Playing in 32 games, leading the 2023 class of Tennessee in scoring, and ranking second in the entire state in scoring, 6’2 Hayden Llewellyn sure made a name for himself quickly.
This past season at Jellico high school in Tennessee, Llewellyn averaged 26.7 points, shooting 46 percent from the floor and 33 percent from three, while also averaging 3.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.
To burst onto the scene as Llewellyn did is impressive in itself but he seemed ready and focused to make his mark.
“This past season was a great experience for me,” he told Phenom Hoops. “I was able to make my mark and I ended the year averaging 27 points per game. My focus was to just keep getting better and encourage my teammates to do the same. My mindset was to just kill (on the court).”
Llewellyn did much of his damage inside the arc, showcasing his ability to attack the rim and knock down the mid-range jumper. However, he did continue to show his range, hitting 81 3-pointers this past season at Jellico. He would describe himself more of an on-ball scorer and with the pace that the Blue Devils played at, he had ample opportunities as one of the go-to scorers.
One specific performance that stood out and was one of the top moments for the young freshman was his 55-point outing against TSD.
“It was a cool experience for me because I beat my school’s scoring record that night,” he said. “And that game was against TSD, which is in our district.”
But that wasn’t completely out of the ordinary, as he recorded nine game in which he scored 30+ points and scored 20+ points in every game except four this season.
It is just the start for this 6’2 rising sophomore now but he clearly has labeled himself as a talent in the state of Tennessee, as he now looks to improve his point guard skills and handles this summer.