fg 6-7 ft 12 reb 1 ast) and Sam Duskin (6-4 ’24 SG Cullman 14 pts 4-5 ft 7 reb 2 ast 1 st) both looked very solid for a tough Cullman team. Cullman and Cordova will both be hard outs and will make deep playoff runs this season.
Cordova (traveled 87 miles) 65
’24’s
KJ Tenner 5-10 PG 9 pts 1 3’s 2-2 ft 1 reb 2 ast 1 st
King Thedford 6-4 G 19 pts 8-13 fg 3-4 ft 7 reb 5 ast 1 blk 1 st
Jay Tyler 5-11 G 10 pts 3-5 fg 2-3 3’s 2 reb 5 ast 1 st
Randin Johnson 6-6 G/F 9 pts 1 3’s 4 reb 1 blk 1 st
Erin Hardwick 6-2 G 5 pts 1 3’s 3 reb 2 ast 2 st
Cullman (traveled 116 miles) 62
’24’s
Colton Echols 6-5 SG 9 pts 1 3’s 2 reb 2 ast 1 blk
Sam Duskin 6-4 SG 14 pts 4-5 ft 7 reb 2 ast 1 st
’25’s
Jake Dorough 6-2 PG 10 pts 2 3’s 2 reb 4 ast
Evan Wilson 6-8 F 16 pts 5-9 fg 6-7 ft 12 reb 1 ast
Lighthouse Classic MVP
King Thedford
Cordova
6-4 ’24 G
19 pts 8-13 fg 3-4 ft 7 reb 5 ast 1 blk 1 st
Lighthouse Classic Challenge Consolation Game
(B) BFL Prep Kings (Seattle, WA) 87
Albuquerque Prep Wolves (Albuquerque, NM) 70
Notes: Usually the consolation games of the Lighthouse Classic Challenge are not the best games. BFL and ABC changed that narrative in their game. We had two amazing performances by individuals from each team. Landon Brooks (6-10 ’25 C BFL 28 pts 14-23 fg 17 reb (10 offensive) 2 blk) posted a dominant double-double in the win. Christian Gilliland (6-2 ’25’ PG ABC 38 pts 13-22 fg 2 3’s 10-11 ft 5 reb 2 ast) dropped a big 38 piece for his squad. Gilliland averaged 32 points per game at the Classic while shooting 23-37 from the field. He really made his mark on the Classic with local friends and family watching.
BFL Prep (traveled 2,391 miles) 87
’24’s
Nikita Tyukalo 6-7 G/F 2 pts 2-2 ft 4 reb 6 ast 2 st
Jayden Ford 6-11 C 2 pts 2-2 ft 6 reb 2 blk
’25’s
Diabe Bathily 6-8 F 10 pts 4 reb 2 ast
Christian Jones 5-10 PG 13 pts 2 3’s 1-1 ft 3 reb 6 ast 1 st
Nolen Gerwer 6-7 F 10 pts 5-5 fg 1 reb 1 ast 1 blk 1 st
Landon Brooks 6-10 C 28 pts 14-23 fg 17 reb (10 offensive) 2 blk
’26’s
Katrelle Harmon 6-5 PG 17 pts 1 3’s 2 reb 3 ast 1 blk 3 st
Albuquerque Prep (traveled 1,108 miles) 70
’24’s
Michale Knaub 6-6 F 12 pts 2 3’s 4-4 ft 6 reb 3 ast 1 blk 1 st
Micah Munoz 6-5 G 3 reb 2 ast 1 st
Jackson Tumbridge 6-4 SG 8 pts 2 3’s 4 reb 1 ast
Taye Williams 6-5 G 6 pts 4 reb 1 ast 1 blk 2 st
Uche Nsonwu Jr. 6-8 G/F 6 pts 2 3’s 6 reb 1 ast
’25’s
Christian Gilliland 6-2 PG 38 pts 13-22 fg 2 3’s 10-11 ft 5 reb 2 ast
Lighthouse Classic MVP
Landon Brooks
BFL Prep
6-10 ’25 C
28 pts 14-23 fg 17 reb (10 offensive) 2 blk
Lighthouse Classic Challenge Championship Game
(B) Moravian Prep Lions (Hudson, NC) 92
PSAT Panthers (Houston, TX) 44
Notes: Moravian Prep was able to easily defend the Lighthouse Classic Challenge Champs title. They won two games by an average of 48 points. Eli Ellis (6-1 ’25 PG Moravian Prep 35 pts 13-26 fg 6 3’s 3-4 ft 4 reb 3 ast 1 st in only 22 minutes played) dropped an easy 35 in less than 22 minutes. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter.
