Tennessee Team Pride Will Host Nashville TOC On July 10-12



Tennessee Team Pride began the 2014 travel season with an outstanding performance at the Deep South Classic in June, and now the program is focused on the upcoming Nashville Tournament of Champions. Tennessee Team Pride will co-host the event with the All Star Girls Report, which also operates the Deep South Classic.

“We had a very positive experience at the Deep South Classic, and I was very happy with how we played,” said Coach Chris Brown. “They have great competition there, and we finished 3-1. It seemed like the moment the tournament ended I started getting calls from college coaches with offers and interest in our kids, so it was a great weekend.

“That is just an amazing event. We went two years ago, and I didn’t think it could get better, but it did. There is so much talent in that building, and so many college coaches. Now we’re very excited about working with Mike White (of ASGR) to have an event in Tennessee. This is a great opportunity for us. We’re going to have teams that are full of talent, and you know the college coaches will be following those teams.”

The Nashville Tournament of Champions will be played from July 10-12. The event will include 48 elite travel teams, with game being played at the newly expanded Hooptown facility in Smyrna, TN. Hooptown is conveniently located near popular restaurants and hotels.

Tennessee Team Pride has a strong roster that features three standouts from the Class of 2015 — Brianne Porter (6-3, C), India Hall (6-2, C) and Tiffany Rechis (5-9, G). Porter is currently listed as the No. 288 recruit in the class by ASGR.

“Brianne is getting a lot of college interest right now. She really battles inside, and she finishes well. She is getting more and more comfortable with her mid-range game, and she is still growing as a player and as an athlete,” Brown said. “India is a true five player with a big frame and soft hands. She defends the post well, and she has developed a nice shot from 15 feet this year. Tiffany is a good athlete with deep shooting range. She loves to defend, and she can slash to the basket.”

“Porter is a strong left-handed athlete who can score down low, and she can step to the short corner. Her stock is rising,” added ASGR analyst Bret McCormick. “Hall is an athlete with good size, and she gives her team a low post presence. Rechis has a high basketball IQ. She has good skills and a nice three-point shot.”

In addition to those three veterans, Tennessee Team Pride will also count on a trio of players from the Class of 2016. Shelly Gibson is a 6-2 post who is rated as the No. 50 recruit in the class by ASGR, Jaz Bond is a 6-4 post who is at No. 169, and Sarah Pierce is a 5-8 guard.

“Bond is a long, lanky player who can face up like a Euro player,” McCormick said. “She also has good skills, both as a passer and as a shooter. Gibson is just a beast on the block. She is strong and has great footwork, and she can finish with either hand. Pierce is an athletic combo guard who understands the game. She sees the floor, and she can hit the three.”