Headlines:The Grind Season Is Officially Open!

The Grind Season is here ladies and gentlemen. The first official day of high school basketball starts today! The time is now. Oh, the refreshing sound of sneakers screeching against the floor. The loudness of communication, the sound of the ball going through the net, the perspiration of the players sweating through their practice gear. Oh yeah, hoop season is open for business.

Today marks the day where basketball kicks off. Here are some headlines that will be on the front page news.

In Single A, will it be McKenzie again?

Who knows.  Scoring sensation Savannah Davis Savannah Davis 5'9" | SG McKenzie | 2024 State TN returns for her senior year with her backcourt mate Mikaela Reynolds Mikaela Reynolds 5'6" | SG McKenzie | 2024 TN . Miss Basketball winner Blair Baugus Blair Baugus 6'0" | PF Wayne Co. | 2025 State TN of Wayne Co. along with her squad are salivating at the chance to knock off this McKenzie squad. Emmy Lowe Emmy Lowe 5'9" | SG Pickett Co. | 2025 State TN of Pickett Co. will try to make a run for the reigning champs as well.

Will Jackson Southside return to state and be crowned champs again? 

It’s a tall task for sure. They have the athletes and the coaching staff to do so. Waiting in the wings will be Livingston Academy and Upperman. This will be a fun division to keep up with.

Will Bradley Central repeat?

 Add Tatianna Stovall Tatianna Stovall 6'1" The Webb School - Bell Buckle | 2025 TN and pair her up with Kimora Fields Kimora Fields 6'1" | PF Bradley Central | 2026 State TN and Harmonie Ware Harmonie Ware 5'9" | SG Bradley Central | 2025 State TN , you have a nice big 3 combo with solid role players around them. They probably will run through the district, but outside of the district, there will be potential foes waiting to try their hand at knocking them off. I can say this, this is one of the toughness classifications around.

Will Blackman raise the trophy?

Like I said, they will have to go through Bradley. With guard Kaelyn Flowers Kaelyn Flowers 5'6" | PG Blackman | 2024 State TN and big anchor Aaiyanna Dunbar Aaiyanna Dunbar 6'2" | C Blackman | 2024 State TN in the middle, they have what it takes to set up a potential high stakes game against the bears.

Who is the best in the west?

 In all classifications, Bartlett with their stars such as Carrington Jones Carrington Jones 5'8" | CG Bartlett | 2024 State TN and Faye Williams Faye Williams 6'3" | PF Bartlett | 2026 State TN , look to be favorites in 4A. McKenzie in single A. USJ with Haylan Ayers will rep the private school sector. Who will come out? Briarcrest? Hutchison? Who else will represent the west side?

Will this be the year Gatlinburg-Pittman goes the distance?

Mmm. I like their chances. McMinn Central is an opponent they will have to get around. With their talented roster that includes shifty and talented guards Maliyah Glaspar Maliyah Glaspar 5'5" | PG Gatlinburg-Pittman | 2026 State TN and Nya Burns Nya Burns 5'7" | CG Gatlinburg-Pittman | 2026 State TN , add in the anchor in the middle of Maddy Newman Maddy Newman 6'2" | C Gatlinburg-Pittman | 2024 State TN , do these ladies have what it takes to bring home the gold ball? Will be interesting because Molly Masingale Molly Masingale 5'9" | SF McMinn Co. | 2024 State TN and Karina Bystry Karina Bystry 5'10" | PG McMinn Central | 2025 State TN of McMinn Central may have something to say about that. They are heavy favorites to take the title. I also won’t count out the York Dragonettes because they have Reese Beaty Reese Beaty 5'8" | PG York Institute | 2025 State TN and company.

Will Metro Nashville have a team go the distance?

Hillsboro is young but East Nashville looks legit. Jazz Walters Jazz Walters 5'8" | SF East Nashville | 2024 State TN , Da’Nya McMillan Da’Nya McMillan 5'8" | SF East Nashville | 2026 State TN , and Kenya Fairs Kenya Fairs 5'7" | SF East Nashville | 2024 State TN are the 1-2-3 punch for the Lady Eagles. You are talking about a stout defensive team that will be looking to play fast. Will they be the one to rep the area?

Will Knoxville Catholic continue the dynasty? 

I don’t see why not. I mean Sydney Mains Sydney Mains 5'11" | SF Knoxville Catholic | 2024 State TN . One of the best in her class returns and then the addition of  a sensational talent in Andrea Flores Andrea Flores 5'10" | SG Knoxville Catholic | 2026 State TN in the mix. Smh. Tough. Who will challenge them? Could Harpeth Hall make a run with Charlotte Myers Charlotte Myers 5'9" | SG Harpeth Hall | 2024 State TN and super talented forward Ava Krumwiede Ava Krumwiede 6'1" | PF Harpeth Hall | 2025 State TN ? What about Briarcrest with returning guards Hallie Turner Hallie Turner 5'4" | CG Briarcrest | 2024 State TN and Kendall Jones Kendall Jones 5'6" | PG Briarcrest | 2026 State TN ? Does Webb BellBuckle fit in this equation this year after losing their impressive roster of D-1 athletes?

How will Ensworth finish now that Jaloni Cambridge Jaloni Cambridge 5'8" | PG Ensworth | 2024 FL is gone?

The squad won’t be bad, but keep an eye on Nori Jamison Nori Jamison 5'5" | PG Ensworth | 2026 State TN . I like her game and she is one of the young ladies who will be tasked to fill some pretty big shoes.

These are just a few headline questions that came to mind. I assure you, there are plenty more out there for sure. The great thing about it is that everyone has to play the game. This year is going to be an exciting season all across the state. The state of Tennessee is littered with parity from top to bottom. No matter the class, we have young ladies who can and will be something special throughout the course of their high school tenure and beyond.

Season tips off in a couple of weeks and I can’t wait. Until then, good luck to all the young ladies who will be competing across the state. Have fun, rep your school, give it all you got, and go out there and show the area and the country what Tennessee women’s basketball is all about.