The Top 15 Wings in Tennessee (2021)

<p><em>EDITOR's NOTE: Alden Applewhite is no longer a member of Tennessee's Class of 2021.  He is moving to Arizona.</em></p> <p>Ah, the wing position.  The evolution of the wing from slasher or shooter to, better be able to shoot and defend the perimeter reflected the change in the game of basketball.  Blame the Golden State Warriors and the proliferation of spread-out offenses.  This grouping of wings can and will shoot exceptionally, and yet most of them are elite in another facet (rebounding, defense, slashing, effort, etc.) </p> <p>Today, we feature the 15 best wing prospects in the entire state (Class of 2021 only). Are you a wing deserving of our attention?  DM your stats, highlight, and name to <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsTN">@PrepHoopsTN</a>.</p> <h3> </h3> <h3> </h3> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="775535" first="Johnathan" last="Lawson"], Wooddale<br /> Overall Ranking: 1<br /> Wing Ranking: 1</h3> <p>D1 offers. Averaged nearly 30 ppg and earned his first Mr. Basketball award. Had a great chance to capture a third state title (’18 Memphis East, ’19 Wooddale) if the tournamelnt occurred.  Lawson benefits from two axioms.  Always bet on the younger brother.  Get good genetics.  Players who grow up younger and hungrier eventually become great as their older brothers push them and give them a constantly improving pacer to hunt down.  Genetics still remain integral to surpassing the masses of basketball players out of the gates.  Of course, athletes can be passed by harder working players, but when great athletes with the rare genetics strive there are few that even can compete.  Lawson is one of these rare stars with incredible genetic gifts too.  He will surely be the fourth D1 player from his band of brothers.  Excellent rebounder too.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="537221" first="Alex" last="Anderson"], Tipton-Rosemark<br /> Overall Ranking: 2<br /> Wing Ranking: 2</h3> <p>Verbally committed to South Alabama. Anderson operates more on the ball, proving he will be an electric wing at the college level.  Frankly, South Alabama feels beneath his potential.  If Anderson keeps that commitment, South Alabama should consider themselves very lucky. Anderson was once the #1 prospect in the state and though Kennedy Chandler passed him, Chandler is now a Sunrise Christian (KS) star.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="775540" first="Alden" last="Applewhite"], Houston<br /> Overall Ranking: 5<br /> Wing Ranking: 3</h3> <p>Wonderful wing scorer.  Soft touch, creative. Dynamic. Slithery with the dribble.  Lefty.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/AZCompass_Prep/status/1276955977879699456?s=20</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="537277" first="Isaiah" last="Jones"], East Nashville<br /> Overall Ranking: 6<br /> Wing Ranking: 4</h3> <p>Great size for the position. Isaiah is a fantastic shooter and wins basketball games.  Jones started with East Nashville his last two seasons and helped them to state tournament both times.  Could get better moving his feet laterally on defense.  Jones finished the 2020 season with 386 points and 220 rebounds. Jones is currently at his highest overall ranking and position ranking.  Both [player_tooltip player_id="537260" first="Grant" last="Slatten"] and [player_tooltip player_id="548394" first="Mason" last="Miller"] are very capable of finishing with "better" offers.  All three are D1 for absolutely certainly definitely.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="548394" first="Mason" last="Miller"], Houston<br /> Overall Ranking: 7<br /> Wing Ranking: 5</h3> <p>Shooter. Tough. Gritty now. Still very thin.  High, high ceiling.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/overtime/status/1128098141851594753?s=20</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="537260" first="Grant" last="Slatten"], White County<br /> Overall Ranking: 8<br /> Wing Ranking: 6</h3> <p>Bouncy wing with a brilliant basketball mind. High energy guy. Scores from every point on the floor.  Gets the right amount of confidence and push in the open floor.  Takes chances and converts consistently.  Wonderful leader by example.  Back with EAB for his final AAU season, if there ever is one.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="775542" first="Matthew" last="Sells"], Livingston Academy<br /> Overall Ranking: 10<br /> Wing Ranking: 7</h3> <p>Evaluated by a D1 program (Tennessee Tech) during his freshman year of high school.  Sells is a volume scorer with plus hops and patience going toward the basket. </p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="537240" first="Will" last="Montana"], M.B.A.<br /> Overall Ranking: 14<br /> Wing Ranking: 8</h3> <p>Teammate [player_tooltip player_id="537275" first="Miles" last="Versa"] on [player_tooltip player_id="537240" first="Will" last="Montana"]: He is great.  [Recruiting advantages of Will] I think on-court showing emotion (will help).  Communication with the refs. Coach Mc always harps on lead by example and minimize our confrontations with the refs.  He is very passionate about the game much like Will Nutter.  That is the biggest thing for him.  </p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="775580" first="Kley" last="McGowan"], Cleveland<br /> Overall Ranking: 15<br /> Wing Ranking: 9</h3> <p>Breakout year in 2019-2020.  Plus outside shooter. </p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="983685" first="Daveonne" last="Warfield"], Kirby<br /> Overall Ranking: 18<br /> Wing Ranking: 10</h3> <p>During his junior season, Warfield average 19.3 points per game.  Warfield dished out 8 assists per game and approximately 7 rebounds per.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/DaveonneW/status/1270096863937658884?s=20</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="775549" first="Matthew" last="Schneider"], Siegel<br /> Overall Ranking: 19<br /> Wing Ranking: 11</h3> <p>Owns a D2 offer and contact from multiple D1 schools.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="775547" first="Tray" last="Curry"], Bradley Central<br /> Overall Ranking: 20<br /> Wing Ranking: 12</h3> <p>In AAA, [player_tooltip player_id="775547" first="Tray" last="Curry"] averaged 20 ppg, 8 rpg, and 6 apg.  Amazing output.  Bruising wing.  [player_tooltip player_id="775547" first="Tray" last="Curry"] is a football prospect with bizarre basketball skills.  Powerful beyond measure. Offensive rebounding king. Curry dominates in the paint.  Hates to lose and will definitely play basketball his senior year despite his football future.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="537234" first="Brandon" last="Maclin"], South Side<br /> Overall Ranking: 22<br /> Wing Ranking: 13</h3> <p>Stats: 12 ppg, 7 rpg, 4 apg.  Balanced team.  South Side was a potential State Champion in AA.  Maclin is physically dominating from the guard spot.  Outside shooting needs to improve.  Defends at an elite high school level.  MM ceiling. </p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="983686" first="Bobby" last="Westbrooks"], St. Benedict<br /> Overall Ranking: 25<br /> Wing Ranking: 14</h3> <p>Finished over 51% of his shots from the floor.  Averaged about 17 ppg.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="983687" first="Devion" last="Taylor"], City University<br /> Overall Ranking: 27<br /> Wing Ranking: 15</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/andrewforce8">@AndrewForce8</a>.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>