Moravian Prep (traveled 490 miles) 92
’24’s
Don Lewis 6-6 PF 9 pts 2-3 fg 1 3’s 4-5 ft 7 reb 4 ast
Evan Morton 6-2 G 6 pts 4 reb 2 st
Kendrick Wilson 6-0 PG 2 pts 5 reb 4 ast
Ty Burton 5-10 G 3 pts 1 3’s 1 reb 2 ast 2 st
Alex Mostashari 6-3 G 6 reb
Zati Loubaki 6-8 F 9 pts 3-4 fg 3-4 ft 4 reb 1 blk 1 st
’25’s
Isaac Ellis 6-0 G 16 pts 6-10 fg 3-5 3’s 1-1 ft 4 reb 2 ast
Eli Ellis 6-1 PG 35 pts 13-26 fg 6 3’s 3-4 ft 4 reb 3 ast 1 st in only 22 minutes played
Abu Yarmah 6-7 F 3 pts 1 3’s 4 reb 1 ast 1 st
PSAT (traveled 688 miles) 45
’24’s
TK Lawson 6-7 G 11 pts 3-4 ft 6 reb 2 ast
Chase Ashby 6-3 G 18 pts 3 3’s 7 reb 2 ast 2 st
’25’s
Aidan Duran 6-7 G 3 pts 4 reb 1 ast
Kal-El McNeilly 6-7 G 6 reb 1 blk 2 st
’26’s
Macodou Diouf 6-8 F 6 pts 2-2 ft 4 reb 2 ast 2 blk
Lighthouse Classic MVP
Eli Ellis
Moravian Prep
6-1 ’25 PG
35 pts 13-26 fg 6 3’s 3-4 ft 4 reb 3 ast 1 st in only 22 minutes played
Lighthouse Classic Challenge Champs
Moravian Prep Lions
(B) Baker Hornets 6-2 (7A Mobile, AL) 55
Cleveland Central Wolves 4-3 (5A Cleveland, MS) 38
Notes: Baker might be missing a huge piece from last years team but you couldn’t tell it. They used a big third quarter to get the push over Cleveland Central. Derrick Florence III (6-5 ’25 F/C Baker 24 pts 8-14 fg 4-8 3’s 4-4 ft 8 reb 2 ast 1 blk 2 st) had a big game to get the MVP award. Tayler Berryhill (5-10 ’24 G Cleveland Central 15 pts 2 3’s 5-5 ft 5 reb 1 ast) had a solid game for the Wolves.
Baker (traveled 328 miles) 55
’24’s
Deshawn Thomas 6-3 G 10 pts 1 3’s 3-4 ft 8 reb 3 ast 1 blk
’25’s
Desmond Williams 6-2 G 12 pts 4-4 ft 1 reb 1 ast 1 st
Parrias Baker 6-5 PF 3 pts 1 3’s 4 reb 1 ast
Derrick Florence III 6-5 F/C 24 pts 8-14 fg 4-8 3’s 4-4 ft 8 reb 2 ast 1 blk 2 st
Cleveland Central (traveled 195 miles) 38
’24’s
Toney Bradley Jr. 6-2 G 3 pts 1 3’s 5 reb 1 st
Tayler Berryhill 5-10 G 15 pts 2 3’s 5-5 ft 5 reb 1 ast
Jayden Sampson 6-5 F 6 pts 2-2 ft 6 reb 1 st
’25’s
Jason Talbert 6-3 G/F 2 pts 6 reb 3 ast
Lighthouse Classic MVP
Derrick Florence III
Baker
6-5 ’25 F/C
24 pts 8-14 fg 4-8 3’s 4-4 ft 8 reb 2 ast 1 blk 2 st
Katie Roberts Photography
Senior Snapshot
Tayler Berryhill
Cleveland Central
5-10 ’24 G
15 pts 2 3’s 5-5 ft 5 reb 1 ast
(B) Huntsville Panthers 8-1 (7A Huntsville, AL) 65
St. Thomas More Cougars 1-2 (4A Lafayette, LA) 47
Notes: Huntsville Basketball! They are GOOD! Hunstville has so many weapons. They have size, skill, shooters, speed and depth. Brayden Rivers (6-7 ’25 G Huntsville 21 pts 8-11 fg 3-6 3’s 6 reb 1 ast 1 blk) was the guy on this day. He got his game going with a baseline dunk in heavy traffic. Caleb Harrison (6-10 ’24 F Huntsville 13 pts 1 3’s 10 reb 2 ast) and Simon Walker (6-5 ’25 G Huntsville 13 pts 6-10 fg 1 3’s 2 reb 2 ast) also had good games this day but you have to watch out for all the the dangerous Panthers. This Huntsville team should be ranked on the national level.
