“Goated”
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Armani White and Denzel Curry have a song called Goated. If I had a high school program, my squad would be running out to this song pregame. The beat captures you. The base makes your head bop. The lyrics start…
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Continue ReadingArmani White and Denzel Curry have a song called Goated. If I had a high school program, my squad would be running out to this song pregame. The beat captures you. The base makes your head bop. The lyrics start off by saying “ Cause I’m Goated, Goated, Goated, Goated, Goated, Goated, Goated, Please, Please don’t go there, go there with me……
So I started to think and ponder who are some of the best players in the state. Boy, isn’t this a loaded question. From class to position, naming the best or better players in this state is super tough. Don’t get me wrong,we have rankings that go out (will be coming soon), but truly who are the best? Well, I decided to go about the question a different way. I wanted to see what makes up the best players or what characteristics would help one become “Goated.”
So I decided to do a fun exercise that takes different qualities that I have seen in kids, that would help make the ultimate “Goated” player. By no means the young ladies listed are quote “it” when it comes to these. A lot of girls have these qualities, these were just some that came to mind when doing this exercise.
Mindset: Ella Ryan Ella Ryan 5'10" | PG Brentwood | 2025 State TN – the rising junior from Brentwood HS shows up ready to compete. It doesn’t matter who her team goes head to head with, she’s going to find a way to exploit them. She’s confident in everything she does. Shooting, ball handling, rebound, you name it. She brings that X-factor mentality to each and every game. She plays to win.
Decision Maker: Kaelyn Flowers Kaelyn Flowers 5'6" | PG Blackman | 2024 State TN – the rising senior from Blackman HS is selfless. She knows when to take over a game, continue to feed the hot hand, and when to go get a bucket. She’s an impressive floor general who is a key ingredient to her team’s success. The way she can foresee something happening before it does is truly impressive. Smart kid on the floor, even better kid off of it. High character young lady for sure.
Vision: Nya Burns Nya Burns 5'7" | CG Gatlinburg-Pittman | 2026 State TN – has such incredible vision. Uses it to exploit her opponents weaknesses. Whether it be on offense or defense, she’s going to find a way to take advantage of the situation. Her ability to fit between things is crazy good. From getting to the rim, making a pass in a tight window, or getting down hill, this girl is so good when it comes to attacking the ball.
Heart: Meeyah Green Meeyah Green 5'9" | CG Webb-Knoxville | 2026 State TN – one of the hardest working girls around. Tremendous work ethic. Eats, sleeps, and breaths the game of basketball. Tremendous player who gets after it every time she steps on the floor. Hard working kid who works on every facet of the game.
Communicator: Aaiyanna Dunbar Aaiyanna Dunbar 6'2" | C Blackman | 2024 State TN – best communicator around. She’s very talented on the floor in the painted area, but communicating with her teammates is one tool she stands out with. Her ability to talk on D, position and create on O, allows her teammates to operate in a timely manner during play. From yelling out screen to stepping out and being selfless on opening up opportunities for others, she’s super good at this craft.
Athleticism: Faye Williams Faye Williams 6'3" | PF Bartlett | 2026 State TN – wow. Can use her athletic ability in so many ways. Blocking shots, grabbing boards, getting down hill, exploiting mismatches. Endless of potential + she is so skilled at the game of basketball.
Size: Lauren Hassell Lauren Hassell 6'3" | PF Clarksville Christian | 2027 State TN – Enough said. She’s a beast who can do all things. She’s like a little Victor Wembanyama for Tennessee girls basketball. She can shoot it from all 3 levels, defend, grab boards, block shots, handle the ball, you name it.
Tenacity: Daisy Gale Daisy Gale 5'8" | PG PCA | 2024 State TN – hungry player who gets after it. Gets after it as if its going to be her last game. A great two-way player who grinds away at her opponent on both ends of the floor. Talk about a competitor, she’s someone you would want to have in your corner.
Grit: TaTianna Stovall TaTianna Stovall 6'1" | SF Bradley Central | 2025 State TN / Haylen Ayers– two hard working young ladies that use their quickness and God giving ability to create. From creating turnovers using their length to finishing at the rim through contact, their ability to finish makes these two some of the most impressive prospects in the state.
