Coach Speak: TN Flight Trotters ’26 w/ Coach Jerry Williams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Very few coaches in TN run a better club than Jerry Williams. His TFT '26 team is loaded with talent and continuity, and added some big-time pieces this year. I sat down with Jerry to discuss his team, and here are his notes:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the 2026 [program_tooltip program_id='712985' first='TN' last='Flight Trotters'] –<br>Williams basketball team. The majority of this group has been together for the last 3-4 AAU<br>seasons, while adding some pieces along the way. In short, this is an extremely coachable and<br>hard-working group that plays the game the right way in all aspects. Here is just a brief<br>summary of their accomplishments as a team:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>* Back-to-Back AAU Tennessee State Champions, 2022 &amp; 2023<br>* USAB Tennessee State Champions, 2022<br>* Undefeated in pool play at Run for the Roses, 2022 (1 OT loss in Platinum Division<br>of the Blue pool), 5-1 overall record in 2022<br>* Undefeated Platinum Champions at 2023 Run for Roses Championship, 6-0 overall<br>record in 2023<br>* 3rd place at AAU Nationals, 2022<br>* Undefeated at Apache Memorial Insider Exposure event, 2023 (Platinum Bracket)<br>* 74 wins, 20 losses over the past 2 seasons<br>* 4.2 Team GPA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>These girls all attend quality High School programs and play significant Varsity level<br>minutes. They are all TEAM PLAYERS whose focus is solely on playing the game the right<br>way and winning. Each girl is an incredible student-athlete and their respective GPA's reflect<br>that. These young ladies come from great homes with parents that are involved but not overly<br>involved.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["816710"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Lanee was an All-District and All-District Tournament player for the Clinton Lady Dragons as arnFreshman and District MVP and District All-Tournament Team as a Sophomore. She was thernteam's leading scorer in both years, including games of 33 and 37 points (career high) as arnSophomore. She can score at all three levels, is a great shooter and a high percentage FTrnshooter. She can play the 2, 3, 4 positions and her greatest quality is her extremely highrnbasketball IQ. She is an absolute TEAM first player. She is a two-sport athlete that was alsornAll-District in Varsity volleyball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["816597"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Taylor is new to our team in 2024. She comes from a program with a storied tradition atrnUpperman. Currently she is the team's leading scorer and rebounder for the 2023-24 season.rnShe is a versatile player that plays both ends of the floor and shoots the 3-pointer at a veryrnefficient percentage. Taylor was voted 2023 District 7AAA Freshman of the Year. She was alsorn2023 District 7AAA All Tournament Team and she's a 4-time District 7AAA Player of the weekrnduring her first 2 years in this very competitive TSSAA district. Taylor also landed AllrnTournament Team honors in a very strong field at the 2023 Andrew Johnson Bank Classic. Shernis also an A Honor Roll student.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["810523"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Gwen is an athletic machine! She can jump out of the gym and glides on the court. She canrnscore at all three levels, and she defends and rebounds at a high level. She was named to the All-rnDistrict Tournament Team as a Sophomore. She is currently the leading scorer for her Alcoa HSrnteam. Her quiet demeanor makes her a coach's dream…she just works. Her talent andrnversatility make her an asset to any team she is on, and her work ethic separates her from thernpack. She is a huge part of a very strong Alcoa HS program and is certain to be an asset to anyrncollege program she plays for in the future.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='746202' first='Emma' last='Cooper']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"York Institute","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='712985' first='TN' last='Flight Trotters'] '26","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Emma was 2nd Team All District for the York Lady Dragons, as a sophomore, who spent most ofrnthe season ranked in the top 5 of Class 2A. She was also named to the All-District TournamentrnTeam. She played significant minutes on a loaded team as a freshman. The team won District,rnRegion, and Substate before falling in the first round of the 2023 State Tournament. This youngrnlady is toughness defined. She can defend all 5 positions, can score at all 3 levels and is arntremendous rebounder. She is quiet but plays the game extremely hard. Emma is a two-sportrnathlete that was also an All-District Tournament Team member in volleyball for York.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1230945' first='Katie' last='Foster']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Bearden","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Katie is a part of an extremely talented and winning program at Bearden High School. Her 6'2”rnframe makes her a force in the paint. She is an extremely unselfish teammate who works as hardrnas anyone in the gym. She defends the paint, rebounds at a high level and scores in the block andrnin the mid-range. Playing for 2 quality programs (High School u0026amp;amp; AAU) she will develop into arngreat post player during her career as she has the basketball IQ and work ethic to become a greatrnplayer.