Coach Speak: FBC Reign 2025 Player Previews with Coach Priest
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In this addition of “Coach Speak”, I spoke directly to Coach Priest to get his analysis of his FBC Reign ’25 team as his players enter their junior seasons. His team was one of the better ’25 teams in the…
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Continue ReadingIn this addition of “Coach Speak”, I spoke directly to Coach Priest to get his analysis of his FBC Reign ’25 team as his players enter their junior seasons. His team was one of the better ’25 teams in the South, and has a roster loaded with high-level talent. Here is what he said:
Avary was a major piece on the Bradley Central 4A state champion team as a sophomore and was their leading three-point shooter. She was All District and All Region. Avary carried that over into AAU season as a sharp shooting guard who can also handle the ball, defend, and finish through traffic with surprising strength. Her junior year at Bradley will begin with them being favored as a state champion again, and she will be expected to lead at guard and surrounded by amazing other D1 talent. Avary has several offers and more will come after a stellar GUAA season.
Emmy was a team leader on her Pickett County team that made it to the glass house last year. They will be favored to return again this year, and Emmy is a major reason why. Emmy was all district and all region in Pickett’s 1A region last year. She has a college ready body and is super strong, and she can lock down an opposing guard with her strength and quickness. Emmy makes great decisions with the ball and can score from all 3 levels. Emmy defended and scored on D1 guards regularly on the GUAA circuit last summer as well.
Shelby was the team leader of her Richland high school team as a sophomore and was their leading three-point shooter, leading scorer, and leading rebounder. When the ball is tipped, Shelby is in range to hit from 3. Absolutely amazing long range skills, and she had the green light the entire GUAA season and kept her team in a few games almost single-handedly. With Shelby’s size, she has a versatile defender and plus rebounder as well. Shelby was all district last year and will be in the center of Richland’s plans and success in her upcoming Junior season.
Highlights
Sophie is a two times state champion coming into her junior year, and with the graduation of multiple power five players from Webb, Sophie will be expected to shoulder a heavy ball handling load for the always too shelf Webb program. Sophie’s best attributes are incredible pure athleticism, which makes her dangerous in the open court and super as an on ball defender. She can hit from distance as well including having a buzzer beating game-winning 3 against WV Thunder in GUAA session 2.
Harmony is coming off a missed sophomore season due to an ACL tear, but she completed her volleyball season healthy (great 2 sport athlete with over 1000 assists in her volleyball career already) and is 100% ready to go for her Morristown East high school team. There is not a more athletic guard in East Tennessee, and there is not a better or tougher on ball defender than Harmony. Also adept handling the ball and finding open teammates, harmony is super strong taking the ball to the rim. She will be expected to be the centerpiece of her Morristown East team and key to their success as a junior.
Annie Priest Annie Priest 5'7" | SG Farragut | 2025 State TN
Annie Priest Annie Priest 5'7" | SG Farragut | 2025 State TN
Annie was a part time starter/6th man on the Farragut 4A State Runner up team as a freshman. Her coach made her a team Captain as a sophomore and she earned all district and all district tournament honors. Annie has led every team on which she has ever played (other than her freshman HS season) in assists including in GUAA last summer. A true PG and floor general, annie can hit from 3 and is an athletic and heady defender. She also missed the single season Farragut free throw record by 0.2% as a sophomore at 83.5%. Annie will again be Farragut’s PG this year and will be critical to their fortunes.
Kaylnn Walls
Kaylnn Walls
Kaylynn is a super skilled F who puts up ridiculous statistics for her high school team playing in a small division. She has been all state several times and as far back as 7th grade. It’s a big jump from her high school competition to GUAA, but Kaylynn had a great Expoaure season and turned heads often defending girls much larger and using her skills around the rim and her perimeter skills to score on the larger defenders as well. Kaylynn plays bigger than she is and is a great ball handler and consistent 3 point shooter at the F position. She will again lead her high school team to try and win her 5th state championship at their level.
Maggie what is a starter and major contributor on Catholics DII State Champion team as a sophomore. Maggie is a player any coach loves to have because she cares nothing about personal stats but does everything for a team to win. Incredible Rodman-like rebounder and super tough defender that plays bigger than she is simply by her effort level and understanding of the game. Maggie is also adept around the rim and can handle the ball well and lead the break after grabbing a rebound. Maggie will again be a starter for Catholic this year and will be critical to their efforts to defend their Gold Ball.
Chloe was all district and all region for heritage as a sophomore and was critical to her team making sub state before falling one game short of the glass house. Chloe is one of the best shooting over 6 foot players you will see and regularly hits multiple 3s per game. She is also deadly in the mid range. In addition to her outside shooting skills, Chloe is excellent around the rim and uses her length to block shots, draw fouls, and rebound effectively, often against girls much bigger on the GUAA circuit last season. Chloe will be one of the top players at Heritage this upcoming season, and big things are expected from her. She holds several college offers already as well.
Ava Jones Ava Jones 6’1″ | PF Hutchison | 2026 State TN – 6’1 F White County. Ava Was a starter and key player for White County as a sophomore in their ultra competitive 3A district. Ava is a very effective inside player who can also step out and knock it down from outside. Ava has long arms and plays bigger than she is due to that length, and she is a very effective interior defender who frequently leads her teams in blocked shots. Ava turned some heads in GUAA battling with taller and heavier players effectively. She also draws a tremendous number of fouls and is an excellent free-throw shooter, often racking up points at the FT line. Ava will be a starter and centerpiece player for the always excellent White County team.