4A State Champ Contender Series: Hillsboro

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: Hillsboro team.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hillsboro brings back six of their top seven players and they lean on no individual. Expectations are deservedly high for Head Coach Rodney Thweatt and his Burros. The junior class is especially talented and tall. Much will be accomplished this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Wins in 22-23 (28-5</strong>): Sevier County, Hendersonville, Brentwood x2, Ravenwood x2, Lipscomb Academy x2, Ensworth</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Missteps</strong>: Independence, Goodpasture, Blackman, East Nashville, Memphis Overton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Departing:&nbsp;</strong>Thaddeus Johnson, Paul Pucket</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning Starters (4)</strong>:&nbsp;Star guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259396' first='Cortez' last='Graham-Howard']</strong> enters his junior season a Mr. Basketball candidate. Always a dependable shooter, Cortez matured as a point guard in the last six months. Apparently eager to pass, Graham-Howard sees angles and looks over top of the defense like a towered archer. Once he starts to the rim with the dribble, Cortez is more inclined to finish than kick. Free throw making is also a big part of his scoring. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2042563' first='Arnez' last='Anderson']</strong> continues to give buckets. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2042562' first='Xavier' last='Washington']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664889' first='Tyren' last='Fisher']</strong> each bring back unique skills. A lefty shooter, Washington provides scoring and forces defenses to attend to him instead or helping towards the ball-dominant Graham-Howard and Anderson. Tyren does not have the shooting range of the other three refurners, but he rebounds, defends and scores around the rim. Fisher plays bigger than his height indicates. Both Washington and Fisher are 6-foot-3 or taller. Fisher recorded six assists in the state quarterfinal win over Sevier County. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role</strong>: Forward <strong>Max Burtner </strong>gets a bump in 2023-2024. During BCAT Team Session Max started, helping promarily with passing and a little scoring. Can shoot the 3. <strong>Xavier Crawley</strong> will often be the first substitute to enter. Scores a bit, active hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Thoughts:</strong> The team is multi-talented. Their depth is real and yet [player_tooltip player_id='1259396' first='Cortez' last='Graham-Howard'] might be the best shooter and passer, making it important for him to identify the best possible scoring option. As long as Graham-Howard takes good shots like he has historically the Burros are a veritable title contender once more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->