The TSSAA honored top players with Mr. Basketball and Miss Basketball awards in Monte Hale Arena at the Murphy Center on Monday, March 13, 2023, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY JESSE SMITHEY
MURFREESBORO — Lukas Walls and Avery Treadwell capped their high school basketball careers in style Monday during the TSSAA Mr. and Miss Basketball award ceremony at MTSU’s Murphy Center.
Lukas Walls, a 6-foot-3 senior from Webb who has signed to play for Samford University, won Division II-AA Mr. Basketball.
Treadwell, a 6-3 senior post from Bearden who has signed to play for Florida State, won Class 4A Miss Basketball.
Though both would probably have traded their trophies for state championships, the hardware still served as pieces to commemorate their journeys to this point in the sport.
Webb School of Knoxville senior Lukas Walls was named 2023 Division II-AA Mr. Basketball during a ceremony in Monte Hale Arena at the Murphy Center on Monday, March 13, 2023, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Parker)
Walls averaged more than 18 points per game with 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists this season, leading Webb to 24 wins, a region championship and an appearance in the the Division II-AA state semifinals. Walls is only the second Webb boys’ player to have won Mr. Basketball, as he joins Dwight Tarwater (2010) on the recipient list.
“It’s a huge deal for me,” said Walls. “It means that all my work for the past four years, especially this last year, they’ve all come together, and it’s all been for something good.”
Bearden senior post Avery Treadwell was named 2023 Class 4A Mr. Basketball during a ceremony in Monte Hale Arena at the Murphy Center on Monday, March 13, 2023, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Parker)
Treadwell helped Bearden win the 2022 Class 4A State Championship and earned tournament MVP honors. As a senior, she averaged 16.2 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while leading Bearden to a 35-0 mark heading into last week’s state tournament. Though Bearden fell at the buzzer in a state quarterfinal to eventual state-champion Bradley Central, that loss did little to diminish Treadwell’s legacy.
She is the second consecutive Bearden player to win Class 4A Miss Basketball. Jennifer Sullivan, now a freshman guard at Tennessee Tech, won it last year.
“I was definitely surprised,” Treadwell said of winning the award. “I’m really happy to have won Miss Basketball.
“It was good that I could keep Jenn’s legacy going and get one more for Bearden.”
The TSSAA Mr. and Miss Basketball awards are based on regular-season performance, academics and character. Media and coaches from around the state selected finalists while a committee of media members selected the winners before the postseason began.
Here’s a look at all the winners Monday, as well as finalists for the awards.
2023 MISS BASKETBALL WINNERS
Division II-A Miss Basketball
Angelica Velez, The Webb School
Finalists: Jailyn Banks (MTCS), Olivia Lee (Trinity Christian)
Division II-AA Miss Basketball
Jaloni Cambridge, Ensworth
Finalists: Sydney Mains (Catholic), Kayli Clarkson (Briarcrest)
Class 1A Miss Basketball
Blair Baugus, Wayne County
Finalists: Lyndie Ramsey (Unaka), Kylie Reynolds (McKenzie)
Class 2A Miss Basketball
Jada Harrison, Westview
Finalists: Reese Beaty (York), Maddy Newman (Gatlinburg-Pittman)
Class 3A Miss Basketball
Ti’Mia Lawson, Jackson South Side
Finalists: Lauren Bailey (Greeneville), Abigail Johnson (Upperman)
Class 4A Miss Basketball
Avery Treadwell, Bearden
Finalists: Imari Berry (Clarksville), Mallory Collier (Bartlett)
2023 MR. BASKETBALL WINNERS
Division II-A Mr. Basketball
Isaiah West, Goodpasture
Finalists: Seth Grandberry (Lausanne), Eddie Ricks III (Clarksville Academy)
Division II-AA Mr. Basketball
Lukas Walls, Webb School of Knoxville
Finalists: Deondrea Lindsey (Catholic), Tyler Tanner (Brentwood Academy)
Class 1A Mr. Basketball
Rodgerick Robinson, Jr., Middleton
Finalists: Jason Britton (North Greene), Cadon Buckles (Hampton)
Class 2A Mr. Basketball
Jaylen Jones, East Nashville
Finalists: Jahvin Carter (Alcoa), Jordan Allen (Hillcrest)
Class 3A Mr. Basketball
Damarien Yates, Fayette-Ware
Finalists: Tylon Chatman (Haywood), Shane Cherry (Austin-East)
Class 4A Miss Basketball
Jarred Hall, Lebanon
Finalists: Jordan Frison (Memphis Overton), Brock Vice (Houston)