TSSAA: Four years to implement 35-second shot clock for basketball competition

In four years, the basketball game you watch at a Tennessee high school will be a completely different contest.

It’s because of the TSSAA Board of Control’s 8-4 decision to implement use of a 35-second shot clock with all schools expected to be fully inline with operations by the 2029-2030 season.

In a survey of public school officials presented to the board, just 52 percent of the 280 schools polled support adding the shot clock, with 36 percent against it. Later this year will start the use of the clock during games in a four-year, phased roll-out of clock use, including use in holiday tournaments. The data also said 55 percent of those officials think it will improve the quality of play while nearly half of the school systems, 120 total, said they will need financial assistance to install and have the clock operated.

According to information published by Game On, 30 states currently use the shot clock in regular and postseason basketball.