Weekly Five Games that Matter Most

Andrew Force November 20, 2022 @ 06:53 PM

Jackson South Side @ Bolivar Central

The last time Jackson South Side and Bolivar Central started the seasons 0-1 was 2018. The state tournament seemingly always includes one or both of the powers. The murmurs around the state are that South Side is down, but can it be true?

Bolivar Central
#0 PG Kylan McNeal Kylan McNeal 5'11" | PG Bolivar Central | 2024 State TN * (2024)
#21 Tracy Jones Tracy Jones 6'6" | PF Bolivar Central | 2024 State TN (2024) 6'5" 166
#22 Adaylan Cross (2023) PG/SG
#32 Christian McCarley (2025) SG/PF

Kylan McNeal Kylan McNeal 5'11" | PG Bolivar Central | 2024 State TN played 20 minutes and started in Bolivar Central's lone State Tournament game last March. The then-sophomore scored eight points (2-5 FG, 4-4 FT's, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal in the Tiger loss to Tyner.

McNeal is a candidate for PrepHoopsTN All-Defense First Team. Does that exist? It should. Maybe it will. On successive possessions against Memphis Business Academy. McNeal hit the dribbler with a over-committal stance, coaxing him to dash forward. After the dribbler darted a half-step Kylan reached behind to poke the ball backwards. A BCHS teammate caught each poke and the team scored in a blisteringly fast fastbreak. It was remarkable. Filled with guile.

Slender junior forward Tracy Jones Tracy Jones 6'6" | PF Bolivar Central | 2024 State TN is springy. He has decent shot-blocking instincts.

Pope Prep @ Franklin Road Academy

In their season debut, Fred Bailey Fred Bailey 6'1" | PG JPII | 2024 State TN put up 24 points alongside 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. He is the Andre Miller (NBA-retired) of our state. PrepHoopsTN Fall Combine Underclassmen MVP began his high school career with 6p, 12r, 9a. Can you say young Russell Westbrook?

Clarksville Academy @ Ensworth

Who is the best player in Tennessee?

Who are the top 10 players in Tennessee?

The case can be made that Eddie Ricks III Eddie Ricks III 6'9" | SF Clarksville Academy | 2023 State #152 Nation TN is the best. Why? He is long, lean, and hyper-skilled. He played very well against Jarred Hall Jarred Hall 6'8" | SF Lebanon | 2023 State #65 Nation TN , the best player in Tennessee last Thursday night.

Eddie should win Mr. Basketball this spring. Last year Ricks III earned Mr. Basketball finalist, but eventually lost out to Tipton-Rosemark's Tyler Byrd. Still, Ricks III averaged a fantastic 21 ppg, 7.5 rpg in his junior season. He can be better, which is frightening.

The Cougars looked overwhelmed in their first ever TSSAA State Tournament appearance. Eddie Ricks III Eddie Ricks III 6'9" | SF Clarksville Academy | 2023 State #152 Nation TN did not play his best in that game and surely wants to get back and make amends.

Devaki Garr Devaki Garr 6'0" | PG Ensworth | 2023 State TN is a senior, though he was once a young star for Ensworth. How good is Devaki now? Well, he destroyed the PrepHoops 250 Expo in Bartlett, Tennessee back in mid-September. Devaki will be a Mr. Basketball candidate if he keeps his trajectory. The man is a terror with the ball. Speedy. Genius. Elite passer. Elite outside shooter.

White Station @ FACS

Expectations remain the same for FACS

Ravenwood @ Franklin

Thursday night Rockvale Head Coach Wendell Ingram, after a 48-44 loss to the Raptors, confirmed that 'Ravenwood is good like everyone says.'

Rockvale Host Ravenwood, Raptors Claw Home Victors

Though the Raptors earned the win, they did not finish ideally.

"We have a lot if inexperienced guys and they (Rockvale) hit a couple of threes," said Ravenwood Head Coach Patrick Whitlock in a Sunday afternoon phone conversation. "We played well enough to keep them at bay."

He admits that his team is an unfinished product, but how could they not be?Ravenwood is a completely different team conceptually than a year ago.

"We lost five starters, three in college (basketball) now," shared Coach Whitlock.

"This group is a little different [than last year's team]," said Coach Whitlock. "We are not running much pick'n'roll. We are doing a lot of ball reversal. We have 5 guys on the floor that can shoot it."

Expect a big breakout game for Lamuno.

"Even though he had a big summer and is known from that, I think Rocco Lamuno Rocco Lamuno 6'3" | SG Ravenwood | 2024 State TN did not really play well in our first two games. But he will be a 'breakout' player this year. "He has all of the measurables. Good shooter."

A younger player, Reese Hunsinger Reese Hunsinger 5'11" | PG Ravenwood | 2025 State TN is considered an elite outside shooter. "Gym rat. He can really shoot it."