D2-AA State Tournament Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the DII Middle Regional wraps Saturday there will be four teams headed off to the State Tournament. The quartet is certain, the seeds are not. Of those four, much intrigue exists. The following are key players to watch and why.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Middle Region</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>C.P.A. vs. M.B.A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lipscomb Academy vs. Brentwood Academy<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to watch</span><br>2023 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1019051' first='Marcel' last='Reed']</strong>, Montgomery Bell Academy<br>2023 <strong>Joshua Roberts</strong> , Montgomery Bell Academy<br>2023<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1197530' first='Ryan' last='Vollero']</strong>, C.P.A.<br>2025<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1352801' first='Gunnar' last='Lewis']</strong>, C.P.A.<br>2024 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1329535' first='Kaleb' last='Beasley']</strong>, Lipscomb Academy<br>2025<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1273564' first='Myles' last='Sidney']</strong>, Lipscomb Academy<br>2026 <strong>Cam Blevins</strong>, Lipscomb Academy<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1145719' first='Tyler' last='Tanner'], Brentwood Academy<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1019053' first='Jayson' last='Nixon'], Brentwood Academy<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1219203' first='Drey' last='Moss'], Brentwood Academy<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1277264' first='George' last='MacIntyre'], Brentwood Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1019051' first='Marcel' last='Reed']'s</strong> passing ability and creativity are the best of any private school player in middle TN. For years now Marcel has been an expert sharpshooter. His body control in the lane is elite too. Look for Reed to be one of the best basketball players on his college football team.<strong> </strong> Joshua Roberts earned All-Region, like his teammate Reed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1019052"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ed69cbce4a0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joshua Roberts</strong> is light on his feet. The big man is eager to pass out of the post, no matter how deep he gets into the lane. Roberts greatest impact is defending the lane, because his explosiveness helps him get above the layup releases. Surprisingly so, at times. Roberts rebounds aggressively and powerfully on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1352801' first='Gunnar' last='Lewis']</strong> (C.P.A.) is next in a long line of wonderful C.P.A. point guards. Gritty with a strong base. Lewis is a dual-threat player, capable of scoring or passing like a veteran player. Lewis understands the system well and rarely, if ever, takes a forced shot. His handle is probably his most advanced skill currently. Good guards are mandatory for a deep playoff run and the Lions have a good one in Gunnar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CPALionsMBB/status/1626052696519192576?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CPALionsMBB/status/1626052696519192576?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1273564' first='Myles' last='Sidney'] (Lipscomb Academy) is wonderfully agile. A little spotty as a long-range shooter. Sidney projects as a plus wing defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1197530"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63eda32705a42"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1197530' first='Ryan' last='Vollero'] gives C.P.A. committed defense. Though he projects as a college wing, Vollero typically clamps down against opposing bigs. With strength and grit, Vollero rebounds very well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">M.B.A. Roster</span><br>#0 Kevin Die* (2025)<br>#1 [player_tooltip player_id='2348209' first='Nick' last='Brunetti']* (2024)<br>#3 [player_tooltip player_id='1019051' first='Marcel' last='Reed']*<br>#4 *<br>#14 Joshua Roberts*<br>#21 [player_tooltip player_id='1549166' first='Collin' last='O'Neal'] (2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->