Uncommonly Masterful Freshmen: Chapter One

<p>This month marks the debut for the 2024 class.  Much has been made of the 2023’s.  Who will be at the crest of the next wave of talent splashing down upon TSSAA?</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Benjamin Timblin (Signal Mountain)</span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">Signal Mountain did not have a successful season in 2020.  Perhaps this season will be more successful largely because of a deep, ambitious freshman class.  Timblin already managed a double-figure game in his first week of high school ball.  He will not be alone in that SMHS ’24 class.  </p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Jaye Nash (Briarcrest Christian)</span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">Grew up with a lofty reputation, one that he continues to bolster with productive play.  Like it or not (he likes it) Bryson Jaye Nash will be playing this season in former Mr. Basketball Kennedy Chandler’s footsteps. Briarcrest Christian is bringing along Bryson swiftly.  In his high school debut, Nash managed a double-double (15 points, 11 assists) against the Fayette Academy squad.  Nash is known as a lead guard with considerable skill and poise.  He was featured prominently in Courtney Asher Smith’s article last week.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/CourtneyHoops90/status/1331250797259198465?s=20</p> <div class="club-team"> </div> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Maddux Bodenhamer (Riverdale)  </span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">Riverdale is building from the youngsters up and Maddux is among the best in his district.  Bodenhamer matured into a varsity player after making multiple All-Rutherford County teams in middle school.  </p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Caelum Harris (Stewarts Creek)</span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">For Stewarts Creek, Caelum is already playing heavy minutes at the 3/4/5 spot.  Though he is new, the coaching staff is brand new too.  Head Coach Howard Pride "came from Alabama," shared Harris.  "Right now our relationship is good.  We haven’t had any issues and it is a great relationship."<br /> <br /> Stewarts Creek is off to a solid start (2-1).  "We have won twice.  We won against Independence and against Cookeville and we lost to Lebanon by one point."<br /> <br /> What did the 6-foot-6 talent Caelum think of high school varsity in his first go?<br /> <br /> "My first impression was the game was just a little bit faster than I was used to," said Harris.  "And it was more aggressive."  Asked how he feels he is adapting, Harris was contemplative.  "I am slowly moving into things.  I feel like I am slowly adapting.  I feel like I am on a good pace right now." </p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">LaDarius Britt (Pearl-Cohn)</span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">Read the analysis by his trainer <a href="https://www.nextlevelskillsbball.com/">Jeremy Pope</a>: <em>Lefty. Already built like a grown man.  Very explosive and physical player. Still working on a consistent jumper, but I think he’s going to be really good.  <br /> <br /> </em>Coach Pope helped train the following players: Caleb Grimes, [player_tooltip player_id="846012" first="Robbie" last="Rusciano"], [player_tooltip player_id="824170" first="Trey" last="Brown"], Xavier Wright, Mike Tannehill, Liam Butler, Brittany Lawless.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Kendrick Lloyd (Red Bank)</span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">Just three games into his freshman season, Red Bank’s Kendrick Lloyd is already averaging 11.0 points per game on a scorching 58% shooting.  </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/tennessee/rankings/2023-rankings/">Peruse the complete 2023 rankings</a>.</p> <p><em>Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/CourtneyHoops90">@CourtneyHoops90</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewForce8">@AndrewForce8</a>.</em></p>