Middle Tennessee ‘26 Breakthrough Players

USE CODE "tinnon30" FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION   I got to shrug my shoulders with this statement, you all know I am pretty biased when it comes to women's basketball and the state of Tennessee. Call it the Pat Summitt effect but if you ball in this state, you have a little gumption about you. That's my opinion. I would put that up against anyone in the country. I am not saying we have the most talented kids. I am saying we do compete. Fight  tooth and nail in a game. Nah, we aren't pushovers by means. We hoop, and we do it well.   In the ‘26 class, they got some girls who are some true go-getters. We all know who they re. They are getting the pub and rightfully so. However, there are some other girls who are poised to have a breakthrough year. It may not be to the caliber of some, but they are destined for success. At the end of the day everyone, we are trying to do this: A) win a championship. B) Obtain a collegiate scholarship.C) Get better and develop.  That's why we hoop. No one out here playing this game isn't trying to do one of those three. It's not about just being a part of a team. There are missions at stake here and every single girl in this state is about at least one of those three things.   In Middle Tennessee, and other parts of the state, girls are gearing up for the day they can officially take the court. Yes, some girls are doing other sports (soccer and volleyball), but you better believe a lot of girls are training and for those who aren't in other sports, the roundball that's named Spalding, Wilson, or The Rock isn't too far out of mind. This upcoming year, might be the year of the 26s. Why am I calling it that, well here are a couple of reasons.   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>There isn't much pressure for this class because they have accomplished so much already. So they can play freely. Colleges are offering and taking notice. They are just out there perfecting their craft and doing so at a high level.</li>   <li>I feel like this class was one of the first classes to get early playing time all across the state. I know there are a few who would start from day 1, but so many girls from this class were thrown into the fire early on. It was sink or swim and a lot of these girls have figured it out and have done so on a consistent basis.</li>   <li>Looking across a lot of the district teams last year, this class was well represented.</li> </ol>   So going back to my statement, these girls have been battle tested and now it's just about going out there and playing at their own comfortable pace and getting the job done. It's a smart class who has figured out the nuances of the game and are just building upon the solid foundation that they've learned. In talking about this, the class of ‘26 will have a sensational year. I expect there to be more 26ers contributing in a mighty way.   Focusing on Middle Tennessee, there are some young ladies who are about to breakthrough. Bust out the seams looking to make even more noise than they have before. It was evident in their craft over the summer. You could see the maturation process throughout last season, the girls are ready to show not only their district or region, but their area what they are all about.    Here are just a few young ladies who I feel will have a breakthrough year in the Middle Tennessee area.      Maya brings hustling to the table more than anything. Yes she can score it, but she affects the game differently in more ways than one. She can shoot it from the outside, hit a layup, hit the elbow jumper, but lock up on D, that's an attribute she brings to the table. She's trustworthy, taking care of the ball. But the defensive end is where she excels at. That right there is valuable as there are a lot of talented guards in her district. Neutralize them and your team has a shot. This kid will be tasked with that assignment. Schools have been in contact with her and I expect more to follow suit sooner rather than later.     Tenacious floor general who is a downhill threat. She is a Memphis Grizzlies “grit and grind” type of player. Yes she can score from multiple spots on the floor, but she is going to go at you over and over again. Love her competitiveness. She is a student of the game that takes what she has learned and applies it or if it's about an opponent, she is going to exploit them. This kid is super tough and she only gets better. Look for her to take the necessary steps to become a top kid in the area.     This is her year. She has seen the highs and the lows and now it's her time. This kid can stretch the floor, unleashing a pretty stroke from deep. She can work on the interior, finishing through contact or rising above an opponent in the mid-range. She rebounds, blocks shots, contributes in any way she can. She definitely passes the eye test and will catch your attention right away. Once you see her play, you will remember her name. The kid is talented and this season, she will rise to the occasion and be one of the best in the area. She has grown tremendously and I expect her to continue to grow and open the eyes of not only high school coaches, but collegiate coaches as well.     It's her time now. After waiting in the wings, it's time Mariah to take her turn. This post player is a hustler first and foremost. She can be utilized in the screen game, but think of an old school post player who is scrappy as all get out. She gets the put backs. She's tough on the interior. She is defensively sound. Blocking shots, getting rebounds, unleashing a type of physicality that other bigs hate to deal with. Last year she played as a role player but this year it's her time to shine. This kid is solid and I expect her to come out the gates ready to help the Lady Blaze do something special this season.     She's one of the hottest DII players coming into this year. Had a successful summer where she captured accolades and the attention of collegiate coaches near and far. The versatile guard is a multi-level scoring threat that plays with a high motor on both ends of the floor. She is a gamer who will drop double digit scoring opportunities nightly, then turn around and bring down boards as well. She's a hardworking individual who leaves it all out there on the court. I love her tenacious demeanor where she just goes and doesn't really care who is in front of her. She is a tough competitor who just goes out there and gets the job done. Keep an eye on this young lady as she continues to ascend upwards.

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