Tennessee’s Freshman Wings You Need to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In today's 4 and 5 out basketball, having as many versatile wings on the roster as possible is a valuable commodity. As an incoming freshman wing, if you defend your position, knock down shots, and take care of the basketball, you've got a chance at earning valuable minutes. Let's check out some 2027 wings to keep an eye on:</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='813567' first='Lauren' last='Clark']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_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":"Cumberland County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"FBC Reign","_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":"Perhaps the most athletic player in every gym she walks into, as a 5'9 PG, she has all the physical tools necessary to be a high-level collegiate prospect.  She's a “do it all” guard that can do everything from run the show, verbally take charge of her team, get to the rim, shoot the 3, post up, and distribute the ball at a high level.  If you watch her play, you'll immediately be impressed by her physical stature and strength.  As a 5'9, strong shouldered, athletic guard, when she gets going down hill she's capable of finishing right through the chest of bigs at the rim.  She's very good at initiating contacting and defenders simply bounce off her.  When teams put smaller, quicker guards on her to keep her from penetrating, she is excellent in the post and overpowers smaller guards.  She's simply a matchup nightmare 1 on 1 for any team defensively.  Show her your answer, and she's got a high end counter.rnrnOffensively, I love her versatility.  I watched her play in AAU World's against a team running a 2-3 zone vs them, and her coach put her in the high post.  After talking to the coaching staff about their logic placing their PG in the high post, they raved about her ability to catch the ball in the middle of a zone, turn and face up to score or kick to shooters.  Her combination of size and skill gives her the ability to play many different roles offensively for whatever team she's on.  Perhaps that is her greatest strength…she's not the type of high usage rate guard that teammates must adapt their games to, but rather, she can adapt her game to fill whatever her team needs.rnrnDefensively, she an impactful defender that is a deflection artist.  If you watch her guard, she's seemingly everywhere getting finger-tips on the ball.  Her length, athleticism, and defensive instincts allow her to constantly poke the ball away from ball handlers, deflect passes, and she even a high-level shot blocker as a guard.  [player_tooltip player_id='813567' first='Lauren' last='Clark'] has all the tools to be a high-level D1 and was already in the starting lineup for a very talented Cumberland County team this summer.  College coaches are already all over this kid.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ec33fab115"} /--> <!-- 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='821711' first='Cailyn' last='Taylor']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_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":"Webb School of Knoxville","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"n/a","_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":"Cailyn  has perhaps the best mid-range pull up package that I've seen in the '27 class.  While she's a excellent 3 point shooter, she seemingly feels more comfortable shooting off the dribble once she's got her defender off balance attacking the rim.  She also has an advanced floater package, and is a clever finisher (scoops, wrong-foots, inside hands, etc).  And if you leave her open, she arguably one of the best pure shooters from 3 in the class (I was close to putting her on my “Best Shooter's in the '27 Class” list).  She too is a legitimate 3 level scorer with high-upside given her creativity as a scorer.rnrnExceptional in the pick in roll as a scorer or distributor.  When she can't get down hill off the screen is great at using her float dribble to stretch out the play and give her big time to roll into a passing angle.  Delivers pass on time and on target.  College coaches will love the fact she's already a seasoned veteran when it comes to how to use ball screens.rnrnFilm shows her as a locked in defender with quick feet, active hands, and really gets into ball handlers.  She is one of the premier guards in the Knoxville area with a skill set that college coaches are going to love.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ec33fab1c7"} /--> <!-- 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='821770' first='Riley' last='Hunt']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"","_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='715995' first='Pro' last='One']","_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":"Hunt is simply one of the most versatile '27 wings I've watched.  The lefty does a bit of everything well on both sides of the ball.  The can stroke it from deep, finish with both hands, and delivers passes on time and on target. Extremely high IQ, gritty defender, takes charges, wins 50/50s, runs the floor well, and knows how to maintain spacing.  Cracking the rotation as a freshman at Bearden is a daunting task for anyoneu002du002dbut don't bet against Hunt as her ability to be great at the little things gives her a great chance.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ec33fab253"} /--> <!-- 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='732116' first='Abby' last='Roberts']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_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":"Grace (Knoxville)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"FBC Reign","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='732116' first='Abby' last='Roberts'] has had an incredibly productive travel season heading into her freshman season at Grace, and her stock is quickly rising according to people I've spoke with.rnrnFirst, she's simply one of the most effective penetrators I've seen in this 2027 class.  She has the ball on a string and is ultra-fast in changing directions mid-penetration.  She's also excellent changing speeds in traffic and can pull off moves that most players just can't.  As a coach, I often will tell my players to kick the ball to the perimeter when they get “jammed” in penetration, but she's the kind of guard that makes a coach throw some of the rules out of the window.  When put in a position that most ball handlers should pass out, Abby is one of those guards that can quickly shift her feet, change speeds, get into a combo move, and create a new driving angle to attack in the opposite direction—and she does it WELL!  In this era of trainers teaching double and triple moves, and many players developing bad habits of “overdribbling,” Abby is the type of player that knows how to effectively use complex moves, dribbles with intentionality making each dribble purposeful as she seeks to get her shoulders past the defender's and get to the rim to finish.  