For possibly the first time in Bradley County sports history, four well-deserving local hardwood MVPs have been named All-State by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association in the same season.
Leading the nationally-ranked Bradley Central Bearettes to back-to-back TSSAA State Championships, Kimora Fields and Harmonie Ware are repeat honorees, plus Lauren Hurst, a three-time volleyball all-stater, helped Cleveland make a Final Four run and was selected for the Class 4A girls' hoop team for the first time.
Joining the Bears just last summer, Tyrese Stovall is the first Bradley player on the prestigious 4A boys list since Quante Berry did so in 2020.
The great news for local roundball fans is all four will be back on the courts next season as Ware, Hurst and Stovall are all juniors and Fields is just a sophomore.
"This is a great testament to these girls to win this back-to-back," declared veteran "Papa Bear" Jason Reuter of Fields and Ware.
"They are very hungry, driven players. Very talented and key to our program's success. They are very well deserving.
"This is also a testament to their teammates, which they are very quick to acknowledge," he added. "The best news is we're looking forward to having them together again next season."
A two-time Maxpreps All-American, Fields led the Bearettes putting up 21.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in just an average of 22.5 minutes of playing time a game.
The 6-foot post also has 91 steals, 62 assists and 41 blocked shots, while hitting 69.2% of her shots (310-of-448) from the field and 70.7% of her free throws (145-of-205).
Along with posting impressive consecutive double-doubles this season — scoring 35 and clearing 17 rebounds against state-ranked Chattanooga Christian before going for 24 and 14 the next game against archrival Cleveland during the regular season.
She did the same in state quarterfinals with 22 points and 13 caroms while playing against Ms. Tennessee Basketball winner Imara Berry.
The super sophomore is the sixth Bearette named a finalist for the prestigious Ms. Basketball award, joining an elite group for the state's winningest program.
Passing the 1,000-point mark in just her 53rd high school game early in January, she surpassed the milestone, bettering current WNBA All-Star and 2016 Ms. Tennessee Basketball Bearette star Rhyne Howard by five games.
Fields has pumped in 1,377 prep points to place her 16th overall on the 101-year Bearette scoring list and eighth highest since the girls' game went to 5-of-5 play in 1978.
"Kimora had an outstanding sophomore season," assessed Coach Reuter. "She has worked hard and her numbers reflex that.
“She is a very deserving. We are 69-2 since she got here and have won two straight state championships. I am proud to coach her.”
Fields was the unanimous choice as the the District Player of the Year the last two seasons, as well as being named the Region 3 MVP this year, while also earning All-Region honors her freshman campaign.
While winning the TSSAA State Tournament MVP honor as a freshman last year, she is considered the state' top recruit in the Class of 2026 and continues to drew plenty of NCAA Power 5 collegiate offers.
Earning TSSAA State Tournament MVP honors for this season's Gold Ball run, Ware bounced back from missing the season's first five games due to an injury to start 29 times as the Bearettes went 34-1.
The 5-foot-10 swing player averaged 14.8 points (445), draining 42 3-pointers, and 4.8 rebounds (143) a game. She also had 70 steals, 61 assists and seven blocks.
She surpassed the 1,000-point mark during the district tournament in February. Her 1,132 tally puts her in the Top 20 on the all-time Bearette scoring list.
Ware finished the three state tournament victories with 61 points, sinking 24-of-25 free throws (96%), including a new state tournament record with 22 in a row.
She made 18-of-33 two-point shots (54.5%), along with sinking her 42nd 3-pointer of the season. She also cleaned the glass for 25 rebounds and swiped seven steals during the event.
Ware is ranked as the state's No. 4 Class of 2025 recruit and already has numerous D-I offers. In her three seasons Bradley has gone 93-6 with her in the lineup.
"Harmonie had a another great and state tournament. She was very deserving of the MVP honor," remarked Coach Reuter.
The No. 1 ranked state recruit in Class of 2025, Hurst is a three-year starter and led the Lady Raiders to their first TSSAA State Tournament in 16 years.
"Lauren being named all state is another amazing accomplishment to end her junior year," related first-year Lady Raider head coach Bianca Hensley.
"There hasn't been an all-stater here since Michelle Davis during the 2007-08 season, which was the last time Cleveland went to the state tournament as well.
"She led us in almost every statistical category," the Lady Raider mentor said of Hurst's averaging 14.8 points (475) and 8.6 rebounds (276) a game, plus handing out 78 assists, copping 76 steals and blocking 59 shots.
"With all that said, she led us with her work ethic as well. She spends a lot of time improving her game and she EARNS all of her recognitions through her hard work."
Also drawing plenty of top NCAA offers in both basketball and volleyball, Cleveland's hoop squad has gone 74-21 with her in the lineup and played in two straight TSSAA Sectional games. She earned TSSAA All-State Tournament honors at this year's BlueCross Championships.
The has won back-to-back Gatorade Tennessee Volleyball Player of the Year honors and has been an All-American three straight seasons.
Not skipping a beat from playing on the state DII-A level to Class 4A, Stovall made his presence known immediately on the Bear hardwood.
The 6-foot-7 intimidating defender blocks 62 shots this past season, while pumping in 11.2 (346) points and clearing 8.8 rebounds a night.
Of his 272 caroms, 129 came off the offensive glass, many of which he put back in for baskets. Stovall also copped 52 thefts and dished off 35 helps.
Starting 30 of 31 games, he helped the Bears to a 22-9 record, including 8-0 while dominating for the District 6-4A championship.
Voted as the District 6-4A Player of the Year by the coaches, he was an All-Region 3 performer and helped Bradley to a 20-win season and the TSSAA Sectionals for the first time in four years.
"We are very happy and proud of Tyrese for being selected to the All-State team," proclaimed Bear head coach Zach Carpenter.
"He has worked extremely hard and played a big role in our success this past season. He is a great young man and teammate and he is very deserving of this honor."
The older (by 45 minutes) brother of 6-foot-1 twin sister Tatianna Stovall, also TSWA All-State nominee and the No. 2 ranked recruit in the Class of 2025, the duo helped lead state power teams at The Webb School before moving to town last summer.
A member of three straight TSSAA State Championship teams, Tatianna averaged 12.3 points (438) and 8.7 rebounds (307) a game this past season.
She also had 75 steals and 76 assists, plus blocked 57 shots — a new program record. She hit 57.5% on her field goal attempts.
