“Coach Speak” TN Trotters ’26 (Williams): Soph Season Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of very best 2026 teams in the Southeast is TFT Williams '26.&nbsp; It's a team that has bought into Coach Jerry Williams vision of we over me, and the collective is more important than the individual.&nbsp; Because of this, while may lack in individual “star” power, they simply win…and they win a lot.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They were the 2022 and 2023 TN State AAU State Champs.&nbsp; They were undefeated Platinum Champs at the 2023 Run for the Roses Championships, and undefeated in the 2023 Insider Exposure Apache Memorial in the Platinum Bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For this article, I spoke directly to coach Jerry Williams, and let him give me an assesment and update on his players as they head into their sophomore seasons. Let's check-in with a few of this team's players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='816710' first='Lanee' last='Carmichael']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Clinton HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='713616' first='Tennessee' last='Flight'] Trotters ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"As a freshman, Carmichael led the Clinton Lady Dragons in scoring (including 2 games with 27 points).  Those are really impressive numbers for any player, much less a freshman.  Carmichael earned both All-District and All-Tournament, and has immediately earned the reputation as a high-level scorer. She has a diverse scoring package from all three levelsu002du002dcan knock down threes, knows how to get to her spots in the midrange, and has a variety of creative finishes.  She's looking to take another jump as sophomore this season at Clinton, as she looks to go down as one of Clinton HS's all-time leading scorers.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ea0393b121"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["746202"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Cooper played an important role as a freshman on a loaded York Institute team, which won their district, region, and advanced to the state tournament.  Already, Cooper has been through the fires of big games.  She won All-District 2u003csupu003endu003c/supu003e team honors, mainly by using her basketball IQ to slide into whatever role the team needed.  She was one of York's best defenders, defending 1-5 at time, is a tremendous rebounder, and is a capable scorer.  With a 6'1 frame, love for defending and rebounding, and a high level skill set, and a Cooper is destined for big things.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ea0393b1c4"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["636530"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Hayes had a tremendous freshman season for the Grainger Lady Grizzlies, earning both All-District and All-District Tournament.  According to MaxPreps, for the class of 2026 she ranked 11u003csupu003ethu003c/supu003e in points per game, 9u003csupu003ethu003c/supu003e in 3's made, and 7u003csupu003ethu003c/supu003e in FT's made.  What a coach loves to see are both 3's and FT's—indicating that she can both let it fly but also can attack closeouts off the bounce.  Hayes is primed for a big time year as you don't see very many true 3 level scorers out thereu002du002dand Hayes is one.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ea0393b24a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='816550' first='Emma' last='Rainey']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bearden HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='713616' first='Tennessee' last='Flight'] Trotters","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Rainey was a key reserve on the 35-1 Bearden team that was loaded with talent.  Rainey is a high IQ, team first player that simply has a knack for being in the right place at the right time.  She's a scrappy defender that can shoot the 3 ball at a high percentage.  She's well suited at this point in her career to plug and play at any guard/wing spot, and know she'll defend and do her job well.  She's excellent at creating extra possessions for her team by wining 50/50 balls. Earning a role as a freshman at Bearden is proof that she has a high basketball IQ, and knows how to be a star in her role.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ea0393b333"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='899864' first='Bailey' last='Tidwell']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"The King's Academy (TKA)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='713616' first='Tennessee' last='Flight'] Trotters","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"As a freshman, Tidwell was a starter on an up-and-coming TKA (The King's Academy) team, and earned All-District and All-Region Tournament Honors.  Incredibly athletic, she led her team in transition points, and is a very creative scorer once she gets loose out in the open floor.  Defends and communicates at an exceptionally high level, she's great at the intangibles.  She's just another piece in the 2023-24 TKA team that is going to be very good this season.  Big things ahead for Tidwell.rnrnu0026nbsp;rnrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ea0393b469"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1230945' first='Katie' last='Foster']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bearden","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='713616' first='Tennessee' last='Flight'] Trotters","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Standing at 6'2, you notice Foster the moment she walks in the gym.  While she didn't see a ton of meaningful minutes last season on Bearden's 35-1 squad last season, she's primed to play a major role this season as a sophomore.  She's one of the better interior defenders and rebounders in her class, and is a game-changer defensively with her length.  Her offensive game has made great strides over the past few years, and I wouldn't be surprised to see her as an All-District player this season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ea0393b54f"} /-->