Tennessee’s Freshman Posts You Should Know
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For many reasons, in the modern 4 and 5 out offensive basketball world, there just aren’t as many true “bigs” as their used to be. Don’t let this fool you, however, into believing the value of a post player is…
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Continue ReadingFor many reasons, in the modern 4 and 5 out offensive basketball world, there just aren’t as many true “bigs” as their used to be. Don’t let this fool you, however, into believing the value of a post player is being diminished. I’d make the argument the opposite is true—and the traditional big is more valuable now than ever as these players are increasingly hard to find! Basic economic theory states that as the quantity of something goes down, the value naturally increases…and I’d say the same is true for the post position.
As a coach, there is still no substitute for having a back-to-the-basket big that you can throw the ball to and know you’re going to create a high percentage shot. And there are few easier ways to automatically create easy shots for your team than by having a post that commands a double team on the touch, or a post that must be fronted on D. So while these old-school posts are hard to find, there are quite a few in Tennessee’s 2027 that are impacting the basketball scene in a major way.
Lauren Hassell Lauren Hassell 6’3″ | PF Clarksville Christian | 2027 State TN is hailed by many as the top player in Tennessee’s heralded in 2027 class. Standing at 6’3, Lauren already has basketball in her veins, as her dad (Trenton Hassell) had a long NBA career, and is the best player in Austin-Pea MBB history. As an 8th grader playing up on varsity at Clarksville Christian, Hassell put up huge numbers averaging 21 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks per game. Hassell was also selected to attend the US Junior National Team-U16 camp trials, and it a BlueStar30 member. Her accolades are long, and if you get a chance to watch her play you will see why.
What makes Lauren special is the diversity in her game. As a 6-3 player, one would automatically assume she’s a traditional big, but when I asked her high school coach about her, he corrected me that she wasn’t really a post….but instead a REALLY big guard. When you watch her she shows flashes of being a high level player capable of making plays off the bounce, and knocking down 3’s. If I had to compare her to a current Tennessee HS player–she has the makings of being a Lauren Hurst Lauren Hurst 6’3″ | PF Cleveland | 2025 State TN ’25 type player (another 6-3 guard that can dominate the game from either inside or out).
Lauren is an incredibly fluid athlete that certainly moves like a guard. Her athleticism is off the charts (go to her Twitter and watch videos of her hanging on the rim), and it’s her fluidity as an athlete which sets her apart. She capable of switching 1-5, and can sit down in a stance and guard effectively, or she a menace off the ball with great length and instincts. I believe she’s already on of the best HS defenders out there, regardless of class.
Hassell’s high school coach called her a “jack of all trades” in that while she primarily plays as a guard facing the rim, she still knows how to operate and on the blocks and create high percentage shots with her back to the basketball. Lauren Hassell Lauren Hassell 6’3″ | PF Clarksville Christian | 2027 State TN is one of the top ‘27s in the country for a reason—just an awesome mix of skill, athleticism, length, basketball pedigree, and support system at home (dad Trenton is her high school coach, and the family is about as nice as they come). Lauren has all the makings of being a star at the next level, and has as much upside as any ’27 in the nation.
Clarskville Christian would be lucky to have just one 6’3 2027’s on this list…instead they have two. Marley Spiers Marley Spiers 6’3″ | C Clarksville Christian | 2027 State TN , 6’4, is the other half of the Twin Towers lineup that Clarksville Christian Head Coach Trenton Hassell can put on the floor. When I asked him how he accommodates the spacing required for two D1 post players to play together, he responded “Lauren [Hassell] isn’t really a post so it makes it easy for them to play together! Lauren plays more on the perimeter,…and Marley plays more down low. Marley is strong and an old school 5 that moves like a guard. She’s a good rebounder, good post moves, and runs the floor!”
Spiers is another BlueStar30, and is receiving offers from big time D1 schools like from Dayton WBB. She began her HS career last season as an 8th grader last season averaging: 11 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block per game on a state championship Clarksville Christian team. Spiers uses her combination of strength, size, footwork, and athleticism to get almost any shot she wants. She has the potential to be a high level scorer at the next level, and is the type of kid who could average 15 points per game if she wasn’t surrounded so many talented players. She knows her role, and does it exceptionally well.
She’s a game changer on the defensive end as she’s a HIGH LEVEL rebounder and constant shot-blocking presence. Her sheer size, athleticism, and length simply deter opponents from wanting to attack the rim when she’s in the game. Smooth athlete with high-end defensive upside as a switchable big. For her position, she possesses elite ability to sit in a stance, and stay in front of high-end guards. She will be on everyone’s radar as one of the best HS bigs in the state soon.
