Blue Tornado Basketball

Parker Robison '24 dribbling the ball down the court

Prior to the 2024-25 school year, McCallie hired Kenneth White to take over the basketball program.

White, a one-time student at McCallie, has forged a successful coaching career in both the college and high school ranks. Coach White left McCallie in high school to attend Oak Hill Academy and play for its prestigious basketball program (ranked #2 nationally at the time) and legendary coach Steve Smith. He then played collegiately for the University of North Carolina.

The first season of the Coach White era took the Blue Tornado to showcase events in Atlanta, Charlotte, and Kentucky. The boys did not shy away from competition, but the injury bug bit the team in the early going as three starters were unavailable for various amounts of time. The leading scorer, junior Ernas Valauskas, missed half the season. The squad had four seniors – Kaleb Gallman, Christian Lawhorn, Reid Levitt, and newcomer Kylik Mathews.

In the 2023-24 season, the Blue Tornado earned a Best of Preps Area Tournament title, claiming the trophy for the second time in three years. Following the season, Head Coach Steve Robison chose to step down, setting the stage for the hiring of Coach White.

McCallie’s varsity teams have tasted success in recent years, advancing to the state’s final four in 2016 and 2017 and the TSSAA Division II-AA championship game in 2017. The Blue Tornado have claimed Best of Preps area tournament titles in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021 and 2023 at the city’s annual holiday event and earned berths in the championship finals of the prestigious City Beautiful Invitational in 2018 in Orlando and the Arby’s Classic in 2017 in Bristol, Tenn.

wide shot of a basketball player going for a dunk

The program includes teams at the varsity, junior varsity and freshman level, as well as three middle school squads. All levels are coached by knowledgeable and experienced leaders. Home games bring out the students on winter nights, and their spirit adds to McCallie's home court advantage.

McCallie and the basketball program host the annual McCallie-Dr Pepper Classic, known as one of the top prep showcase events in the Southeast. The event celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025.

Program Offerings

Middle School 6th Grade
Middle School 7th Grade
Middle School 8th Grade
Upper School 9th Grade
Upper School JV
Upper School Varsity

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Basketball Alumni in College

McCallie alumni continue to pursue their athletic careers at multiple colleges and universities across the country and nationally. Former McCallie players are currently playing at such college programs as Ohio Dominican, Palm Beach Atlantic, Stevens Institute of Technology, Tennessee Tech, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and West Georgia.