Elizabethton High School

Len Dugger's Cyclones had reached the TSSAA Class AAA semifinals, their first state playoffs in thirty years, but lost three starters including James Henry. Transfer Elvin Brown, a 6-4 center from the Virgin Islands and Henry's cousin, had been ruled ineligible pending appeal. Guards Kevin Kiser (13.2 ppg) and Keith Trammell (11) were the returning starters, with 6-3 posts Bill Bowers and Lance McClure.