She is also beginning to develop a very create mid-range pull game when defenders get caught on their heels, and this skill will only enhance her hesi package and make her more dangerous.rnrnBecause she's such a high-level ball handler Coach Vann uses her versatility to let her run the 1, or can slide her off the ball.  Off the ball, she's a high-level catch and shoot 3 pt threat.  While the term “3-level-scorer” gets used too much, [player_tooltip player_id='732116' first='Abby' last='Roberts'] is one of the few TRUE 3 level scorers in the '27 class.rnrnCoach Vann also praised Abby's abilities on the defensive end, and said she's always asked to guard the opposition's best player.  She is a smothering on ball defender, help defender, and rebounder on the defensive end.  When you combine her high-end defensive abilities with her offensive package, you get one of the premier ‘27's int eh state.  She is the type of playmaking wing that is hard to find—great penetrator but you never get the feeling she's trying to do too much.  She's also a really good passer that makes the right reads, and her aggressiveness drawing help defenders, mixed with her high IQ on offense, makes everyone around her better.rnrnShe should be an immediate starter on a very interesting Grace team that Neek+Ang are building.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ec33fab32d"} /--> <!-- 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='821760' first='Izzy' last='Smith']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_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":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cleveland HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"TTP","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='821760' first='Izzy' last='Smith'] is another kid I've watched a ton over the last few years, and she's the type of player that every really good team needs.  I call them “connectors”, some call them “glue kids.”  Izzy is the type of player that has learned how to consistently impact winning even when she's not scoring.  She's just as happy defending the other team's best player, or making a beautiful pass to a teammate, as she is scoring the basketball.  Growing up as a coach's kid (her dad is Bubba Smith, Lee University's high successful MBB coach), she's surely sat around many dinner tables listening to high-level conversations regarding impacting winning, and it's obvious when you watch her play that these lessons have become part of her basketball identity.rnrnHer basketball IQ is off the charts.  She intuitively understands high-level concepts regarding spacing, opponent tendencies, finding the “hot hand” on offense, moving without the ball, cutting with purpose, hitting and angles on screening actions, etc.  Again…Izzy is a coach's kid and she plays like it!rnrnThe reason I like the phrase “connector” when referring to players like Izzy is that she is able to be a common thread that runs through each of her teammates.  Players naturally gravitate towards her because of her poise, mindset, and natural ability to make everyone around her better.  She leads by example and players tend to take on her gritty, competitive personality.rnrnShe's been a reliable defender and rebounder for as long as I've seen her play, but I've recently been very impressed with her offensive game in this summer's tournaments.  Offensively, there are few ‘27s I've seen improve more over the past year than [player_tooltip player_id='821760' first='Izzy' last='Smith'].  Playing up for TTP '26, as well as an offseason dedicated to enhancing her shooting and finishing, has pushed her into a new level in my opinion. Just watch her Run the Roses highlights!  When it comes to attacking the rim, while she's not gifted with extreme quickness, she understands angles and changes of speeds well enough that she's generally able to win the battle of the first step vs most defenders.  Around the rim she's a sneaky good finisher off one or two feet and with either hand.  Her biggest improvement this offseason has been as a perimeter shot maker.  She's turning into a high-level shooter, which will only enhance the other parts of her offensive game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ec33fab40d"} /--> <!-- 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='620459' first='Olivia' last='Loveday']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_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='713260' first='ETA' last='Thunder']","_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":"Loveday is an uber-competitive, fiery, hard-nosed, gym rat.  She's the type of kid whose total value doesn't always show up in a box score, but coaches immediately recognize it when they see it.  She's a bigger guard that has had to transform her game from primarily playing inside when younger, to now primarily playing on the perimeter as she enters HS.  Not all kids are able to make this transition (from post to wing), but Liv has done it exceptionally well and the reason is easy to identify—Liv Loveday's goal is to straight up out work the competition.  There are few players in the state that spend more time working on individual skill development than Liv.  She's also put a ton of energy into increasing her athleticism and quickness to make her more effective on the perimeter.  And the results have spoken for themselves.rnrnLiv's basketball journey has now turned her into an extremely versatile player that is comfortable playing on both the perimeter and in the post.  Her TKA HS coach, Dante Turnipseed praised her offensively as a high-level outside shooter who can also attack the rim and use her size and strength to be a big-time finisher.  He also said she's very tough on the offensive glass because she typically being guarding by smaller opponents that don't attack rebounds with the same urgency; and he'll use her to post up smaller defenders as well.  Her versatility also allows her to be a big-time piece in ball-screens as the screener:  she can roll or pop depending on who's guarding her, and her coach gives her the freedom to make the necessary reads because her IQ is exceptionally high.  She's also a high-upside defender that Coach Turnipseed says can switch 2-5, and is more than capable battling in the post—which many wings aren't accustomed to doing.rnrnWhat gives Liv the chance to be special is that she's turned herself into an adaptable puzzle piece on the floor.  Need a wing that can guard an opposing big?  Liv can do it.  Need a 4 that can attack an opposing big off the dribble?  Opposing bigs aren't coming all the way out to the perimeter to defend, and need a 3 to stretch them out? Need a player that can pick or pop in the screen and roll game? Need a player that battles on the glass?  Liv Loveday will fill whatever role you ask of her and figure out a way to do it well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651ec33fab4bf"} /-->