Auden Slaughter’s recognition as a 2025 TSSAA Class 1A Mr. Basketball finalist caps, to a degree, a two-year quest for the Santa Fe senior.
“I didn’t get it last year and I felt like I deserved it last year,” he said following the recent announcement that he is one of the final three players under consideration for the award, along with Pickett County’s Jacob Amonett and Chattanooga Prep’s Derrick Roberson.
“It touched a nerve a little bit that I didn’t get it last year. I wanted to go out and prove myself and I did, getting to the state tournament. I think that definitely helped my odds this year.”
Slaughter averaged 35.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in two 2024 Class 1A state tournament contests, with a quarterfinal win over North Greene and a semifinal loss to eventual titlist Chattanooga Prep wrapping up a 26-6 campaign for the Wildcats. In the Chattanooga Prep game, he matched a state tournament record for free throws and free throws made as he went 21-for-26 from the line.
For the year, he averaged 34.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
This season, his scoring has dipped slightly. He’s averaging 31.5 points and 7.8 rebounds as Santa Fe enters postseason play with a 23-2 record, riding a 20-game winning streak into the District 10-1A tournament semifinals as the No. 1 seed.
Meanwhile, his 3,375 (and counting) career points are good for seventh place currently on the Tennessee boys basketball all-time list.
“The only thing I feel like I’ve done better is just using my teammates more,” he said. “I can get them the ball when I need to. I don’t have to do as much as I had to do last year.”
Slaughter would be his school’s first Mr. Basketball honoree – a fact not lost on him or his father, Santa Fe coach and alumnus Brad Slaughter.
“This is an honor. You want to win it, but if you don’t, there’s certainly nothing to hang your head about,” Brad said. “There’s so many deserving people to be on the list, you’ve got to be proud just to make the list.
“From the team perspective – I thought it was really cool at practice (when it was announced). The other guys on the team were just as excited as him. It represents all of our success, for sure.”
Slaughter, a Volunteer State Community College signee, wouldn’t just be Santa Fe’s first Mr. Basketball; he’d be Maury County’s first since the award’s inception in 1986.
“I think it’d be amazing. At the end of the day, that’s what I want, but I’m not going to sit and worry about it,” he said. “I feel and know I’m one of the best players in Tennessee and I’ll stand on that.
“I just know it’s really good to be in this position and I’m really thankful. I think it’d be really amazing if I got it. It’s a one of a kind opportunity and I’d be blessed to receive it. I’m just grateful and thank everybody around me that has helped me and supported me throughout my journey.”
The Mr. and Miss Basketball award presentations for all six classifications will take place during a March 18 ceremony at the Tucker Theater on the Middle Tennessee State University campus. The public is invited to the 5:30 p.m. event.
The complete list of finalists:
Class 1A Mr. Basketball – Jacob Amonett, Pickett Co.; Auden Slaughter, Santa Fe; Derrick Roberson, Chattanooga Prep
Class 2A Mr. Basketball – Grayson Burleson, Loretto; Ty Glasper, Gatlinburg-Pittman; Rodney Henderson, Tyner
Class 3A Mr. Basketball – Cade Capps, Stone Memorial; Ty Cobb, Upperman; Trey Thompson, Greeneville
Class 4A Mr. Basketball – Christian Brown, Franklin; Taquez Butler, Whitehaven; Cortez Graham-Howard, Hillsboro
Division II-A Mr. Basketball – Jayden Jones, Goodpasture; Preston Wade, Providence Chr.; Kaleb Williams, Trinity Chr.
Division II-AA Mr. Basketball – Cameron Blivens, Lipscomb; Jonathan Sanderson, Ensworth; Fred Smith Jr., Briarcrest
Class 1A Miss Basketball – Blair Baugus, Wayne Co.; Laila Downs-Darden, McEwen; Elle Graham, Moore Co.
Class 2A Miss Basketball – Karina Bystry, McMinn Central; Maddie Gray, Westview; Ally Weathers, Loretto
Class 3A Miss Basketball – Jaidynn Askins, Jackson South Side; Joya Crawford, Dyersburg; Carsyn Swaney, Maryville Heritage
Class 4A Miss Basketball – Kimora Fields, Bradley Central; Natalya Hodge, Bearden; Ella Ryan, Brentwood
Division II-A Miss Basketball – Haylen Ayers, Univ. School of Jackson; Dasha Biriuk, Webb-Bell Buckle; Maddie Braden, Christian Acad. of Knoxville
Division II-AA Miss Basketball – Meeyah Green, Knoxville Webb; Tyler Jones, Hutchison; Kamora Moore, Chattanooga Chr.
Loading Related Articles