Where Will They Be?

Lauren Avant
16 POINT GUARD
Memphis

Achievements Lauren has been Lausanne Collegiate School's starting point guard since she was an eighth-grader, and she was voted the team captain before her freshman season. As a sophomore last winter she averaged 15.7 points and 5.4 assists to lead the Lynx to its first state title.

Reminiscent of Semeka Randall, a two-time All-America at Tennessee and now coach at Ohio University. Like Randall, Lauren is not a gifted outside shooter, but she is a strong on-the-ball defender and a heady distributor.

Coach's comment "She's very unselfish," says Lynx coach Wayne Kelley. "She's a lot stronger than most guards her size [5'9"]. She's got room to improve on her three-point shot, but she's great at shooting off the dribble."

Next step Tennessee offered Lauren a scholarship when she was in eighth grade, and she committed to the Lady Vols as a freshman. For now she says she'll pass on a pro career and become a doctor like her mother, Dana, a neurologist at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis.

Logan Ruffin
14 AUTO RACER
Brentwood, Tenn.

Achievements Logan, who turned 14 on July 7, won three Crate/ASA Late Model Series races at the World Series of Asphalt in February; he was the youngest competitor in the field and the youngest winner in the 31-year history of the event. Speed51.com already touts him as the second-best short-track driver under 18.

Reminiscent of Mark Martin. "He knows how to wait," says Logan. "I want to be aggressive enough to win races but don't want to be the guy who wrecks just to get past someone."

Coach's comment "Whatever I tell him to do, in testing or during a race, to go low or high, he really listens," says crew chief Dick Woodman. "And he has his own ability to pick up speed. He's definitely advanced."

Next step NASCAR may bump its age minimum from 18 to 21, which would delay Logan's entry into both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup series. But when he turns 15, he can compete in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series.