Trinity Curry Trinity Curry 5'11" | C Farragut | 2027 State TN
Trinity Curry Trinity Curry 5'11" | C Farragut | 2027 State TN
5’11 post with really high-upside. Plays on a very good Lady Grit ’27 team, and recently dropped a 26 pt, 7 rebound, 2 block performance in the Final Four of the US Amateur Regional-State. Curry is built with high-level strength that enables her to play “bully ball” when iso-ed in the post, and is an incredibly touch matchup for any single defender. She almost commands a double team because of her ability to use her body and shoulders to get to her right hand whenever she wants. She has shown good hands as the roller in pick and roll schemes, and is tough when she catches the ball heading down hill.
Maggie Kate Kelley Maggie Kate Kelley 5'11" | PF Lebanon | 2027 State TN
Maggie Kate Kelley Maggie Kate Kelley 5'11" | PF Lebanon | 2027 State TN
At the AAU World Championships, I happened to be watching the national championship winning FBC Reign team play NBN, and I watched a girl not just block a shot on D…but a THROW the shot out of bounds. She then exploded with emotion, and her teammates immediately fed off her energy (Reign went on to overcome a slow first half to win by 20+). I immediately liked the player! Competitive spirit and fire are intangibles that are incredibly hard to teach, and Maggie Kate Kelley Maggie Kate Kelley 5’11” | PF Lebanon | 2027 State TN ’27 plays with an energy and enthusiasm that is second to none. Kelley, 5’11, plays with an infectious energy that is indeed a skill that impacts winning even when it cannot be identified in any stat sheet. These sorts of intangibles give players like Kelley the chance to be really special!
I spoke briefly to Coach Barrett (Lebanon HS) about Kelley’s game, and he raved about her as she was able to immediately earn a spot in his team’s varsity rotation as a freshman. Offensively, Coach Barrett specifically mentioned both her ability to score in the paint and her high IQ. Her court awareness gives her the ability (and the knowledge of when) to seal defenders, once she catches in the post she can score over, under, or through defenders, and she has a nice spin move back to the middle to get to her turn around jumper. She is also a willing passer, and a great at feeling a double team coming, and immediately knowing where the ball needs to go.
Defensively is where I think she will make the biggest impact on the floor. At 5’11 with springy hops and sneaky quick athleticism, I believe she’s going to be the type of player that can effectively switch 1-5. Her timing as a shot blocker is also high level. And its not just that she blocks shots…she BLOCKS shots!! Her enthusiasm for playing defense lifts her ceiling that much higher. Her stock is going to RISE FAST over the next year!!
Duhart was a double-double machine as an 8th grader last year playing up on varsity at Brentwood Academy. Knows how to seal defenders well, and when she catches deep she’s nearly impossible to stop. Very active feet, great mobility and big-time motor make her tough to stop from getting out and rim-running in transition, and a make her a terror on the offensive glass. Finishes well with either hand. Looks very comfortable catching in the high post, and attacking off the bounce with either hand. A really nice passer with great vision—great at finding cutters and nice feel with the ball putting passes “on time, and on target.” Explosive athlete that’s tough to stop once she get’s her momentum headed downhill.
Defensively, has all the tools to be a game changer on this end. Duhart is going to give you 10+ rebounds per night. Has the athleticism and length to both protect the rim and stay in front of smaller guards on the switch. High motor and active feet keep her from being sealed easily. Active in passing lanes; gets lots deflections.
Payton Richmond-Watson Payton Richmond-Watson 6'0" | C Powell | 2027 State TN
Payton Richmond-Watson Payton Richmond-Watson 6'0" | C Powell | 2027 State TN
Payton Richmond-Watson Payton Richmond-Watson 6’0″ | C Powell | 2027 State TN is perhaps the most fundamentally sound post in this group. Watch her play and you’ll see glimpses of every post move in the book: baby hooks, drop steps, up-and-under’s, etc. She’s the epitome of an ‘old-school big’ in the best sense of phrase.
Richmond (5’11) doesn’t rely on elite size or athleticism to score. Instead, she relies on high-level footwork, knowledge of angles, and timing to get to her post scoring bag. She has the frame and strength to finish through contact, and can get into “power finishes.” She is incredibly comfortable facing up from 15ft and pulling up, or attacking off the bounce. Her form from midrange leads me to believe she’ll be stepping out to 3 before long. She’s a cerebral player with nice knowledge of where the ball should be passed on kickouts and off double teams. Richmond gives nice effort defensively and is a big time factor as a rebounder and rim protector. She is primed to step into the Powell HS rotation and make a difference this upcoming season.