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Let’s take a look at the Knox & surrounding area athletes that continue to impress on the hardwood! Numerous underclassmen and upperclassmen continue to put up big numbers to help put their teams in position to win! Kyndra West TN…
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Continue ReadingLet’s take a look at the Knox & surrounding area athletes that continue to impress on the hardwood! Numerous underclassmen and upperclassmen continue to put up big numbers to help put their teams in position to win!
Kyndra continues to lead and put her Hardin Valley team in position to win ball games! Rajon Rondo once said, “The point guard is always the leader on the floor, regardless: the extension out there on the floor for the coach.” West is a true floor general and she continues to put up big numbers. Kyndra is averaging 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Kyndra’s game is definitely going to translate to the next level! The junior guard is also averaging right at 14 points per game! West has one of the smoothest shots that you will find to go with her extremely high basketball IQ. The second half of the season is going to be fun to watch!
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Kamryn Butcher
Kamryn Butcher
Butcher is another Hardin Valley guard that should have more eyes on her. Kamryn continues to improve in all areas of her game. The shooting guard continues to knock down open shots and she is taking her game to a new level by being able to create more off of the dribble! Butcher continues to keep her name mentioned in all of the hustle stats too! Keep your eyes on this one!
Cawood is a do-it-all guard! The point guard is averaging in double figure scoring. This young guard has also had numerous double-double games! One of the best rebounding guards that you are going to find! I love the patience that Kyleigh plays with. One of the savviest players on the court no matter who the opponent is. A great decision maker that truly has limited turnovers and mistakes. Cawood should definitely be a guard on your radar!
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It is not easy to get a double-double in a basketball game. It is not easy to get numerous double-doubles. Well, Lanee Carmichael Lanee Carmichael 5’10” | C Clinton | 2026 State TN makes it look easy! This young athlete is averaging a double-double. Lanee is right at 16 points & 10 rebounds per game. The entire Clinton squad continues to impress but give credit to Lanee for getting on the boards and finishing! Call this one a stock-riser because her stock is increasing extremely fast!
Karina is a D1 athlete. I never like to say this about kids because it’s not all about level, but I think we need to ask Chattanooga, Lipscomb, Tennessee Tech, MTSU, Belmont, & even the University of Memphis what they are waiting on? If we can’t keep her home at the D1 level, I know every other classification is a STEAL for this one! Bystry continues to check off all of the boxes against the top talent! We all love consistency and efficiency on both sides of the court and you will find that and more in Karina! Bystry is shooting over 40% from 3. OVER 40%! Karina is averaging near 19 points and 6 rebounds per game. I love watching this entire McMinn Central team. Molly Masingale Molly Masingale 5’9″ | SF McMinn Co. | 2024 State TN is a great D1 talent, and Karina Bystry Karina Bystry 5’10” | PG McMinn Central | 2025 State TN is too!
The young freshman has lived up to all of the hype! The varsity level is no stranger to Walden but I do tend to forget that she is only a freshman. The way Skylar plays the game is fun to watch. Walden is in my top 3 for the Class of 2027 and I don’t see that changing! Walden is averaging near 17 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds per game. The freshman is shooting over 41% from downtown. OVER 41% from the 3 point line. This one is going to be extremely fun to cover for the next few years! Grab your popcorn and enjoy the TKA squad!
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Pfeiffer is one of the best post players in the state! You know the inside presence that Alcoa has and you try to stop her, but you can’t. Amelia is averaging 13.5 points and 11 rebounds per game! The inside presence is also felt on the defensive side. Pfeiffer continues to alter shots and block shots! Keep your eyes on this team!
Kinley Loveday Kinley Loveday 5'2" | PG Sevier Co. | 2024 State TN
Kinley Loveday Kinley Loveday 5'2" | PG Sevier Co. | 2024 State TN
Loveday is averaging right over 13 points per game. Loveday is one of the feistiest guards that you are going to find on the court. Sevier County is a tough squad that is full of talent! Kinley impacts the game in numerous ways. If Loveday isn’t scoring then you can count on her for deflections, steals, assists, and every other stat line! The uncommitted senior is one to keep your eyes on!
Yes, Rylee Roberts Rylee Roberts 5’7″ | SG Karns | 2025 State TN hit a career high with dropping 37 points against a tough Heritage squad. Roberts is averaging 18 points, 3 assists, and 4 steals per game. I’ve mentioned before that once Karns starts clicking on all cylinders, they are going to be a tough team to beat. Rylee is going to be a huge part of the success for Karns this year and next season! The junior should definitely be on your radar!
The sophomore continues to show why she is the best on the court. When I wrote the Best of the Best article, I meant it. The University of Tennessee should be all over this young guard! Hodge is averaging right near 21 points and 5 assists per game. Allen Iverson said it best, “I wasn’t a point guard. I was a killer.” Hodge is exactly that!
Where do we start the, “She’s a FRESHMAN” chant? Braden is one of the best freshman that you are going to watch! Maddie plays the game the correct way! Braden is averaging 15 points while shooting 50% from the field! Steph Curry once said, “I can get better. I haven’t reached my ceiling yet on how well I can shoot the basketball.” Maddie Braden Maddie Braden 5’9″ | SG CAK | 2027 TN is shooting 50% and don’t be surprised when you see the number increase! Maddie has the highest ceiling!
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I can imagine Maddy Newman Maddy Newman 6’2″ | C Gatlinburg-Pittman | 2024 State TN and Amelia Pfeiffer Amelia Pfeiffer 6’2″ | C Alcoa | 2024 State TN on the Tennessee Tech squad right now! Can we talk about these powerhouses? Newman is exactly that. A 6’2 Forward Power House! Maddy is averaging 20 points and 6 rebounds per game! Gatlinburg-Pittman is another team that has a ton of talent and Newman is having a dominate senior season this far! Keep your eyes on this entire team!
