Power Rankings Class A: What is Next?

Class A cut to eight teams Monday. Which team will win state? Enjoy a ranking of the favorite down to the deepest underdog.

1 – Middleton

The Tigers defeated Humboldt three times this season. They get a ruthless opening round draw of East Robertson.

Rodgerick Robinson is the whole show. Between RR and Cory Warren the team gets 30.3 points per, and Rodgerick gives 20.9 of those his lonesome. The bouncy senior takes about 1-3 of his team’s shots and makes 53% of them. Only East Robertson’s star comes close in importance to his team.

2 – East Robertson

It took time to warm to the Indians, because they lost the best player in school history, Taylor Groves, to graduation. This last week the Indians proved they are legitimate title contenders. Elijah Groves Elijah Groves 6'4" | SF East Robertson (football) | 2024 State TN is a man among boys. Incredible physical gifts.

East Robertson and Pickett County met last season for the Regional Championship. Anybody that knows anybody that ever attended East Robertson High knows that the Indians won that game and won all of the others to end with a TSSAA State Championship. ERHS defeated Pickett County last week. Will that win again presage a state title?

3 – Chattanooga Prep

As a second-year program there are no juniors or seniors of note with Class A Chattanooga Prep. Sophomores Eli Gaines Eli Gaines 6'1" | SG Chattanooga Prep | 2025 State TN and Ta’Suade Williams Ta’Suade Williams 6'2" | SG Chattanooga Prep | 2025 State TN both trap on defense and score in a variety of ways. Williams intercepted a penetrating pass in the final minute Monday, while hosting Pickett County. Then, Williams was fouled only to miss the front-end! Did he pout? No, Ta’Suade reached in as the Jacob Amonett Jacob Amonett 6'0" | PG Pickett County | 2025 State TN worked up the floor. The ball squirted loose and Williams dove to wrangle it, clawed against the PCHS guard and needed to dive again! He wrestled the ball and instantly passed it to a cutting teammate. Layup with under 50 seconds to play.

Ta’Suade was a terrible late-game free throw shooter in their mammoth Sub-State clash. Can not replicate that display in another tight game, of which the State Tournament often includes many. Chattanooga Prep won, 57-48.

Eli was evaluated during the June 2022 PrepHoopsTN Combine. Read his evaluation here. In the intervening 18+ months, Eli grew both taller and more skilled. His shooting touch was his redeeming skill before. Now, Eli is more comfortable on the ball. Maybe one day he will mature into a point guard. That is not required for him though, as the sophomore is now taller and more filled out physically. He can endure some fouls and still finish an and-1.

Playoff Stockrisers: Part II

4 – Fayetteville

Fayetteville (Starters*)
#0 Camaurian Taylor*
#1 Samuel Willoughby
#3 Love
#5 Latrel Brown*
#13 Tyus Henderson
#21 Bryson Johnson*
#23 Isaiah Thomison*
#24 Aljarea Johnson*

Good team quickness. FHS is one of the most athletic Class A teams in the state. If they hit outside shots, then they are fantastic offensively. Transition offense is a strength, an outlet for them to show off their explosiveness and mid-air elegance. Isaiah Thomison is comfortable in the lane. Good, high release on layups. At the Class A level, IT is a effective big man, despite standing approximately 6-foot-4. Big arms, shoulders. Aljarea Johnson is a threatening offensive player. He likes to score from multiple levels. As the Frank Hughes game began he was off with his touch. Most likely, his future games will start more smoothly. Gets to the free throw line. Samuel Willoughby is a future D1 football or basketball player. So fluid with long limbs. The Tigers did get sloppy against Frank Hughes. Against a better offensive team, those turnovers are certain to result in points.

5 – Humboldt

Kendrick Taylor Kendrick Taylor 6'3" | PG Humboldt | 2025 State TN is a committed defender. He is listed as a forward, but in truth he defends the guard spot with his 6-foot-3 length. Fredrick Moore and Stephon Shivers Stephon Shivers 6'5" | C Humboldt (football) | 2025 State TN are incredibly unique for Class A subs. Facing Lake County to open February, within seconds of the pair substituting into the game, Moore was standing at the free throw line off of a deft pass from Shivers. Few teams nationally feature a player just like Shivers, a 6-foot-6, 280ish pound lefty with great court awareness. A little Zach Randolph to his game, but Shivers passes like an Anthony Mason (Knicks-era) point forward sometimes too. Team speed is a strength. Outside shooting will not be a factor when Humboldt takes the floor.

