2023 player rankings: 5 final takeaways
This is the final installment of the Tennessee player rankings. It’s been fun to watch this class in a four-year span. Thanks to action in last week’s TSSAA Division 1 Boys’ State Tournaments, a lot of newcomers enter the rankings.…
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Continue ReadingThis is the final installment of the Tennessee player rankings. It’s been fun to watch this class in a four-year span.
Thanks to action in last week’s TSSAA Division 1 Boys’ State Tournaments, a lot of newcomers enter the rankings.
Here are 5 takeaways from the final 2023 player rankings:
Frison back inside the top 6
Memphis Overton’s Jordan Frison jumped four spots to No. 6. After leading the Wolverines to the TSSAA Division 1 Class 4A state title, there’s no denying he’s one of the best guards in this class. For the entire season, the 6-foot point guard has been playing well for Memphis Overton and did so in a season where the state title was up for grabs. Frison put the team on his back all the way to Murfreesboro and did it with style.
Frison joins Isaiah West (two TSSAA Division 2 Class AA state titles) and Jaylen Jones (TSSAA Division 1 Class AA state title) as the only three prospects inside the top 10 to finish their high school basketball careers with a state title.
Johnson enters the top 35
Douglass senior forward Tyler Johnson was the Red Devils’ best player outside of sophomore guard Taquez Butler. Johnson moved up five spots to No. 31. His presence on the glass played a huge part in Douglass reaching the TSSAA Division 1 Class 2A state title game. Johnson did a solid job all season of getting putbacks and finishing strong in transition. His ability to set solid screens shouldn’t be overlooked, either. Johnson didn’t do anything flashy. He just did his job as the important senior on the roster.
Buckles makes a solid debut
This season’s TSSAA Division 1 Class A Mr. Basketball award finalist, Cadon Buckles, landed at No. 60 in the final rankings. Buckles was efficient all the way through the Hampton Bulldogs’ Class A title run. In the championship win over Middleton, the 6-0 guard went 7 for 12 from the field to finish the day with 18 points. Buckles is one of the guards in this class that doesn’t need a lot of shots to score in double figures. He can be very conservative on offense, which isn’t a bad thing. All this season, no defender has been able to force Buckles into bad shots. He simply just gets to his spots and score. It’s easy for him.
Thaddeus Johnson Thaddeus Johnson 6'2" | CG Hillsboro | 2023 State TN belongs in the top 75
Hillsboro’s Thaddeus Johnson Thaddeus Johnson 6'2" | CG Hillsboro | 2023 State TN entered at No. 75. Johnson is solid basketball player that can score when his team needs buckets. He likes to play physical and isn’t afraid of a challenge. Johnson was impressive in Murfreesboro, Tennessee last week as he displayed his sharp shooting touch from the perimeter. The Burros may not have won a Class 4A state title, but Johnson displayed his competitiveness, which was more-than-enough to put Hillsboro in position to play on the next-to-last day of the season.
Alexander enters top 80
Memphis Overton’s Xavier Alexander comes in at No. 77 and was a knockdown shooter for the Wolverines all season long. His shot making ability took a lot of attention off Jordan Frison. The 6-2 shooting guard was well-respected in the TSSAA 4A District 16, because of his jump shot. Alexander can easily get into rhythm and stay in it as long as he wants to. He always shot with confidence. Alexander was a nice complimentary piece to Frsion as both were able to jell well to win a championship.