The duo with Swaney and Chloe Heath Chloe Heath 6’0″ | SF Clinton | 2025 State TN is one for everyone to keep their eyes on. Both of these young athletes have college offers for a reason. Swaney continues to impress with averaging 21 points and 3 rebounds per game. Swaney has great size and length for the guard position! I continue to stay impressed with Swaney’s style of play!
Mains continues to do what Sydney Mains Sydney Mains 5’11” | SF Knoxville Catholic | 2024 State TN does! She shoots the ball at an extremely high percentage! One of the best shooters in our state and I hate to say that our great state lost another one! Florida Atlantic is getting a great athlete! If Sydney has it her way, she is leading Catholic to another championship! Mains is averaging 19 points and 5 rebounds per game. Sydney is shooting over 42% from the 3-point line! OVER 42%! Catholic is deep in talent and I still think that we will see them holding the trophy high again!
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The great Bill Russell once said, “The most important measure of how good a game I played was how much better I’d made my teammates play.” Meeyah Green Meeyah Green 5’9″ | CG Webb-Knoxville | 2026 State TN makes every single player around her better! Yes, I’ve stated that she is one of the strongest guards that I’ve watched play! She is also one of the best all around guards in our state! Keep your eyes on Green and her squad!
Johnson is extremely close to averaging a double-double. Jenna is averaging right over 9 points and 10 rebounds per game! Jenna should be on every college coach’s radar! As a reminder, she did score 20 points and pull in 22 rebounds! The stat lines that Jenna continues to put up are incredible! She continues to do this at a consistent rate too. Oak Ridge is another team that you should keep your eyes on!
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Rollins continues to play with a sense of urgency that can’t be taught. The young freshman is averaging 19 points and 3 assists per game! Payton is also averaging right at 3 steals per game! Rollins has a completely different style of play than most of the athletes in our state. I love watching Payton because I know that she is going to come out with a new move, a side step, a step back, and the list goes on. One of the hardest workers off the court and that is exactly why she is in my top 5 for the class of 2027!
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I talked about Holt’s free throw percentage in the last article! Yes, she is still at the top of the free throw percentage! Holt is averaging 18 points and close to 8 rebounds per game! Shooters shoot, right? Kelsey is averaging over 40% from the 3 point line! OVER 42% to be exact! Continue to keep your eyes on this shooter and the Union County squad!
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Gilbert, Garcia, Gillies, and Roby are a few of the names that stand out with this Cookeville team! Yes, I put it under Gilbert’s name because the team does run by this leader! The great Michael Jordan said, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” Yes, Cookeville is talented but I love the way this team plays with a togetherness and it will separate them from the rest! Keep your eyes on Gilbert and the entire Cookeville squad!
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Fritz is a guard that never stops working! She continuously works hard on both sides of the court! Gregg Popovich said, “Stop by stop by stop. Play aggressively. Sprint back on ‘D’ and pay attention to how we’re supposed to guard as a team.” Braxton is a good defender and an even better team defender! Fritz is not going to back down from any challenge and she is going to play her hardest! I’ll reiterate that Maryville College is getting a good one!
Izy is probably one of the freshman that you haven’t heard a lot about yet! Stay tuned because you are going to hear a lot more about this young star! Izy is averaging in double figure scoring for an extremely young Powell squad! Izy has provided her team with whatever is needed! In one of the wins, she averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds. She has numerous 20 points performances and her name is always in the hustle stats too! Izy and this Powell team is going to be fun to watch over the years!
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Honestly, what more can be said about Reese? Beaty is an amazing athlete that is extremely fun to watch! Every single person in our state knows that Clemson is getting a great athlete! Reese has dropped 41 points in a win this season. When I tell you that she has the best hesitation move, she truly has the best. Defenders continue to think that they have her stopped but she continues to show amazing footwork! York is a team to watch. Reese and the young talent around her have exactly what it takes!
Reed continues to put up impressive numbers! One of the few post players that can grab a board and explode coast to coast! The uncommitted senior should continue to garner interest at the next level! Celeste is great on the low block and finishing at the rim! I can think of a few words to describe Reed and one of them is dominate! Celeste continues to dominate anyone in the post!
Shakyra Reed
Shakyra Reed
The softball standout deserves to be mentioned for her hard work on the hardwood too! You hear about Halle Kitchen Halle Kitchen 5’5″ | PG Cocke Co. | 2024 State TN , Karmine Carmichael Karmine Carmichael 6’0″ | C Cocke Co. | 2027 TN , Clevenger, and the list goes on. Go ahead and add Reed to the list! Cocke County continues to be one of my favorite teams to watch and keep up with. Reed is one that will definitely give up her body to take a charge or do whatever is needed to help her team!
Sullivan continues to help put her team in positions to win! Sullivan has had numerous 20 points games so far this season! One of the games this season she dropped in five 3 point bombs! I would not be surprised if you see this happen again! The guard also has a 4.26 GPA so if you want to talk about a student/athlete, you want to talk about Harmony. Sullivan is a good on ball defender and she truly impacts the game in different ways. Keep your eyes on Harmony and the Morristown East squad!
Wilson is one of the top athletes in our state, regardless of class. I love watching the duo with Ellie Linx Ellie Linx 5’8″ | SG Lakeway Christian | 2024 State TN and Wilson! I once said to sit back and grab your popcorn because this duo can put on a show. Wilson can truly beat anyone off the dribble! I don’t like to say that a lot of athletes can score at all 3 levels, but Kami can score at all 3 levels. Wilson checks off every single box and I won’t be surprised when we see her on the big screen!