Chad Jones (6-7 ’24 F St. Thomas More 16 pts 7-13 pts 4 reb 1 ast 2 blk) and Michael Mouton (6-5 ’24 G St. Thomas More 10 pts 2 3’s 2 reb 1 ast 1 blk 2 st) had solid performances for the Cougars. Huntsville is now my new favorite team in Alabama and St. Thomas More is my new favorite in Louisiana.
St. Thomas More (traveled 413 miles) 47
’24’s
Anthony Angelle 6-4 G 4 pts 3 reb 3 ast
Michael Mouton 6-5 G 10 pts 2 3’s 2 reb 1 ast 1 blk 2 st
Chad Jones 6-7 F 16 pts 7-13 pts 4 reb 1 ast 2 blk
Huntsville (traveled 121 miles) 65
’24’s
Caleb Harrison 6-10 F 13 pts 1 3’s 10 reb 2 ast
’25’s
Simon Walker 6-5 G 13 pts 6-10 fg 1 3’s 2 reb 2 ast
Brayden Rivers 6-7 G 21 pts 8-11 fg 3-6 3’s 6 reb 1 ast 1 blk
Eli Stapler 6-1 PG 6 pts 2 3’s 2 reb 3 ast
John David Gossett 6-5 G 3 pts 5 reb 3 ast 1 st
Lighthouse Classic MVP
Brayden Rivers
Huntsville
6-7 ’25 G
21 pts 8-11 fg 3-6 3’s 6 reb 1 ast 1 blk
(B) Booneville Blue Devils 5-1 (3A Booneville, MS) 43
Mountain Brook Spartans 7-1 (6A Birmingham, AL) 42
Notes: This game is my circled game for day two. It was everything I thought it would be and more. If I had one word to describe the gym it would be electric. This was possibly the loudest Lighthouse game ever. Booneville was able to overcome the Alabama power. Kedrick Simmons (6-6 ’25 G/F Booneville 18 pts 1 3’s 5-7 ft 12 reb 1 ast 1 st) showed up and played like he was the #1 player in the state. Landon Brown (6-3 ’24 SG Booneville 17 pts 6-11 fg 4-7 3’s 4 reb 1 blk 2 st) shot the ball really well on the offensive end. If I were giving out my player of the game it would’ve gone to Alec Nunley (6-3 ’24 G Booneville 3 reb 1 ast 1 blk 1 st). His defensive pressure guarding Ty Davis (6-5 ’24 PG Mountain Brook 16 pts 2 3’s 6-8 ft 3 reb 2 ast 1 blk 1 st) kept the high D1 signee from going off. He still ended up with 16 but that is well below his average. Nunley got in his grill with or without the ball and kept him from either getting the ball or not getting good looks. His energy got the Booneville crowd going and kept them fired up during the game.
Booneville (traveled 22 miles) 43
’24’s
Landon Brown 6-3 SG 17 pts 6-11 fg 4-7 3’s 4 reb 1 blk 2 st
Alec Nunley 6-3 G 3 reb 1 ast 1 blk 1 st
’25’s
Dalton Jackson 5-11 PG 5 pts 1 3’s 2 reb 6 ast 1 st
Kedrick Simmons 6-6 G/F 18 pts 1 3’s 5-7 ft 12 reb 1 ast 1 st
Mountain Brook (traveled 173 miles) 42
’24’s
Ty Davis 6-5 PG 16 pts 2 3’s 6-8 ft 3 reb 2 ast 1 blk 1 st
John Carwie 5-11 G 3 pts 1 3’s 5 reb 2 ast 1 st
Lawson Gardner 6-3 F 5 pts 1 3’s 5 reb 1 st
Henry Hufham 6-6 F 2 pts 7 reb 1 blk
Lighthouse Classic MVP
Kedrick Simmons
Booneville
6-6 ’25 G/F
18 pts 1 3’s 5-7 ft 12 reb 1 ast 1 st
Katie Roberts Photography
Senior Snapshot
Landon Brown
Booneville
6-3 ’24 SG
17 pts 6-11 fg 4-7 3’s 4 reb 1 blk 2 st
(B) Rossville Christian Academy Wolves 3-1 (MAIS 4A Rossville, TN) 57
Corinth Warriors 2-2 (5A Corinth, MS) 50
Notes: Rossville is a good looking team that will be a tough out in the playoffs. Fred Motley (6-1 ’25 G Rossville Christian 25 pts 9-11 fg 3-3 3’s 5 reb 1 ast 1 blk 2 st) had a big game in the win. Xae Mayes (5-11 ’26 PG Corinth 21 pts 3 3’s 4-4 ft 4 reb 1 ast 2 st) had a big game in the loss for Corinth.
