Meiko Lyles
Guard
6’3”, 185 lbs
High School: University School of Nashville, Nashville, TN
AAU/Travel Team: Nashville Celtics



Meiko Lyles is a silky smooth scorer from Nashville, Tennessee. Lyles has good size at 6’3” and may not be done growing. At 185 pounds, Meiko is solidly built and can take hits while still finishing. Last season, he averaged 22.5 points and 5 assists a game on his way to being named a finalist for the DII-A Mr. Basketball award. At the University School of Nashville, Meiko is coached by Adam Sonn who was himself a Mr. Basketball winner at Donelson Christian Academy and a star at Belmont University before being drafted by the Arkansas Rimrockers in the fourth round of the NBA Developmental League.

Meiko’s AAU coach Charles Clark, describes him as one of the best scorers on the Nashville Celtics, a team full of Division 1 prospects including Florida commit Casey Prather. “He’s a gym-rat. He puts the time in and when you watch him play you can tell he is a little ahead of his peers.” Lyles is an excellent shooter with good form and lift on his jump shot. When he gets hot from the outside watch out. Clark said, “Whenever he shoots it, you think it is going in. He hits timely threes and does not get rattled.” This ability to hit shots can sometimes get Meiko in trouble. Shot selection and ball-handling are the two main areas he needs to improve upon.

Clark describes Lyles as a solid defender. “He’s a better off-the-ball defender because he has really good natural instincts and does a good job getting steals. His on-ball defense is going to have to get better. With his length, he could be a really good on-ball defender once he puts some more time and effort into it.” At the college level, Meiko should be able to defend both guard positions.

Below is a short video of Meiko at the River City Showdown, which the Nashville Celtics won, in Memphis this past summer. This video was shot and edited for APSUGovs.com by our friend Clark Merriam of MemphisRoar.com. Look for a cameo by 2010 recruit Levon Tate.

Meiko is an excellent student, and as a result he is being recruited heavily by several Ivy League schools including Columbia University and Princeton University. Lyles has offers from Missouri State and Georgia State University, the only school he has officially visited. Southeast Missouri State University has shown significant interest, attending every one of his AAU games this summer. Belmont University has been in contact, and it is uncertain how big a roll Coach Sonn will play if Meiko chooses them. The University of Nevada, Reno has also shown a lot of interest since July and are actively recruiting Meiko. Austin Peay had shown interest at some point, but that interest is thought to have waned. Coach Clark says Meiko would like to major in engineering.


What others have to say about Meiko:

MemphisRoar.com Scouting Report from the River City Showdown, Memphis, TN

Meiko Lyles (Nashville Celtics): Lyles, a calm and collective shooting guard, lived up to his position title and then some. Lyles knocked down countless three point shots throughout the River City Showdown. Whether wide open or with a hand in his face, Lyles did not seem to notice or care, as the result almost always ended in three points.

ESPN.com/Scouts Inc.
November, 2007: Lyles is smooth beyond his years and is up to the challenge of improving his game. A great outside shooter who is deadly from the foul-line area. His offensive game is far ahead of its defensive counterpart but Lyles has the athleticism to make this a staple of his game. He hasn’t played as much basketball as his class counterparts and therefore is making huge strides catching up with his peers.

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LeVon Tate

Forward
6’5”, 195 lbs
High School:  Siegel High School, Murfreesboro, TN
AAU/Travel Team:  Nashville Celtics

LeVon Tate heads into the 2009-10 high school basketball season after a very successful 2009 AAU season.  Tate’s team, the Nashville Celtics, won the River City Showdown in Memphis by beating a Memphis Magic Elite team that featured several high major prospects including Memphis commit Joe Jackson (Rivals 2010 #12 prospect), Tarik Black (Rivals 2010 #47 prospect), Chris Crawford (Rivals #66 prospect), and Adonis Thomas (Scout 2011 #2 SF prospect).  Our friend Clark Merriam at MemphisRoar.com, an independent site for The University of Memphis athletics and an ESPN affiliate, had this to say about Tate’s performance at the River City Showdown.

“A force to be reckoned with down low, Tate was often the hardest worker on the court.  Fighting for rebounds, altering opponent’s shots, and not giving up on any plays, Tate provided some great play that tended to be overlooked by most.  Tate provided good put-backs and displayed some good post play.”