Resilience: Sydney Mains Sydney Mains 5'11" | SF Knoxville Catholic | 2024 State TN – Mind, body, and soul, the ability to overcome, and excel is what this young lady has done. After overcoming an injury, she’s still going hard and going strong at her craft. Excelled this summer on the basketball court. Committed to FAU, tough nosed kid who kids it done.
Confidence: Reese Beaty Reese Beaty 5'8" | PG York Institute | 2025 State TN – Maybe a little undersized, but Reese is the truth when it comes to the game of basketball. She gets after it every second she is on the floor. Offense, Defense, whatever it is, you’re going to get the best version of her. Her ability to rise above the competition and not get rattled, is one characteristic that separates her from others.
Length: Imari Berry Imari Berry 5'10" | SG Clarksville | 2024 State TN – crazy. Her ability to use her length to her advantage makes her one of the best in the state. From creating steals, grabbing boards, finishing at the rim, shooting over defenders, she’s a tough opponent to deal with night in and night out.
Foot Speed: Hillary Shikuku– quickness. This dual speed athlete knows how to get after it. Fast twitch hips, her ability to recover, defend, out jumps, out hustles, out does a lot, is one of the reasons her stock is up.
Ball Handling: Natalya Hodge Natalya Hodge 5'7" | CG Bearden | 2026 State TN – Smooth with the ball in her hands. Knows how to utilize her quick first step on her way into a shot, make timely passes, and exploit defenders. Tough to take the ball away from her when it’s in her hands.
Shiftiness: Leilani Washington Leilani Washington 5'6" | CG Nolensville | 2025 State TN – such fast twitch muscles, her ability to switch gears is impressive. From stopping on a dime on offense, she can stop, counter, restart her move on the way to the cup. Keeps opponents in front of her on D, her ability to slide her feet is crazy good as she keeps opponents from scoring.
Smoothness: Harmonie Ware Harmonie Ware 5'9" | SG Bradley Central | 2025 State TN – just like a melody, she does it so effortlessly. Consistent throughout the course of the game. A three level scoring threat who goes about her business quietly. She’s an X factor that you must constantly watch out for all the time. How she goes about getting her points is wild as she does it by competing on both ends of the floor. Like I said quietly, after the game look at the box score and see how much she put up on you.
Catch n shoot touch: Lauren Hurst Lauren Hurst 6'3" | PF Cleveland | 2025 State TN -Beautiful shot. One of the best catch and shoot girls in the biz. Great size and length, she exploits those who leave her. She can put it on the floor too, but if you leave her alone, it’s money in the bank every single time.
Tone Setter: Kimora Fields Kimora Fields 6'2" | PF Bradley Central | 2026 State TN – She’s the Mayweather in Tennessee girls basketball. She’ll deliver the first blow. Buckets on buckets, she’s going to find a way to put the ball in the hole. From within the paint, maybe the mid-range, she will not be denied on the offensive end. Oh, impressive defense. Yeah, it’s going to be a tough night for the opponent when she’s on the floor.
Floor Presence: Channah Gannon Channah Gannon 6'0" | PF Coffee Co. | 2025 State TN and Anna Williams Anna Williams 6'2" | C Brentwood | 2026 State TN – two young ladies who make coaches alter their plans. They make opponents second guess their moves when they are on the floor. The anchors in the paint, they take up and claim real estate around the glass.
Hustle: Molly Brown Molly Brown 5'8" | SG Lincoln Co. | 2025 State TN – Energy. That’s the one word that describes this girl’s game. Move, move, move. She’s about making the opponent’s life hectic everytime her team steps on the floor. Molly gets after it like no other. She’s a human wrecking crew that goes full speed all the time. She goes 110% every second on the floor.
Speed: Tristan Spearman Tristan Spearman 5'4" | PG Memphis East | 2024 State TN / Merle Routh– two undersized young ladies who have incredible foot speed. They have impressive motors, they are shifty, they get after it on both ends of the floor. Heady floor generals who are always in attack mode.
Toughness: Carrington Jones Carrington Jones 5'8" | CG Bartlett | 2024 State TN – hard nose guard who plays like Dennis Rodman. She just gets after it and she doesn’t care who you are or what school you go to. She’s going to challenge you, get in your grill, and make your life miserable. Guard her, she’s going at you. If she’s defending you, good luck. Just note that she’s one of those types of young ladies who is going to make you work for everything you get.
Now you’re “Goated.” These are just some girls who bring some characteristics to the table of what the ultimate athlete is from our state!