Here are the top 10 Knoxville-area boys high school basketball teams as ranked by Knox News.
1. Fulton (32-2): Fulton remains the best team in Knoxville. It has five players who averaged double figures during the regular season. The defending Class 3A state champion is on a 14-game win streak and won its Class 3A state sectional 71-42 over Tennessee High. Last ranking: No. 1.
2. Knoxville Webb (24-5): The Spartans fell 63-48 to Brentwood Academy in the Division II-AA state semifinals for the second straight season. Junior Jaylen Pompey had 17 points in the defeat. Last ranking: No. 2.
3. Alcoa (23-13): The Tornadoes took down Tyner 89-53 in the Class 2A state sectional. They were led by Jahvin Carter, a Mr. Basketball finalist and Penn State signee, who had 28 points. Last Ranking: No. 4.
4. Austin-East (23-11): Austin-East will be in the state tournament for the second time since 2008 and the first time since 2019. The Roadrunners beat Brainerd 72-65 in their Class 2A state sectional game. Last Ranking: No. 6.
5. Maryville (26-7): Maryville’s Brayden Hazelbaker scored 20 points in the first quarter of its 88-57 state sectional win over Morristown West. The sophomore finished with 29. Last Ranking: No. 9.
6. Morristown East (29-8): Morristown East is heading to Murfreesboro for the state tournament for the second time in program history after beating Bearden 54-52 in the Class 4A state sectional. The Hurricanes’ other appearance in the state tournament was in 1979. Last Ranking: Not ranked.
7. Bearden (28-9): The Bulldogs fell to Maryville in the region championship and had its season end on the road against Morristown East in the Class 4A state sectional. This is the program’s sixth state sectional appearance in eight seasons. Last Ranking: No. 5.
8. Oak Ridge (25-8): Oak Ridge’s season ended on a game-winning 3-pointer in a 48-47 loss to Bearden. The last time the Wildcats won at least 25 games was during the 2020-21 season. Last Ranking: No. 3.
9. Gatlinburg-Pittman (26-8): The Highlanders lost to Alcoa, the defending Class 2A state champion, in the region tournament semifinals. Ty Glasper and Carlos Orr each had 17 points in the 82-69 loss. Last Ranking: No. 7.
10. William Blount (24-10): The Governors stacked up wins late in the season to become District 4-4A champions but had their win streak end against Maryville in the region semifinals. Seniors Grady Robertson and Caden Windle both were named to the Region 2-4A team. Last Ranking: No. 8.
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