In addition to their championship in Memphis, the Celtics also reached the semifinals of the String Music Classic in Nashville, the Round of 8 at the Adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas, and the Round of 16 at the Real Deal in the Rock in Arkansas.  They also performed well at the Wallace Prather Memorial Tournament in Georgia, making it through pool play and winning a game in bracket play despite not having Florida commit Casey Prather, Minnesota commit Austin Hollins, and an up-and-coming star in Kedren Johnson.

At 6’5” and 195 pounds, LeVon is an undersized forward but what he lacks in size he makes up for with effort.  “I think he is the best rebounder in his class, the 2010 class, in the state of Tennessee,” said Nashville Celtics Head Coach and Austin Peay alumnus Charles Clark.  “He’s long, agile, and athletic.  He gets every rebound against a 6’10”, or another kid his height, or an athletic guy, or a big slug that’s just pushing him around.  He gets more balls and rebounds than anybody.”

Relentless rebounder.  Hardest worker on the court. 6’5”.  Starting to sound a little like former OVC Player of the Year Drake Reed.  Here is what Coach Clark had to say when asked about the comparison.

“I think he’s more skilled than Drake from the standpoint that Drake was self-made.  He really got in the gym and worked and worked to get to where he was.  I think LeVon comes in with a little more skill and definitely more athletic ability.  If he gets Drake’s work ethic, he could definitely get to that level.  But not a lot of kids have Drake’s work ethic.  He worked his tail off.  But LeVon could be that workhorse type of player.”

Just to clarify, Coach Clark’s comments were comparing LeVon to Drake as an incoming freshman.  Like most young players, Tate will have to develop and improve all aspects of his game before he can even be mentioned in the same breath as the Drake Reed that finished his career with three straight First Team All-OVC Selections, but the young man does have potential.

Defensively, Tate’s athletic ability and versatility allow him to guard three positions.  “He can guard a three, four, or a five man.  Especially in the OVC where he’s dealing with undersized post guys,” Coach Clark said.  His non-stop motor and rebounding prowess may allow Tate to contribute immediately.  He could be used to rest starters, providing valuable rebounds and fouls off the bench.  To do this though, LeVon will have to hit the weightroom.

Coach Clark describes Tate’s offensive game as developing.  “He scores well with his back to the basket.  He passes well and shoots the midrange jumper really well too.”  Some schools may overlook LeVon because he is not the first option on either his high school team or AAU team.  The featured player on his Siegel High School team is Kerry Hammonds II.  Hammonds was a finalist for the Class AAA Mr. Basketball award this past season and has offers from Tulane, Richmond, and Middle Tennessee State.  When playing with the guard-heavy Nashville Celtics, LeVon deferred to players like previously mentioned Casey Prather, Austin Hollins, and Division II Class A Mr. Basketball finalist Meiko Lyles. This shows that Tate, while talented, is a team player who will do whatever he can to help the team.

When playing on a team with guys who can do this (video features Casey Prather, but Tate is #42 in green), or playing against guys who can do this, it is easy to see how a coach may miss the guy down low busting his tail and pulling down rebounds.  Several schools have reached out to Tate, including East Tennessee State which has been the most active.  Belmont University, David Lipscomb University, Savannah State, and Middle Tennessee State have all shown some interest.  Carson-Newman College, a Division II school, has also been in contact with Tate.  According to Coach Clark, there is mutual interest between Austin Peay and Tate.  The level of this interest and what becomes of it remains to be seen.  What is known though, is whoever lands LeVon will be getting a relentless rebounder and defender with a tremendous amount of potential.

Discussion for this feature can be found at this link.

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*ASPUGovs.com is an independent site, not affiliated with Austin Peay State University in anyway.

*All images are from the Siegel High School athletic website.
*We would like to thank Coach Clark for taking the time to speak with us.

