Down time doesn’t exist in the high school sports world.

This is the fourth 5Star Preps notebook of June. That’s how much news has been churned out.

So get caught up on some items you may have missed over the last week or so…

MISCELLANY

Easton Housewright, who had a monster season as a freshman in the spring for the Grace Christian varsity baseball team, was recently ranked No. 24 by Perfect Game in its Class of 2029 national player rankings. Housewright hit .418 with 12 doubles, 10 home runs, 40 RBIs, 39 runs, 26 walks and 14 stolen bases for the Rams, earning District MVP.

Former Greeneville High School and University of Tennessee point guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie will wear No. 17 for the San Antonio Spurs. Gillespie was selected by the Spurs in the second round of the NBA Draft on June 24.

Former Knoxville Catholic point guard B.J. Edwards agreed to an Exhibit-10 deal with the Sacramento Kings. An Exhibit-10 contract is a one-year, minimum-salary NBA agreement that allows teams to bring in players for training camp and oftentimes NBA Summer League play. Under these contracts, NBA teams often retain the rights to the players to be able to place them on their NBA G League rosters.

Edwards helped Knoxville Catholic win a state title as a sophomore in 2020 and signed to play for Tennessee after graduating at Catholic in 2022. He played for the Vols for the 2022-23 season but transferred to Southern Methodist University for the final three years of his college career. This past season, as a senior, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Edwards averaged 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. He led the ACC with 2.3 steals per game. Edwards was the only player nationally in the 2025-26 season with three games of at least 20 points, five rebounds, five assists, five steals.

Sacramento is slated to play in the California Classic from July 3-6 in Sacramento and San Francisco, as well as the NBA Summer League from July 9-19 in Las Vegas.

Anderson County multi-sport athlete Maddox Tackett won the Open 40 Division of the ASA Archery’s Metropolis Illinois Pro-Am event, topping the standings of a deep field on June 27. Tackett also plays golf, football and basketball at Anderson County High School.

Ramilleeyon Crenshaw, who ran for 785 yards and 10 touchdowns at South-Doyle last season, announced his transfer to Maryville. Crenshaw will be a junior this fall.

Waylon Burgess, a 6-4 pitcher from Coalfield with velocity well into the 90s, has committed to Walters State. Burgess helped Coalfield finish state runner-up in 2025 and then return to state in 2026. He went 11-0 as a senior with 123 strikeouts in just 57.2 innings pitched. He had a 0.97 ERA.

Maryville goalkeeper Katy Emory, a Class of 2027 standout, has committed to Tennessee Wesleyan.

Former Grainger star pitcher Brady Smith was named Minor League Baseball Player of the Week in the California League. Smith pitches for the Ontario Tower Buzzers in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Smith went six innings in his start on June 25, striking out 11 while allowing one hit and no walks.

Oak Ridge infielder Joe Webb, a Vanderbilt commit from the Class of 2027, was selected to play in the 7th Annual Minority Baseball Prospects All-American Game presented by Adidas during MLB All-Star Weekend in Philadelphia. The game will be played July 13.

The East Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association released its awards for the 2026 season. Jefferson County pitcher Brody Carr was named ETBCA Player of the Year. Farragut’s Garrett Copeland and Lakeway’s Chuck Hargis were named Co-Coaches of the Year. Pigeon Forge’s Aaron Guinn and Heritage’s Gooch Greer shared Assistant Coach of the Year honors. William Blount’s Karson Hard and Karns’ Carter Branson were named Co-Gold Glove of the Year winners. Halls’ Colby Comparato took home Offensive Player of the Year. Grace’s Easton Housewright and Sevier County’s Zane Miller were Co-Newcomers of the Year. West’s Mason Dugan was Scholar Athlete of the Year. Oak Ridge’s Mikee Teasley was the Co-Two-Way Player of the Year with Heritage’s Gaven French. Farragut’s Travis Brummitt Jr. and Greeneville’s Will Harmon were Co-Pitchers of the Year. Karns High took home Field of the Year.

COACHING NEWS

Haden Roberts and Catholic competed in the first round of the TSSAA Spring Fling state tournament on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (Photo Tanner Walker/5SP)

Knoxville Catholic announced that it promoted Haden Roberts to head softball coach. Roberts led the Lady Irish as an interim coach in the latter half of the 2026 season and ultimately led the Catholic softball team to a final-four finish in the Division II-AA state tournament. The appearance at state was Catholic’s first since 1984.

West announced in late June that Anna Gibbs is its new softball coach. Gibbs played four seasons (2013-16) at Auburn, helping the program reach two College World Series. West High School softball enjoyed its best season in more than two decades this past spring, when the Lady Rebels reached the Class 4A state sectionals and won more than 20 games. But head coach Brandy Weaver stepped down after the season concluded.

Catelyn Riley, the 2019 5Star Preps Softball Pitcher of the Year, is the new pitching coach at Central Arkansas. Riley, as a sophomore in 2019, led Jefferson County High School to a TSSAA state championship. Riley played at Ole Miss from 2022-24 and at Alabama in 2025.

FOOTBALL RECRUITING

Maddux Moore, a 6-4, 225-pound tight end/defensive end, picked up an offer from Arkansas State. Moore played last season at Dyer County High but transferred to Catholic in the offseason.

Keagan Covington, a 6-5, 270-pound defensive tackle at Catholic, hauled in an offer June 25 from Oklahoma State. Covington played last season at Morristown West but transferred to Catholic in the offseason.

Durgan Ragland, a 6-5, 280-pound offensive lineman and long snapper at Hardin Valley, announced his commitment June 29 to Central Missouri.

Kaden Webber, a 6-2, 185-pound athlete at Grace, received an offer from Navy on June 24, just three days after announcing his commitment to Army.

Jace Boyd, a 6-4, 250-pound defensive end, received an offer from MTSU on June 25. Boyd is a Bowling Green commit who played the 2025 season at William Blount.

BASKETBALL RECRUITING

Nick Steen of Fulton. (Photo by Danny Parker)

Fulton guard Nick Steen, a three-year starter from the Class of 2027, received a big offer from Air Force on June 20. Steen helped Fulton repeat as state champion when he was a freshman in 2024 and then served as the cornerstone piece of the Falcons’ state runner-up finish this past March.

Memphis tendered an offer June 25 to The King’s Academy point guard Skylar Walden, a 5-8 standout from the Class of 2027 who has led the Lady Lions to four consecutive TSSAA state tournament appearances and a state runner-up finish in 2025.

Ivan Moskalenko, a recent transfer from Lakeway to Knoxville Catholic, received an offer from UNC-Asheville. Moskalenko is a 6-9 guard/forward from the Class of 2027.

Western Carolina offered 6-6 forward Jenny Bitounou (The King’s Academy, Class of 2027) and 6-7 forward Naomi Tchanga (Grace Christian, Class of 2027).

Webb School of Knoxville Class of 2029 shooting guard Ivy Napier received an offer June 22 from Kennesaw State. Napier has helped Webb win two Division II-AA girls basketball state titles (2025, 2026).

Article written by Jesse Smithey/5Star Preps. To read more on area high school sports or to see photo galleries, videos, stat leaders, etc., visit 5StarPreps.com — and use promo code HAMMERS for 30% off your first year or month subscription.

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