The Battle Ground Ascendancy

Andrew Force August 2, 2023 @ 07:01 PM

Battle Ground Academy is wildly different than they were two short years ago. Kavien Jones Kavien Jones 6'6" | PF Battle Ground Academy | 2024 State TN is back from Missouri. Arnett Hayes Arnett Hayes 6'2" | PG Battle Ground Academy (football) | 2025 State TN is now on the roster. The young guys are capable of playing now. Head Coach Trey Meyer will lead a team with uncommon Div II talent. Depth. Athleticism.

Advancing the State Tournament is a realistic goal for Coach Meyer and the talented Wildcats.

Coach Meyer was hired May 2021 to replace Jared Street, now at Page High.

The number prior is the jersey number each player wore during June at the BCAT Team Camp in Memphis.

Battle Ground Academy Roster (starters*)

3 Jake Harney Jake Harney 5'10" | PG Battle Ground Academy | 2026 State TN *

4 Grayson Collins Grayson Collins 5'11" | PG Battle Ground Academy | 2024 State TN

11 Jacob Hinely

22 Beck Wampler

15 Christian Thompson Christian Thompson 5'8" | PG Battle Ground Academy | 2026 State TN

1 Greyson Williams Greyson Williams 5'10" | PG Battle Ground Academy | 2025 State TN *

10 Conrad Jones Conrad Jones 5'11" | PG Franklin | 2026 State TN

20 Oliver Sellers

14 Jackson Hammontree

2 Kaedyn Marable Kaedyn Marable 6'1" | SF Battle Ground Academy (Football) | 2026 TN

12 Jack Duperrieu *

5 Arnett Hayes Arnett Hayes 6'2" | PG Battle Ground Academy (football) | 2025 State TN *

24 Lawson Gillispie

32 Dixon Adams

23 Kavien Jones Kavien Jones 6'6" | PF Battle Ground Academy | 2024 State TN *

Kavien Jones Kavien Jones 6'6" | PF Battle Ground Academy | 2024 State TN is the show horse. Kavien plays like the older brother, absurdly stronger and bigger, that your friend misguidedly brought to your birthday party. It was more fun, see also easy, to win before he arrived. Kavien will put up 18p, 10r, 2b at his level. Signed to Tennessee State University. Kavien is a lot more athletic than his football-type frame suggests. He can get off of the ground and not just win with "bully ball" and his outside shot is allegedly improved.

Battle Ground is very, very strong with ball-handling and lead guard play in general. The team was passable at point guard with Greyson Williams Greyson Williams 5'10" | PG Battle Ground Academy | 2025 State TN and Jake Harney Jake Harney 5'10" | PG Battle Ground Academy | 2026 State TN operating with the basketball, but then they added a future D1 point guard in Arnett Hayes Arnett Hayes 6'2" | PG Battle Ground Academy (football) | 2025 State TN and they became an unmitigated problem.

Jake Harney Jake Harney 5'10" | PG Battle Ground Academy | 2026 State TN impressed during April-July with Shockers AAU out of Brentwood/Franklin. He was a darting ball of energy. Constant movement. Jake is a guy with wonderful lower body balance. He is built like he will max out at 5'10" or so. Thankfully, he keeps those feet moving and irritates defenders with his energy and effort. Harney reminds a little of Reese Glover. Reese was a better outside shooter at the end of his high school career. His knack for keeping opponents unsteady and confused was unique. Jake has some of that to his game. Great worker. Unselfish.

Arnett Hayes Arnett Hayes 6'2" | PG Battle Ground Academy (football) | 2025 State TN is a joy to watch. Fast, quick. Clever. Athletic. Gets to the free throw line constantly. Bounce is impressive. He can be as good as he wants. Hayes drew some Division One basketball interest already, prior to his junior season. Arnett will dominate many nights at the small private school level.