• PF Robert Elam
• SF Thomas Greer-verbal
• F Joe Harms
• F Cody Henegar
• PG Meiko Lyles
• G Jeremy McCray
• PF Will Triggs-verbal

Robert Elam, PF, 6-6 210lbs, Rivals 2-stars
East Mississippi C.C. by way of Nashville Christian Academy
Robert spent last season playing with East Mississippi Community College.  The team went 17-11, with their season ending with a loss in the NJCAA Region 23 tournament.  Elam originally committed to APSU out of high school and at that time said, “Austin Peay was a school I visited a lot, watched their games and just fell in love with their style of basketball.”
Also considering:
Morehead St.
Murray St.
Central Arkansas
UNC-Ashville

Thomas Greer, SF, 6-5 170lbs
West Carroll HS, Atwood, TN
Greer verbally committed to APSU in August.  He is not ranked by any of the recruiting services, but according to Tennessee Prep Hoops.com he should be a finalist for the Class A Mr. Basketball award.  This past season Greer was named to the Class A Region 7A All-Region team, and was also named the District 13A MVP.  Greer appears to be a scorer, routinely putting up over 20 points.  While it is unclear the level of actual interest, Arkansas was rumored to have been evaluating Greer at one point.  He is definitely a good get for APSU.

Joe Harms, F, 6-9 215lbs, Rivals 2-stars
Althof HS, Belleville, IL
There is not a lot of information out there about Harms.  Last season he averaged 5.5 points and 2.2 rebounds.  His team, Althof HS, made it to the Class 3A Supersectionals.  There is no doubt about it though, he is big and we can always use more size.
Also considering:
Colgate
Eastern Kentucky
Southern Illinois

Cody Henegar, F, 6-9 197lbs, Rivals 2-star, ESPN Rating 70
Marion County HS, Jasper, TN
Cody is another player this is not much information on.  Henegar plays AAU basketball with the Nashville Celtics, a team that features two big time Division 1 prospects in Casey Prather and Austin Hollins.  He, like Joe Harms, is big and you can’t teach size.
Also Considering:
Middle Tennessee State University
Alabama
UT-Chattanooga

Meiko Lyles, PG, 6-2 170lbs, Rivals 2-stars
University School of Nashville, Nashville, TN
Last season, Lyles was a finalist for the DII-A Mr. Basketball award and led his team to the state tournament.  He averaged 22.5 points and five assists a game.  Lyles, like Henegar, plays AAU basketball for the Nashville Celtics.  In 2007, ESPN had this to say about Lyles.

“Lyles is smooth beyond his years and is up to the challenge of improving his game. A great outside shooter who is deadly from the foul-line area. His offensive game is far ahead of its defensive counterpart but Lyles has the athleticism to make this a staple of his game.”

If Coach Loos can land him, it sounds like Lyles could play a big role for the team going forward.
Also Considering:
Belmont University
Middle Tennessee State University


Jeremy McCray, G, 6-4 174lbs
Cloud County CC, Concordia, KS
Of all the players on this list, McCray seems the least likely to ever set foot on the APSU campus.  This assumption is based purely on the other schools he is considering (Iowa, Marquette, UCLA, etc).  Of course, none of the websites indicate if any of these schools have actually offered him.  All indications are the kid is legit.  Windy City Basketball.com listed him as the 23rd best prospect in Chicago for the 2008 class.
Also Considering:
Iowa
Marquette
UCLA
Bradley
Florida
Northwestern
Purdue
Virginia Tech
Northern Illinois

Will Triggs, F, 6-6 220lbs, ESPN Rating 82
Edwardsville HS, Edwardsville, IL
Triggs verballed to APSU in August.  He represents a big get for Coach Loos, as he is a skilled big man.  In May, ESPN had this to say about Triggs.

“Triggs has a big time body, good strength and is a very good athlete. He has improved in all aspects of the game as he plays inside and outside. But he still needs to develop his handle and improve his consistency on his perimeter shot to make the move to being a straight small forward. With a improved stroke and handle he will become more versatile. He scores in the low post and has a nice turnaround jumper and jump hook. He can hit the 15-17ft jumper and will attack the basket off the dribble.”

Triggs averaged 14.1 points per game last season.  He also played WR and LB for the football team.  Hopefully his football background will bring some toughness to the paint for the Govs.
Also Considered:
Eastern Illinois
Southeast Missouri State University
UT-Martin

Discussion for this post can be found at this link:

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Images from Rivals.com and  TNPrephoops.com.