Debutants in 2020 Player Rankings: Tier 4
Photo Credit: @wavymediabrand.
With strong winters the following members of the Class of 2020 landed top 200 in Tennessee.
The lower-numbered rankings suggest highest college success.
Read about the fourth tier of debutants.
Tier 1 Newcomers.
Tier 2 Newcomers.
Tier 3 Newcomers.
#112 McHale Bright McHale Bright 6'4" | SF Tennessee | 2020 State TN (Tennessee)
McHale is a grinder with many ways to score. Think DeRozan. He is wonderful in the mid-range and creative with the probing style.
Grinder. McHale Bright McHale Bright 6'4" | SF Tennessee | 2020 State TN and his Vikings could have collapsed and wilted after the frequent Alabama State Champions Mountain Brook stomped all over their first quarter dreams. The unfriendly guests opened up 11-1 and it took McHale consistently probing, searching, moving to create any semblance of offense. It took some time for sure, but Tennessee High arrived at 21-21 early in the second quarter with confidence and vocal support. Bright deserves much credit for the Vikings weathering the storm. Tennessee High took a lead at 28-27 on a gorgeous stagger-step by Bright followed by Bright’s open-floor offensive putback to enlarge it to 30-27. McHale finished with 16 points on 6-10 shooting. The team was physically drained in the third quarter, likely from the ferocious Spartan defense. “
#117 Traven Jackson Traven Jackson 6'5" | SF Karns | 2020 State TN (Karns)
Signed to Maryville. All-District 3AAA. Karns is a solid rebounder with an ability to finish in deep. When he committed, Jackson shared, “I’d like to thank my coaches for pushing me and helping me get better and setting me up for this moment.” Traven is steady and dependable. He would be ranked in the top 75, but he is a touch undersized for a college forward. He can hit an open 3 and give a little to the perimeter attack and yet he is truly a forward prospect at his core.
#118 Nolan Wishon Nolan Wishon 6'6" | PF Tennessee | 2020 State TN (Tennessee)
Excited to pass and facilitate, Wishon is a hulking forward/center for the Vikings. Great two-handed rebounder. Unafraid of contact. Wishon is a piece that most basketball teams lack. He is a willing rebounder that can score, but does not need to score to feel important. Wishon’s contributions in his senior season were substantial. Great on-court demeanor.
#119 Nate Whitsell Nate Whitsell 6'5" | PF McKenzie | 2020 State TN (McKenzie)
#123 Lawrence Pack Lawrence Pack 5'9" | PG Madison Academic | 2020 State TN (Madison Academic)
Wonderful senior season. Madison High amassed a phenomenal 29 wins and an unblemished 14A District record. Pack was one of the three most critical players in that success. He can score or serve up shots for teammates.
#126 Filip Babic Filip Babic 6'6" | PF Upperman | 2020 State TN (Upperman)
Very powerful. Serbian-born. Filip was a new piece of the Upperman High program in 2019-2020. His rebounding determination helped them greatly, especially as a sidekick to District Player of the Year Alex Rush Alex Rush 6'7" | PF Upperman | 2021 State TN .
[player_tooltip player_id="954797" first="Filip" last="Babic"] (Upperman) finished off a strong senior season.#127 Ragi Phillips Ragi Phillips 5'8" | PG Whitehaven | 2020 State TN (Whitehaven)
Elite defender. Whitehaven, once again a state qualifier, routinely asked Ragi to lockdown opposing scorers. Ragi is the son of Vanderbilt Assistant Coach Faragi Philips, the former Whitehaven High School Head Coach. The classic program guy. Ragi is the kind of person and player that makes a program stronger and makes a team better. Back in mid-December, Phillips scored 16 points against the PrepHoopsTN #1 team in Class A Booker T Washington.
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