DII-A Underclassmen
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Read about a strong grouping of sophomores and juniors all enrolled in DII-A, many ot these in middle Tennessee. Khalil Anderson (USN) is a crafty ball-doninant point guard. He will perpetually give up a couple of inches of height on…
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Continue ReadingRead about a strong grouping of sophomores and juniors all enrolled in DII-A, many ot these in middle Tennessee.
Khalil Anderson (USN) is a crafty ball-doninant point guard. He will perpetually give up a couple of inches of height on defense, of which he compensates for with quick feet. Anderson’s offensive awareness is sound. He saw a low-posted teammate facing Columbia Academy. He drove right at the teammate and used the morass of humanity as a shield to get off his touchy layup. Anderson projects as a primary ball-handler though USN in 2022-2023 leaned on the creative instincts of senior Collin France Collin France 6'4" | SF Usn | 2023 State TN to initiate offense. Anderson will be given larger responsibilities next season. AAU will be an intriguing opportunity for him to broaden his offensive shot creation and long-range efficiency.
Ryan Bernath Ryan Bernath 6'1" | PG Columbia Academy | 2024 TN (Columbia Academy) did not look to score in Columbia Academy’s District Tournament 2023 debut. Clearly, the team did not rely upon him to shoot. It made a fresh evaluation incomplete. Still, Bernath showed exceptional ball control.
Gabe Davenport Gabe Davenport 6'0" | PG Columbia Academy | 2025 State TN (Columbia Academy) is an incredible catch-and-shoot threat. Gabe proved that skill every month of 2022, and continues in 2023. With the Bulldogs Davenport is occasionally a shoot-only weapon. His ability to breakdown defenders with his dribble is not really required or requested in the flow of the Bulldog system. More often, judging largely by the Columbia Academy playoff win over USN, Davenport is darting upfloor to an open wing arc, or flailing subtley to a free corner.
Griffin Cooper Griffin Cooper 6'8" | PF Columbia Academy | 2024 State TN (Columbia Academy) was dominant in traffic. Despite the technician-style defense employed by University School Nashville (USN), Cooper hulled up and repeatedly drew fouls through whacking arms. He plays similar to a young Miles Bridges, a bouncy perhaps slightly undersized D2/D1 power forward with whiffs of wing agility. The AAU portion of his 2023 will allow him more freedom to get out and operate facing the basket and in the open floor.
Arnett Hayes Arnett Hayes 6'2" | PG Battle Ground Academy | 2025 State TN (Webb Bell Buckle) is a blur with the basketball, but also calculating. Skilled. Speed is a physical gift. Hayes is more than fast though. Dribbling behind-the-back in traffic and seamlessly stepping with Euro-style elegance around a helping big is another thing all together.
Jeremy Jackson Jr. (Columbia Academy) is a strong, impressive downhill slasher with some Russell Westbrook-physicality. JJ was featured prominently in additional PrepHoopsTN stories.