Class 1A Region 2 Offseason Radar Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2026-2027 high school hoops season is less than five months away. With that, here are five players in Region 2 in the Class of 1A to be aware of before the official start of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["817921"],"_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-6a64e863a20de"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='817921' first='Mattie' last='Beard'] is one of the most talented players in the whole state of Tennessee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beard is elite at several things, including her sharpshooting. That is definitely the main threat of her offensive skillset. In several games last season, she had four or more made 3-pointers, including a game against Jellico High School where she had seven made 3-pointers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Look out for Beard to post big scoring totals in her senior season, as with a full offseason, she will undoubtedly only be better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1859634"],"_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-6a64e863a2145"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1859634' first='Sophia' last='Lay'] had a lot of good moments in her sophomore season with Jellico High School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lay's strong suit as a player is her versatility defensively and perimeter shooting. Lay has good mechanics on her long-range jumper and is especially efficient in knocking down shots from the wings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the SG position, on defense, Lay finds herself in the right place a notable number of times to secure a steal. She had multiple games with two or more steals in her second year of High School hoops. She can also rotate and even matchup with post players as her primary defensive assignment. Her lateral speed is often better than theirs, which allows her time up and block shots. Against Oakdale High School last season, she had two blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1276933"],"_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-6a64e863a2193"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1276933' first='Laci' last='Ariks'] is primed to have a standout season in her senior year of high school hoops.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ariks at the center position has always been a tone setter defensively. Her awareness on that side of the ball in the interior is at a high level. She does a great job of stepping up and cutting off driving scoring threats. That playstyle gave her multiple games with two or more blocks last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1574276"],"_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-6a64e863a21db"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1574276' first='McKinnzleigh' last='Kennedy'], in her freshman season, displayed some serious promise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy as a guard is a good connector. She sees the floor well for just coming into her second season. With that court vision, she consistently logs assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy also has a good jumper and uses her vertical in her shot. With her getting high into the air in her jumper as a guard, she can get jump shots off that would otherwise be blocked or heavily contested.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1133897"],"_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-6a64e863a221f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1133897' first='Bailey' last='Barger'] has the ability to score 20 points on any given game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barger at the SG position can score from the outside efficiently. She does well going into her shot straight off the catch, which helps her evade contests from defenders. Barger is also a solid scorer in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, Barger, as a shooting guard, can play multiple positions on defense. Wherever she is on the floor, she has the skills to get a steal and can do so effectively when an opponent is dribbling. When she secures a steal, she is quick to find an outlet pass to turn a turnover into a fast break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->