ETA Thunder ’27 AAU Team Preview
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East TN Thunder ’27 is loaded with talent, and they picked up some really nice pieces this winter as well. They’ve played the last two weekends and really stood out strong. Here is what I’ve seen: Tait Harvey NC #9…
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Continue ReadingEast TN Thunder ’27 is loaded with talent, and they picked up some really nice pieces this winter as well. They’ve played the last two weekends and really stood out strong. Here is what I’ve seen:
I wrote about Tait Harvey last weekend after getting the chance to see her play. She’s an Asheville NC product that took the long road to playing time as a freshman–rising up from bench contributor to eventual starter on a state championship team. She’s shown a diverse skill set in the first two weekends as a kid that’s not just a shooter (that was the reputation I heard), but also a kid that can attack the rim with purpose, contributes on the glass, and I graded her as a plus perimeter defender. This Easter weekend I watched her average 9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and contibute as a distributor. Really like her game!
Highlights
Ivy Napier
Ivy Napier
#10 Ivy Napier SG, SF, PF -MS 2029 Maryville, Tennessee (Webb School of Knoxville)
Really like Ivy Napier’s game. As a 2029 playing up on good ’27 team, she’ll have to earn her minutes, but she’s been a really nice contributor so far! On Saturday (3/30) she put up a nice line of 7 points, 3 rebounds, and a block. She’s a guard that has nice size and strength, and her skill level is OFF THE CHARTS for her grade. I’ve seen her put up 3 point percentage numbers on the gun that would make your jaw drop. She has all the tools to be special.
#12 Maggie Townsend Maggie Townsend 5’8″ | PG Sevier County | 2027 State TN PG, SG -HS 2027 Sevierville, Tennessee (Sevier County HighrnSchool)
One of my favorite, “under the radar” 2027s (spoiler alert: she’ll be appearing in more articles to come). She has nice physical tools: size, length, moves well, springy. Great attitude and effort kid. High level defender. And her offensive game have really developed over the past year! (That’s one of the perks of practicing everyday with kids as talented as they have at Sevier County).
Highlights
#14 Skylar Walden Skylar Walden 5’8″ | PG The Kings Academy | 2027 State TN PG, SG -HS 2027 Seymour, Tennessee (The King’s Academy)
If you follow TN girls basketball, you already know who Skylar Walden Skylar Walden 5’8″ | PG The Kings Academy | 2027 State TN is. She’s one of the best ’27 PGs in the state. She literally does everything at a high level: she’s one of the best 3 point shooters in the state (regardless of class), has great court vision, contributes on the boards. She finished her freshman season 100+ rebounds, 100+ assists, and 100+ 3s. Already sitting on D1 offers, the kid is the real deal.
Highlights
#21 Olivia Loveday Olivia Loveday 5’8″ | SF The King’s Academy | 2027 State TN SG, SF, PF -HS 2027 Sevierville, Tennessee (The King’s Academy)
Olivia Loveday ’27 is simply a kid that plays the right way. She’s started both years (as an 8th grader and freshman) in high school on VERY GOOD TKA teams. She’s know as an “energy, effort, attitude” kid that bigs high level defense with her switch-ability, but her offensive game has really grown as well! She really works at her craft, and it’s obvious through her improvement. She led her ETA team in scoring in game 1 (3/30) with 15 points.
Highlights
#23 Nia Carr SG, PG -HS 2027 Lexington, Kentucky (Great Crossing High School)
Gosh, Nia Carr is lightning fast–and she knows how to use it on both ends. Offensively, she’s incredibly hard to stay in front of, and is a developing scorer around the rim. The float game is already nice. When she gets out in transition she has great instincts knowing what gaps to hit, or when to simply pitch ahead with the easy pass. Defensively, her athleticism and “want to” make her a menace.
Highlights
#32 Cailyn Taylor Cailyn Taylor 5’8″ | SG Webb School Of Knoxville | 2027 State TN SG, PG -HS 2027 Clinton, Tennessee (Webb School of Knoxville)
Cailyn Taylor is going to explode soon…..it’s just coming…..so don’t be surprised. She was a starter on a team that lost to state powerhouse Knox Catholic in the state championship game, and was putting up some major numbers by the end of the season. She’s a gifted scorer that can get buckets legitimately at all three levels. She’s putting up big numbers already as a scorer and passer this spring, and her effort is always there defensively.
Highlights
Brooke Kesey Brooke Kesey 5’11” | PF F.C. Boyd Christian School | 2027 State TN has a monster freshman season for Boyd Christian. Averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds as a freshman, she has a the size and toughness to be a really diverse player. She battles on the glass, alters shots, and outruns opposing bigs. Has a nice array of scoring moves around the rim. She possesses nice touch on her jumper that makes me think she’ll be a big-time stretch 4 as she ages.