Coach Speak: STARS Nashville ’26 Player Previews w Coach McLeod

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Tony McLeod is know as one the best basketball minds and teachers in the game. I always enjoy watching his teams play as they just seem to "get it." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They play the right way....mixed with some high level talent...and you've got an extraordinary group of players. I touched base with Coach McLeod regarding to his his exposure HS teams, and here was his assessment he game me heading into the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='889934' first='Olivia' last='Castagna']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Brentwood HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"STARS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='900805' first='Bella' last='Foss'], Brentwood HS – Bella is the kind of player every coach wants on their team. She plays hard, plays unselfish, and does whatever is asked of her. She can knock it down from the outside and is a tough defender on the other end. Bella makes effort plays that help her teams win games.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653bce85dbe61"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='636393' first='Ava' last='Jones']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hutchinson HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"STARS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='636393' first='Ava' last='Jones'], Hutchison HS – AJ is a physical dominant player and has great foot work around the rim. She has incredible hands and is able to catch passes from any angle and put them in the basket. Her big summer helped her receive an offer from UT-Martin and the sky is the limit for her going into her sophomore year at Hutchison.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653bce85dbf02"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='513235' first='Taylor' last='Miller']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Arlington HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"STARS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='513235' first='Taylor' last='Miller'], Arlington HS – Taylor is an absolute competitor that any coach would love to have on their team. On top of her relentless effort (she never gives up) she is a super skilled guard. Taylor can shoot it from deep, she can score off the bounce, and has one of the better mid-range games around. She's also a tenacious defender and will be a key part of her high school teams success this season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["515030"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='515030' first='Paige' last='Morris'], Brentwood HS – If Paige is left open from 3 most of the time you can go ahead and put the 3 points on the board. She has one of the smoothest shooting strokes you will see. She does a great job of getting herself open and has a quick release that is tough to defend. She will be a key contributor on a Brentwood team that has state championship aspirations.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653bce85dbfd5"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["515028"],"_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_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='515028' first='Mariah' last='Okorie'], Blackman HS -  Mariah's ability to run the floor is incredible to watch. She can get the rebound on one end and be the first one down the court on the other. She's improved a ton with her moves on the offensive end and is one of the better defenders in our area. Mariah will have a strong season on a loaded Blackman team.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["513243"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='513243' first='Bella' last='Shepherd'], Lipscomb Academy – Bella can absolutely shoot the rock, she's one of the best shooters in the state. There's a good reason for that, she's in the gym all the time working on her all-around game. She can also score on the drive against bigger defenders. Bella is also clutch and makes big shots in big moments. She's never afraid on the court and competes every time she is out there. She's one of the best DII players in the state and we look forward to seeing her have a big sophomore season","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653bce85dc066"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='513231' first='Anna' last='Williams']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Brentwood","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"STARS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='513231' first='Anna' last='Williams'], Brentwood HS – Anna is one of the best post players in the state and not just by grade. She has the ability and skill to score with her back to the basket, facing up, and from the 3 point line. She has gotten a ton of college interest and for good season. On the defensive end she can block shots and rebound, with her skill set she can initiate the break off of a rebound and is a great passer. The sky is the limit for Anna and she will be a big time player for a great Brentwood team this season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653bce85dc0ff"} /-->