6 – McKenzie

John Wilkins, a Harding University graduate, coaches the powerhouse Rebels. MHS mauled the guard-driven Moore County squad Monday evening to return to the state tournament. Marquez Taylor Marquez Taylor 6'0" | SG McKenzie (football) | 2023 State TN is a tremendously strong and explosive athlete at the point guard spot. Taylor is also incredible at football. The team is able to play an effective full-court press because Taylor is fantastic on-ball. His leaping ability is uncanny. The team lacks a legit big man, and could be exploited there. If McKenzie is able to set up their press, then they will create turnovers and easier buckets. Of course, that depends upon them making baskets. Sophomore Tate Surber (6’2″) is the only legitimate post player for MHS and that lack of balance could bite them in a big game.

7 – Hampton

Crews Butler Crews Butler 6'3" | SG Arlington | 2023 State TN can play. He is ranked #191 in the state entering March. He averaged over 20 points per the entire season. Buckles will score from all three levels. His team lacks the individual speed of Fayetteville, East Robertson, or Chattanooga Prep. Hayden Campbell is key. Geno Carrico can give buckets from three-point land and also inside.

8 – University

Participating Teams
University–
Hampton*
Chattanooga Prep*
East Robertson*
Middleton–
Humboldt*
McKenzie*
Fayetteville*

Humboldt
#1 Kendrick Taylor Kendrick Taylor 6'3" | PG Humboldt | 2025 State TN Jr.* (2025) 6’3″
#3 Eli Willoughby* (2025)
#4 Jeffery Patterson* (2025)
#22 Jeramiah Jones* (2026)
#33 Isaiah Agnew* (2023)

Moore County Roster
#0
#1 Alex Copeland Alex Copeland 6'0" | PG Moore County | 2024 State TN * (2024)
#3 Dawson White Dawson White 5'11" | SG Moore County | 2024 State TN * (2024)
#4 Will Baker
#23 Peyton Martin* (2025) 6’2″ 230 C

Frank Hughes
Runner-Up to McKenzie in
District 12 Region Champions
#1 Weston Lineberry
#3 Alex Shamer
#15 Hantz
#23 Aiden Dycus
#25 Carson Beckham

McKenzie Roster
#1 Zach Aird* (2023)
#2
#3
#4 Marquez Taylor Marquez Taylor 6'0" | SG McKenzie (football) | 2023 State TN *
#10 Tate Surber* (2025)

Chattanooga Prep
#2 De’Andre Turnbow De’Andre Turnbow 5'11" | PG Chattanooga Prep | 2026 State TN (Chattanooga Prep) – Starter. 2026 guy.
#3 Ta’Suade Williams Ta’Suade Williams 6'2" | SG Chattanooga Prep | 2025 State TN (Chattanooga Prep)
#11 Joel Bulis (Chattanooga Prep) – Starter, 2026 guy.
#15 Eli Gaines Eli Gaines 6'1" | SG Chattanooga Prep | 2025 State TN
#24 Kyrell Randolph (Chattanooga Prep) – Starter. 2025 guy.
#30 Derrick Roberson (Chattanooga Prep) – Starter. 2026.

Fayetteville
#0 Camaurian Taylor*
#1 Samuel Willoughby (2025)
#5 Latrel Brown*
#21 Bryson Johnson*
#23 Isaiah Thomison*
#24 Aljarea Johnson*

University

Marquez Taylor Marquez Taylor 6'0" | SG McKenzie (football) | 2023 State TN (McKenzie) – Incredible leaper. Super strong. Disruptive defensively. He is able to attack with purpose and defenders are often overpowered by his body when he heads to the lane. When McKenzie presses he is the best on-ball defender. Likes to gamble when the opportunity arises. Dribblers and passers don’t know exactly what he is going to do on defense.

-@PrepHoopsTN