Class 1A Offseason Player Radar Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High school sports are now starting one by one in TN, and soon, the next domino to fall will be high school basketball. With the season fastly approaching, here are some girls' high school players in the classes of 2026 and 2027 to keep an eye on in the 1A division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["513239"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d1a3ca36e65"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After going 6-20 as a program in the 2023-2024 season, Unaka High School improved to a 22-10 record in the 2024-2025 season. 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='513239' first='Michelle' last='Shields'] played a big hand in the program's leap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Standing at 5'11", Shields brings a lot to the guard position. The first thing that jumps out about her is her handle. She can create space with an array of moves when dribbling the ball. And stemming from the space she creates, she can score from those empty gaps in numerous ways. She has an elite floater, an above average jump shot, and is extremely good at finishing around the rim. The best part about her game as versatile as it is, is that she does it all under control. It does not matter if a defender plays back on her or crowds her, almost every time she is the one that dictates what happens and how a play goes if she has the ball in her hand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the defensive side, Shields is capable of guarding wings as well as guards for having above-average size at the PG position in high school basketball. It will be exciting to see how she builds off an impressive junior season. She is definitely a prospect to keep an eye on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1122540"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d1a3ca36eec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hampton High School basketball team had an amazing season, finishing with a record of 24-9. They also finished first in their district with an 8-2 record. Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1122540' first='Hannah' last='Smith'] was an integral piece in that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith last year showed off her offensive game. The thing that stood out the most about her is her ability to score off the dribble. She has above-average speed and a solid handle. If a defender steps in front of her as she is driving towards the basket, she can stop on a dime and hit a mid-range jumper. She can also finish on both sides of the basket when going downhill. And she also has a quick three-point shot that she can pull whenever she gets a glimpse of room.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With her back next year, Hampton has a great chance to have another great season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1230612"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d1a3ca36f74"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wartburg Central is coming off a down year in the class of 1A. They finished with an 11-17 record, but in that 2026 small forward [player_tooltip player_id='1230612' first='Myrah' last='Hood'] showed some promise in her junior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hood's game on offense is centered around her three-point shooting ability. She is good at finding and sitting patiently in gaps, and capitalizing on the open looks that she gets. Hood also brings above-average wing defense and is a steal machine. She had multiple games in the 2024-2025 season for the Lady Bulldogs with four or more steals. This includes a seven-steal game against Cumberland Gap High School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hood's game has a lot of traits that can help teams win games, and going into next season, it would not be surprising if Wartburg Central has a better year, just based on what Hood brings to the table.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1133790"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d1a3ca36fd3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The hype on the #10-ranked player in the class of 2027 in TN, [player_tooltip player_id='1133790' first='Abigail' last='Netherton'], is continuing to grow. And she has the skillset and work ethic in 2025-2026 to keep this hype train going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her and Van Buren County are coming off a phenomenal season finishing with a record of 24-7. She was named the district MVP, averaging 20.6 PPG and 4.7 APG. Following her impressive year in school ball, she has had a great summer of hoops as well. In a contest with her AAU team, Kentucky Premier, she dropped 36 points in a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This high-level scoring and playmaking skill set Netherton possesses could help her and the rest of her Van Buren squad to make the TSSAA state tournament again in the 2025-2026 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d1a3ca3702a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1133884"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d1a3ca3707f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Wells girls' basketball program is coming off a rough 2024-2025 season, posting a record of 6-20. And despite those struggles, the Lady Tigers may have found a gem in 2027 center [player_tooltip player_id='1133884' first='Diamond' last='Williams'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams' last season showed off her defensive game in spades, with her blocking ability highlighting what she can do on defense. She has the speed to block and contest shots on the perimeter and has good fundamentals down low in blocking and contesting shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams also has a solid offensive game in scoring down low and is also a solid rebounder. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->