Bashaara Graves is a top recruit for the class of 2012 and has committed to play at the University of Tennessee. The 6'2" forward of Clarksville High School was selected to play in the McDonalds and WBCA High School All-American Games.

For Bashaara Graves, being named a McDonald's All-American means a marquee matchup

Bashaara Graves of Clarksville High School in Tennessee is averaging 21 points and 12 rebounds a game. (photo by Kelly Kline)

Thanks to being named a McDonalds High School All-American, Bashaara Graves will finally get the match up she missed two years ago. 

“The player I’m looking forward to playing against the most is Morgan(Tuck).”

During her sophomore year the 6’2” forward from Clarksville High School was sidelined with an ankle injury when her team faced Bolingbrook High School, a national powerhouse who also boasts a top recruit in 6’2” forward Morgan Tuck. 

“I always want to play against the best to see where I stand”, say Graves who is on the East roster while Tuck is listed on the West.  The All Star Girls Report rates Tuck as the 4th best player in the class of 2012 with Graves just behind her at 8th.  With Graves headed to Tennessee and Tuck headed to Connecticut, you can be sure the rivalry will continue. 

Until they meet in Chicago, Graves is more concerned with bringing the first state title to the girls’ basketball program at Clarksville.  The Wildcats are 29-0 heading into the post-season and ranked #13th nationally by USA Today.  The squad made elite 8 appearances the last two seasons.

“As long as we are undefeated at the end of the year then I’ll be happy”, says Graves. “We are looking at as this is our last chance to win state, so we need to put our all into it and we can’t come up short like we did the last two years. “

Graves headlines a talented group of seniors that include 4 other division one signees in Chandler Cooper (Florida), Jessy Ward (Mississippi State), Tia Nicholson (Tennessee Tech) and Tiasha Gray (Austin Peay).

The team averages 72 points a game with Bashaara leading the way with 21 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks per game.  She has shattered the Clarksville scoring record of 1,599 points set by in 2007 Valerie Bronson, who went on to play for David Lipscomb University.   Graves is currently well above the 2,200 mark and could notch 2,500 points if the Wildcats play to the state championship game.

“She’s the whole package”, says Rush of his star forward. “She can play any of the 5 positions out there on the court, she can be a really strong three point shooter, she’s one of those kids that can handle the ball in the press, she can go right, she can go left and she is capable of being a very physical player in the post.”

Most of all, Coach Rush is impressed with the tone she sets for the rest of the team. “It’s an awful nice feeling when your best player is the hardest worker.  She just lives by example. She doesn’t take a day off, she practices just as hard as she plays in games and that mentality spreads though out the whole program.”