Newcomers in the Class of 2026 PrepHoopsTN Rankings (Middle TN)

May 17th, 2023, the Class of 2026 rankings enjoyed a freshening. Scour the additions. Only the players living in middle Tennessee are featured in this article.

Thanks to two deeply watched AAU events in Tennessee this spring, numerous players joined the Top 2026's after fantastic first impressions. If you want a surefire way to get an evaluation, attend PrepHoopsTN Summer Combine.

Cam Blivens Cam Blivens 6'2" | PG Lipscomb Academy | 2026 State TN

Kameron Bowers Kameron Bowers 6'0" | PG West Creek | 2026 State TN earned PrepHoopsTN JV Camp MVP. Quick, smooth. Wonderful basketball instincts.

Hudson McKnight Hudson McKnight 6'2" | PG Brentwood | 2026 State TN projects favorably because he is kind of a taller point guard relative to his AAU teammates. Obviously the competition gets taller as a player ascends the basketball ladder and Hudson might be in the average height range for college-bound hoopers.

Chris Johnson Chris Johnson 6'7" | PF Nolensville | 2026 State TN

Jayln McDonald Jayln McDonald 6'7" | PF Blackman | 2026 State TN

Camden Cole Camden Cole 6'3" | SG Eagleville | 2026 State TN

Dorien Lyles Dorien Lyles 6'3" | SG Blackman | 2026 State TN

Jake Harney Jake Harney 5'10" | PG Battle Ground | 2026 State TN is gritty. Finishes well in the lane at the 15u level.

Jackson McCutcheon Jackson McCutcheon 5'11" | PG/SG Brentwood | 2026 State TN - For Shockers 2026, Jackson starts as a combo guard. Despite his diminutive size, Jackson plays off of the ball and thrives. Because the team is built with three adept guards, Jackson realistically finds himself as a catch-and-shoot threat. This role is not a problem for him. Jackson's shooting is fantastic and his timing with the jumper serves the team very well. Looking down the line, Jackson will need to either grow a touch taller or assume the point guard position. Again, he might be a strong point guard with his high school program, but the AAU team simply does not need that from him, so the early PrepHoopsTN evaluations exclude that element.

Oliver Bender Oliver Bender 6'3" | SF Nolensville (football) | 2026 TN rebounds well for Shockers 15u. He defends multiple positions. Questions that demand further review. Can he hit shots from 14-20'? Is he a future wing? Does he have the capacity to attack with the dribble?

Peyton Applegate Peyton Applegate 6'7" | PF Providence Christian | 2026 State TN is a decent faceup big at the 15u level. He is a little short for a college forward prospect, but there is a strong chance he will grow a little taller. Nice touch around the rim. Passes ok.