Water-Cooler Talk: Early Postseason Nominees In Middle Tennessee

USE CODE "tinnon30" FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION.   The other day, a coach and I discussed who the player of the year nominees would represent Middle Tennessee. This water-cooler talk got me riled up about the fact that most people who vote on such an accomplishment don't necessarily see eye to eye or speak the same language. Sure, the similarity is basketball, but every kid who is eligible for such an award brings unique value to their ballclub. For example, most people think about box score statistics, things you can chart. Me, I tend to think of the impact one brings to the floor. Like, did they neutralize the girl they were guarding, eliminating them from scoring in double figures? Did she make that assist that led to this basket? How did she take this girl off the dribble in order to get to this spot on the floor? These are just a few questions I personally consider when thinking about such an award.   Mind you, all kids across the state who bring significant value to their program and impact the game will be up for player of the year. Miss Tennessee awards, district teams, and so on will be announced towards the end of the year. Though we are mentioning this now, we still have a long way to go into the season before any results are finalized. Keeping with the topic, I wanted to break down some young ladies I feel would be in contention for this award from the Middle Tennessee area.    A true leader who plays with a lot of grit. Last year, she tore her acl in the championship game and has battled back. Talk about resilience, that is this young lady for sure. She is a vocal leader who knows how to rally the troops. She's a competitor who is effective on both ends. Scoring, rebounding, making assists, add in her ability to be versatile inside the arc and outside, she's a threat anytime she is on the floor.     A true point guard who runs the FRA machine. She can score the rock from all 3 levels, but knows when and where to take her shot. She plays with poise, doesn't force, keeps her head up, leading her receiver into an area where they can shoot off the pass. She's solid on the defensive end, where she creates turnovers. Coaches gameplan for her yet many fall victim to her court awareness and her ability to exploit a defense right away.     One kid who is playing like a true D1 athlete. This offseason, she put in the work and turned her body into a machine. This kid can bully you inside the arc, but also step out and knock down the 3-ball if given an open look. She exploits the mid-range, is effective on defense, and contributes on the glass. One of the most solid two-way players in the state.     Don't let the level of competition fool you; this young lady is a true hooper. The way she flows on the floor is phenomenal. She has amazing court vision, is versatile, gets to favorable spots to knock down shots, and contributes on defense, making her another finalist once again. She's a scoring machine, but in my opinion, her defense is an attribute that is often overlooked. No matter the setting, this kid is an impact player who gets the job done nightly.     A kid who has challenged herself to put her team on her back, KT has risen to the challenge to do so. She has helped transform this program into a juggernaut that is one of the top ones in the Wilson Co. area. She can handle the rock, score from multiple spots on the floor, defend like crazy, and contribute big time on the boards. She is a mismatch problem, as she can bully you off the dribble or take you down low. Solid kid who is jumping on the radars of collegiate programs both near and far.

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