Cutter Sisk and Trey Pearson just added another major milestone to their already standout senior seasons: both have been named finalists for the prestigious Mr. Basketball award in Tennessee.
Sisk, the dominant big man for Beech, and Pearson, the do-it-all point guard for JPII, are among the final three candidates in their respective classifications-Sisk in Class 4A and Pearson in Division II-AA. The award, given annually to the top player in each classification across the state, is one of the highest individual honors in Tennessee high school basketball.
Let’s start with Sisk, who’s been nothing short of a force for the Buccaneers. The Wofford signee is averaging an impressive 24.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game.
Those numbers only tell part of the story. He’s been the anchor of a Beech squad that’s rolled to a 25-2 record and is on the verge of finishing the District 7-4A regular season undefeated.
His offensive arsenal was on full display when he dropped 44 points on JPII in the preseason, and he followed that up with a 39-point outburst in an overtime win against rival Hendersonville just last week. With 1,730 career points, Sisk is now the second all-time leading scorer in Beech history-and climbing.
Then there’s Pearson, who’s been the engine behind JPII’s 21-win season and their position atop the Middle Region standings. The four-star High Point commit has filled up the stat sheet all year long, averaging 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.6 steals per game.
But beyond the numbers, it’s his leadership and consistency that have elevated the Knights. On Saturday, in a marquee matchup against Lipscomb Academy and fellow Mr.
Basketball finalist Cam Blivens, Pearson not only helped secure the win-he made history. With that performance, he became JPII’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Sam Specht, and notched his second consecutive triple-double.
He already owns the school records for career rebounds, assists, and steals. Now he’s added the scoring crown to his résumé.
The Mr. and Miss Basketball awards will be handed out on March 10 at Middle Tennessee State University’s Tucker Theater, with the ceremony set for 5:30 p.m. For Sumner County, this moment carries a bit of historical weight.
Only two players from the area-Portland’s Corey Brewer and Station Camp’s John Jenkins-have ever won the award. Pearson’s own father, Trey, claimed the title back in 2002 while playing for South Fulton.
Now, his son has a chance to add to that legacy.
Whether it’s Sisk’s dominance in the paint or Pearson’s all-around brilliance from the backcourt, both players have made their mark on Tennessee high school hoops this season. And come March, one-or maybe both-could cement their place in state history.