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["816656"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"This young lady is a FIERCE competitor with a will to win that is contagious. She is a quietrnleader who leads by example with her unmatched work ethic and toughness. Addi was named 2 ndrnTeam All District as a Sophomore and named to the District All-Tournament Team. She is anrnelite level defender who is fast and very strong physically. She can get to the rim, score in thernmid-range and hit the 3. She is a two-sport athlete that was All District in both basketball andrnsoftball at Clinton HS. This girl is all about WINNING and will do whatever it takes to makernthat happen. She makes any team she is on better. She is just a winner!","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["636530"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Adison is a great young lady and a tremendous ball player. She can handle it, score at all 3 levelsrnand defends with grit and toughness. She will not back down. Her ability to make big buckets inrncrucial times just adds to her offensive strength. She was an All-District and All DistrictrnTournament team member for the Lady Grizzlies as a Freshman and Sophomore. She was alsornnamed Underclassman of the Year in the District as a Sophomore. She is another quiet off therncourt but fiery on it type of player. She is a great teammate who is willing to help the team inrnwhatever manner is needed.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["816550"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Emma is also a member of the extremely strong program at Bearden HS. She played significantrnVarsity minutes as a freshman. As a two-sport athlete at Bearden, Emma is part of a 2 State u0026amp;amp; 1rnNational Champion Soccer team in addition to her role on the basketball team that also went tornState and had a season record of 35-1. She was part of a winning basketball team in District,rnRegion and Sub-State. She is surrounded by winning cultures, and she exemplifies what itrnmeans to be a ME over we player. She was the recipient of the Knox County Character Awardrnand is a member of the National Junior Honor Society. (It is also important to note, she hasrnplayed for me since the 4 th grade which is just one example of her amazing loyalty andrndedication).","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["621988"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Daya is a fierce and fiery competitor. Her speed is elite, and her IQ is off the charts. She canrnhandle with both hands, score with both hands, score at all three levels and defends at a highrnlevel. It isn't uncommon for her to lead our team in rebounding either…she is all over the courtrnmaking winning plays. At Cherokee HS Daya is a four-sport athlete. Participating in volleyball,rncross country, basketball, and track. During her freshman year she was State Champion in crossrncountry, she was an All-Conference player for the Lady Braves basketball team that made a deeprnrun in the tournament to the Elite 8 as a Freshman and she was All-Conference as a Sophomore.rnShe also won the State Championship in the 800 meter. She holds the school record in the 1600rnmeter at 5:17 and also holds the school record in Cross Country. As a sophomore she was oncernagain All State in Cross Country and state runner-up. This kid competes with a passion thatrnhonors her Native American heritage.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='899864' first='Bailey' last='Tidwell']","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"20267","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"Seymour HS","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"TFT '26 Williams","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_9_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Bailey is an extremely high energy young lady and player. She is an ELITE defender that has arnmotor that doesn't quit. She can score at all three levels, and she facilitates for her teammates inrnan unselfish manner. At TKA Bailey was a starter on a highly skilled team that made it to thernFinal 4 of the State tournament. She was All-District and named to the All-Region Tournamentrnteam and led the Lady Lions in transition points for the season. Describing her as fast justrndoesn't do her justice…she can fly! She is a passionate player that brings energy to everythingrnshe does. She's the most vocal player on the court and breeds positivity into her teammates inrnpractice and in games. She was the 2023 Ambassador Award recipient for the Class of 2026 atrnTKA, along with multiple academic honors. She is a coach's dream and one of those players thatrneveryone needs on their roster.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["816611"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"Raylee is new to our team in 2024. With her she brings an elite skill set as a ball handler,rndefender, facilitator and scorer. She has been the starting PG at York since she got to HighrnSchool, she has immense experience playing at a high level against high level opponents. As arnSophomore she was named 2 nd Team All-District and named to the All-District Tournament Teamrnfor the District Champion York team. She changes the game in many ways and is the epitome ofrnthe PG position the way she unselfishly facilitates the game. This girl is a LOCK to succeed atrnthe next level.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":11,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65df7f2ea8743"} /-->