Music City Madness GameChangers: Top Performers
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Music City Madness is in the books, another PrepHoops event full of competition and eye-opening prospects. This one brought together some of the best independent programs from across the southeast and certainly did not disappoint. These are some of my top performers from the weekend, otherwise known as Gamechangers.
Cade Capps Cade Capps 6’5″ | SG Stone Memorial | 2025 State #210 Nation TN is a name that was circled in a lot of roster packets heading into the weekend because of all the buzz around him as a prospect. Capps lived up to the lofty expectations and wasted no time getting busy, a 27 point outing on opening night. He’s a deadly three-point shooter and won’t hesitate to pull it from deep. Capps has god size at 6’5 and can hurt teams inside when they step all the way out. While Radford and Tennessee Tech have already offered, I expect several more D1s to jump in this spring.
Highlights
Brady Shoulders Brady Shoulders 6’6″ | PF Lyon County | 2024 State KY had a great weekend for STARS Basketball Club, offering consistent production in each game. He’s a strong 6’6 forward that can make an impact both inside and out. Shoulders hits the boards with aggression and competes hard inside. He offered a viable spot-up option on the perimeter and hit several threes throughout the weekend. Trevecca Nazarene offered Shoulders and a few other STARS products following Friday night games. After stringing together back to back weekends full of production, Shoulders is rising in stock right now.
Elijah Walton Elijah Walton 6’5″ | SF University Heights | 2025 State KY was all over the court this weekend for NYBA Stars, one of the most active players I saw in Nashville. Walton is a 6’5 wing with eye-popping athleticism and a ton of untapped potential. In addition to his scoring efforts, Walton filled nearly every stat category and impacted all facets of the game. He came up with a number of blocks and steals on the defensive end, grabbed a ton of boards, and even showcased some playmaking ability in the half court. The lefty wing is one to watch in this 2025 class and his best basketball is certainly ahead of him.
Highlights
Avery Coles
Avery Coles
Another STARS player that stood out this weekend, Avery Coles was easily one of the most intriguing 2026 prospects I saw in Nashville. Coles stands out immediately upon taking the court because of his big 6’9 frame, especially when playing in the 15u division. He provides more than just size however. Coles has great feet in the post and a nice touch around the rim. He was hard to keep off the boards and scored a bunch of points off put-backs alone. It wouldn’t surprise me if some colleges decided to get in on Coles sooner than later.
DaRon Waller DaRon Waller 6’6″ | SF Riverdale | 2023 State TN was the engine that made STARS South go this weekend, flying around the court and offering production in a number of areas. When his team needed a bucket down the stretch, they were going to Waller almost every time. He is extremely mobile and has quicker feet than most 6’6 forwards. A capable low post scorer, Waller also showed the ability to step out and hit perimeter shots. Columbia St recently offered Waller and I think he’d be an exciting get for many JUCO programs this late in the game.