D8-4A Preview
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With Nashville expanding in nearly every direction, Antioch, Smyrna, and LaVergne are growing rapidly. More people means more students means more athletes to chose from. These programs are all gaining in depth and with the exception of Cane Ridge, which…
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Continue ReadingWith Nashville expanding in nearly every direction, Antioch, Smyrna, and LaVergne are growing rapidly. More people means more students means more athletes to chose from. These programs are all gaining in depth and with the exception of Cane Ridge, which was already great every year, growing in strength and ambition.
Here is our D8-4A Preview.
Conference Commentary
Favorite: Cane Ridge
Never bet against Brandon Miller Brandon Miller 6'8" | SF Cane Ridge | 2022 State #18 Nation TN . The team concept of trapping and pressure really works well the first time you see it. Expect Cane Ridge’s opponents to be better prepared the second time. Still, Brandon Miller Brandon Miller 6'8" | SF Cane Ridge | 2022 State #18 Nation TN .
Top Contenders: Stewarts Creek
Stewarts Creek was really building the program back up the last two years. It is a weird program, in that a couple players transferred out (J.J. Platt, etc.) that would have lit a fire.
The talent now is better than at anytime in the last three years, maybe five.
Caelum Harris Caelum Harris 6'6" | SF Stewarts Creek | 2024 FL is a handful, despite being only a sophomore in high school. If not for Miller at Cane Ridge, Harris would be a strong candidate for District MVP.
Bryce Jackson Bryce Jackson 6'1" | PG Stewarts Creek | 2021 State TN and Darius Lee Darius Lee 6'1" | SG Stewarts Creek | 2022 State TN are classic senior players: smart, savvy, skilled. They will want to go out with a bang, and Stewarts Creek has the pieces to do it in 2021-2022.
The Pack: Antioch, LaVergne, Smyrna
Of the trio, LaVergne is most likely to ascend into the top two teams this season. Transfer Damon Fann Damon Fann 6'2" | SG Riverdale | 2022 State TN is an instant impact guy, capable of taking over a game. Antioch is much better than their 2019-2020 team was, now that Head Coach William Belliford has had time to put his foundation in place. Last season, which was only nine games for Antioch’s Bears was better but still filled with growing pains, like the massive losses to Cane Ridge, Hillsboro, and finally Franklin. The Bears are better now. Expectations should be to battle for Top 3 in the district and win a postseason game.
21-22 Conference Predictions
- Cane Ridge
- Stewarts Creek
- LaVergne
- Smyrna
- Antioch
Partial Squads with Starters*
Stewarts Creek
#0 Blake Dixon (2022)
#1 Dylan Bernard (2023)
#2
Bryce Jackson
Bryce
Jackson
6'1" | PG
Stewarts Creek | 2021
State
TN
* (2022)
#3
Caelum Harris
Caelum
Harris
6'6" | SF
Stewarts Creek | 2024
FL
* (2024)
#4 Caleb Dunn (2022)
#5 Tristan Davis* (2022)
#10 Jeremiah Amos (2022)
#15 Charlie Manley (2022)
#20
Darius Lee
Darius
Lee
6'1" | SG
Stewarts Creek | 2022
State
TN
* (2022)
#22 Mekhi Britton (2023)
#23
Shelden Davis
Shelden
Davis
6'3" | SF
Stewarts Creek | 2023
TN
* (2023)
#44 F Collin Hatcher (2022)
Smyrna
#1 BJ Lowe* (2023)
#3 Caleb Pastrana (2024)
#4 JP Colon (2022)
#11 Arion Carter (2023)
#12
Ashton McCarver
Ashton
McCarver
6'1" | SG
Smyrna | 2022
State
TN
* (2022)
#23 G Brandon Sanders (2023)
#24 Jayden Lucas (2022)
#33 C Laith Al taie (2022)
Smyrna always runs out one or two top athletes and while this team is no different, there is more scoring skill than usual. Ashton McCarver Ashton McCarver 6'1" | SG Smyrna | 2022 State TN creates so many unique ways. B.J. Lowe will be in the league’s top five rebounders. The team needs him at his best to compete nightly.
Cane Ridge
#1 Clarence Cobbins (2022)
#2 Mareo Franklin (2024)
#3
Da’Ron Hall
Da’Ron
Hall
6'7" | PF
Cane Ridge | 2024
State
TN
(2024)
#4 Ja’Lynn Lawrence (2022)
#10
Ryan Oliver
Ryan
Oliver
6'3" | SG
Cane Ridge | 2022
State
TN
* (2022)
#24
Brandon Miller
Brandon
Miller
6'8" | SF
Cane Ridge | 2022
State
#18
Nation
TN
* (2022)
#32 Kevin Lusk (2023)
Cane Ridge lost four strong program players: Caleb Wilson Caleb Wilson 6'3" | SF McEwen | 2022 TN , Chris Hillsman Chris Hillsman 5'5" | PG Cane Ridge | 2021 State TN , Royale Tillman Royale Tillman 6'5" | SF Cane Ridge | 2021 State TN , Nijal Turner. Everybody knows the gifts of Brandon Miller Brandon Miller 6'8" | SF Cane Ridge | 2022 State #18 Nation TN but ask him how valuable this quartet of departed players was and you will learn.
Ryan Oliver Ryan Oliver 6'3" | SG Cane Ridge | 2022 State TN is destined to be the district’s breakout player. The role enlarged with the graduation of Hillsman. Now Oliver will get more hands on the basketball.
Antioch
#2 Montavious Duncan (2022)
#5 Allen Kisseih (2022)
#10
Tyson Belton
Tyson
Belton
5'11" | PG
Antioch | 2023
State
TN
(2023)
#15 Justin Brown (2023)
#20 Nicholas Johnson (2023)
#25 Jalen Moore (2023)
#32 Andre Hall (2022)
#33 Terron Strickland (2024)
Antioch finished 4-5 last season.
LaVergne
#0 Javon Drake (2023)
#1 Avery Claybrooks (2022)
#2
Damon Fann
Damon
Fann
6'2" | SG
Riverdale | 2022
State
TN
* (2022)
#3 Cam McCullough (2022)
#4 Chris Hicklen (2023)
#10 Bobby Walker (2022)
Chico McDowell (2022)
#12 Cedric Cartwright (2023)
#13 Jay Bradley (2023)
#14 Zion Griffin (2023)
Chandler Norton
Santonio McDaniel* (2022)
#23 Tony Nowlin* (2022)
#33 Daunte White (2024)
Last year LaVergne landed no players on the All-District Team(s) and Head Coach Tony Rutland said that his men used that as motivation this off-season. Expect two or three players to earn that honor this winter.