Tennessee’s Under the Radar Freshman You Should Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This list consist of freshman I don't often see in the evaluations online, but I think (and in some cases know) that these players will become difference makers in for their high school teams.</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":"Izzy Wiles","_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":"Powell HS","_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":"Wiles is an under-the-radar 3 point specialist that is a ton fun to watch!  At the very least, she will be able to walk onto the Powell roster and make an impact as a shooter.  While she's Not a high volume scorer, but makes every team she's on better as her efficiency numbers from 3 are off the charts. She has an incredibly quick trigger.  Off the dribble, she uses hesi's and stepbacks to create room to get her shot off, and while these shots might be heavily contested, they are still high percentage shot's for Wiles What makes Izzy so fun to watch is that while the defense knows what's coming, they still can't stop her from getting to her 3 ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651edecee8114"} /--> <!-- 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='405714' first='Laney' last='Copeland']","_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":"5'3u0022","_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":"Cleveland HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Tennessee Team Pride","_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 under-the-radar '27 on this list, Copeland was hampered by an injury this spring and June, but I was able to catch many of her Cleveland MS games over the past couple seasons.  As a smaller combo guard, Copeland relies primary on her hesi and footwork packages to create her own space off the bounce. I don't know that I've seen a quicker release off the dribble than Copeland's, and her offensive instincts and timing are off the charts.  When she's moved off the ball life becomes that must easier as a shooter—when she allowed to simply be a catch and shoot sniper, you know its going in.  [player_tooltip player_id='405714' first='Laney' last='Copeland'] is a bucket with big things ahead.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651edecee822f"} /--> <!-- 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='821765' first='Maddie' last='Braden']","_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":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"CAK","_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":"If you know basketball in the Knoxville area, Braden isn't under the radar at all, but at the state level, I don't see her name get mentioned.rnrnI noticed Maddie last season when I watched her earn playing time as an 8u003csupu003ethu003c/supu003e grader in an upset win over McMinn Central HS.  She came off the bench and gave valuable minutes as a ball handling wing handling the Central pressure way beyond her year would suggest.  (I actually told a coach sitting with me that she “plays like a coach's kid.”  I just recently learned her mom played basketball at UNC—so I wasn't far off base!)  At 5'9 with great length, this lefty impacts winning on both sides of the ball.  Offensively, she is incredibly poised in her decision making, doesn't get rattled, and always seems to make the right play.  Her exceptionally high basketball IQ raises the talent of everyone around her.  She's a fantastic shooter, and as she develops more strength, has the potential to turn into a high-level finisher at the rim because of her length and athleticism.  Maddie is another “gym rat” on this list that I could easily see have a huge freshman season for Coach Williams at CAK next season.rnrnMaddie has all the tools to be a game-changing defender.  Again, as a 5'9 guard with a looooong wingspan and high-level athleticism, she not only stays in front of ball handlers, but can really pester the basketball when she's locked in on that end of the floor.  Her length and IQ make her a menace in passing lanes, a solid help defender, and even contest shots around the rim flying in from the weakside.  She also a willing rebounder, and her skill set allows her to turn defensive rebounds into immediate transition scoring opportunities as she sees the floor well on kick aheads.  Coach Williams must be thrilled with the young talent coming into CAK, and they will certainly be fun to watch this season on a roster filled with young talent.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651edecee82f1"} /--> <!-- 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='821752' first='Faith' last='Morris']","_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":"null","_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":"","_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":"Faith (Twitter: ballforlife2027) is known around the Knoxville area for her shooting prowess, but if you ask her coaches, and watch the film, she's much more versatile than that:  Faith is an impressive versatile wing with size and strength she knows how to use to her advantage.  Indeed, the reputation is true—kid shoots the lights out when she's left open and her feet are set.  And, she has DEEEEP, in the gym range!rnrnBut, what jumped out at me on film was her combination of size, strength, and competitiveness.  “She's a multi-dimensional player willing to do the dirty work,” Team TN coach Shanteal Davis said.  Faith is a bigger guard (5'8) capable of posting smaller wings (had a nasty drop-step in one clip I saw—there just aren't many guards that know how and when to pull that off), is a gritty rebounder, and gets on the floor for loose balls.  Faith should earn a spot as a valuable rotation player for Heritage as her combination of high IQ, size, and ability to catch and shoot almost automatically make her an ideal “glue kid.”","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651edecee83af"} /--> <!-- 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='821777' first='Emily' last='Patterson']","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_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":"","_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":"Patterson is one of my favorite bigs in the '27 class because of her high end potential as a passer.  At 5'10, and built with a strong frame, Patterson is a high-end rebounder, and  was a double-double machine for Cleveland Middle's Final Four team last year.  Relentless energy on the offensive glass, and nice feel around the rim.  Excels as a passer from the high post capable of hitting cutters “on time and on target” or picking apart the soft spots of a zone.  Nice feel and form from mid-range as a shooter—again it makes me believe she'll eventually be a consistent 3 point threat if she puts in the work.  One of those players that just always seems to make the right play. High IQ player, high character kid, and loaded with hard to teach intangibles that impact winning.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651edecee8447"} /--> <!-- 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='821650' first='Alexis' last='Hammock']","_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":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Grace Christian Academy (Knoxville)","_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":"Hammock is a hidden gem because she's coming off an knee injury and took the spring/summer off.  Prior to her injury, however, she had already picked up an offer from Lipscomb.  She's a straight up hooper that handles like a PG, but can score it bunches.  Just go watch her Twitter highlights and you'll see what I mean.  She's another member of the incoming freshman group at Grace Christian (Knoxville) that is about to come out of nowhere to do really big things!","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651edecee84cb"} /-->