USJ's Haylen Ayers named Division II-A Miss Basketball by TSSAA

USJ’s Haylen Ayers named Division II-A Miss Basketball by TSSAA

Haylen Ayers, a freshman at the University School of Jackson has been named the Division II-A Miss Basketball for 2024.

Ayers helped lead USJ to the Division II-A state title, March 2.

USJ (24-5) defeated Goodpasture 70-58 in three overtimes to win the school’s first state basketball championship, led by Ayers (30 points, 12 rebounds), who was named tournament MVP.

The top girls’ and boys’ basketball players in six classifications of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association were honored by being named the winners of the 2024 Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards.

The awards presentation took place on the floor of Murphy Center on the campus of MTSU on Tuesday, March 12.

A statewide committee of sportswriters selected the winners based on performance during the 2023-2024 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration. High school head basketball coaches and members of the media nominated the finalists.

“This is such an outstanding honor for all 36 of the young men and women recognized this evening at the Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards,” said Mark Reeves, Executive Director of the TSSAA. “They were here not only due to their athletic ability that they displayed on the court throughout the season, but just as much for their outstanding character and academic achievements.”

This was the 39th year that the Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards have been presented to Tennessee’s best high school basketball players. American General was the sponsor of the event since the inception of the awards in 1985 until 2001.

The Memphis Grizzlies were sponsors of the awards from 2002-2004. From 2005-2015 as well as the 2020-2021 school year due to the COVID-10 pandemic, the Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards were presented at the conclusion of each respective championship game as part of the post-game trophy ceremony.

2024 MR. AND MISS BASKETBALL WINNERS

Division II-A Miss Basketball
Haylen Ayers, USJ

Division II-AA Miss Basketball
Sydney Mains, Knoxville Catholic

Class 1A Miss Basketball
Savannah Davis, McKenzie

Class 2A Miss Basketball
Micah Hart, Gibson County

Class 3A Miss Basketball
Celeste Reed, White County

Class 4A Miss Basketball
Imari Berry, Clarksville

Division II-A Mr. Basketball
Kavien Jones, BGA

Division II-AA Mr. Basketball
Tyler Tanner, Brentwood Academy

Class 1A Mr. Basketball
Jordan McCullum, Harriman

Class 2A Mr. Basketball
Jahvin Carter, Alcoa

Class 3A Mr. Basketball
Tyler Lee, Fulton