Corinth (home team) 50
’24’s
Kylon Fields 5-10 G 8 pts 3-5 fg 2-2 ft 1 reb 1 ast 1 st
’25’s
Griffin Enis 6-1 G/F 4 pts 5 reb 2 ast 2 st
Cayden Harris 5-11 G 2 pts 4 reb 2 st
’26’s
Braedyn Burress 6-2 F 13 pts 6-10 fg 9 reb 1 blk 2 st
Xae Mayes 5-11 PG 21 pts 3 3’s 4-4 ft 4 reb 1 ast 2 st
Preston Crump 6-2 F 2 pts 2-2 ft 4 reb 1 ast 1 st
Rossville Christian (traveled 68 miles) 57
’24’s
DeShun Payton 6-3 F 13 pts 2 reb 2 ast 3 blk 3 st
Jaydan Williams 6-4 F 6 pts 8 reb 2 ast 3 blk 2 st
CJ Armour 5-10 G 5 pts 1 reb 3 ast 1 blk
’25’s
Fred Motley 6-1 G 25 pts 9-11 fg 3-3 3’s 5 reb 1 ast 1 blk 2 st
Zach Portwood 6-3 G 5 pts 6 reb 3 blk 1 st
Lighthouse Classic MVP
Fred Motley
Rossville Christian
6-1 ’25 G
25 pts 9-11 fg 3-3 3’s 5 reb 1 ast 1 blk 2 st
Katie Roberts Photography
Senior Snapshot
DeShun Payton
Rossville Christian
6-3 ’24 F
13 pts 2 reb 2 ast 3 blk 3 st
Mississippi Boys Only
Head Coach-The best coaching job that I saw during this time period.
Michael Smith Booneville
Best Game-The best game that I saw during this time period.
Booneville 43 Mountain Brook 42
Mississippi Top 5 Teams-The top five teams that I saw during this time period.
- Booneville 5-1
- Cleveland Central 4-3
- Rossville Christian 3-1
- Corinth 2-2
- Alcorn Central 2-4
Mississippi Head of the Class
The best players in their respective classes that I saw during this time period based on stats.
2024: Landon Brown 6-3 SG Booneville
17 pts 6-11 fg 4-7 3’s 4 reb 1 blk 2 st
2025: Fred Motley 6-1 G Rossville Christian
25 pts 9-11 fg 3-3 3’s 5 reb 1 ast 1 blk 2 st
2026: Wilson McDonald 6-3 G Alcorn Central
21 pts 2 3’s 8 reb 1 ast 9 st
2027: Ty Whitten 5-8 G Alcorn Central
3 reb
Mississippi Starting 5
The top five players that I saw during this time period based on stats.
- Wilson McDonald 6-3 ’26 G Alcorn Central
21 pts 2 3’s 8 reb 1 ast 9 st - Fred Motley 6-1 ’25 G Rossville Christian
25 pts 9-11 fg 3-3 3’s 5 reb 1 ast 1 blk 2 st - Kedrick Simmons 6-6 ’25 G/F Booneville
18 pts 1 3’s 5-7 ft 12 reb 1 ast 1 st - Zae Mayes 5-11 ’26 PG Corinth
21 pts 3 3’s 4-4 ft 4 reb 1 ast 2 st - Braedyn Burress 6-2 ’26 F Corinth
13 pts 6-10 fg 9 reb 1 blk 2 st
Katie Roberts Photography Mississippi Senior Squad
The top five seniors that I saw during this time period based on stats.
- Landon Brown 6-3 ’24 SG Booneville
17 pts 6-11 fg 4-7 3’s 4 reb 1 blk 2 st - DeShun Payton 6-3 ’24 F Rossville Christian
13 pts 2 reb 2 ast 3 blk 3 st - Tayler Berryhill 5-10 ’24 G Cleveland Central
15 pts 2 3’s 5-5 ft 5 reb 1 ast - Jaydan Williams 6-4 ’24 F Rossville Christian
6 pts 8 reb 2 ast 3 blk 2 st - Owen DePoyster 5-11 ’24 F Alcorn Central
8 pts 9 reb 1 ast
Magnolia Hoops 