2026 player rankings: Changes were needed

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the newly updated 2026 Tennessee player rankings, changes were needed. After the BCAT, Boys Hoopfest, a lot of prospects helped themselves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are the major changes in the latest installment:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Welcome Mr. Perry</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bartlett's [player_tooltip player_id='2083148' first='Axton' last='Perry'] moved up 22 spots to No. 10. The 6-foot-7 forward is effective on both ends of the floor. Perry is a disrupter on the defensive end. He dominates the boards. Perry has great hands and a great touch around the rim. He moves the needle for a team competing for a state title. It was long overdue for Perry to be recognized as one of the best players in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Welcome Mr. Sisk</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beech's [player_tooltip player_id='2439013' first='Cutter' last='Sisk'] moved up 19 spots to No. 12. He officially kicked the door in after a solid weekend in Franklin, Tennessee. The 6-7 forward can initiate the offense, find his teammates open on the floor, play with his back to the basket, make shots from the perimeter, run the floor, and rebound. Sisk can do everything. There's no more denying him. He's one of the faces of this class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keeping pounding the pavement</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Briarcrest's [player_tooltip player_id='1658056' first='Parker' last='Pounds'] moved up 20 spots to No. 54. Pounds is now 6-5. He played well in Franklin, TN, establishing himself as the Saints' No. 2 scoring option behind rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2194485' first='Joshua' last='Huggins']. Pounds made shots from the perimeter. He got reps at point guard and got his team in its offense. Pounds is efficient and has been throughout his high school career. Let's be honest here: Pounds kept improving and producing. He blossomed right on time before his senior season gets underway.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Applegate is officially in the top half</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Providence Christian Academy's [player_tooltip player_id='1947455' first='Peyton' last='Applegate'] moved up two spots to No. 50. The 6-7 forward is one of the most intriguing prospects in the class. Applegate moves well, has great hands and finishes strong at the rim. He's very patient and alert on the defensive end. Applegate can make shots from the perimeter. This class has a good amount of guys with size and skill. Applegate is one of the prospects in this class that stands out the most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Welcome Mr. Coles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2139567' first='Avery' last='Coles'] moved up four spots to No. 20. Coles isn't the most athletic big in this class. But he makes up for it in skill. Coles has good footwork and finishes well around the rim. He can step out and knock down the 3. When Coles catches the basketball at the free throw line, he's able to see the floor well enough to make the right read. At the center position, Coles should be considered the most talented one in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other notes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1659513' first='Christopher' last='Washington Jr.'] stays at No. 1. [player_tooltip player_id='1959160' first='Trey' last='Thompson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1560719' first='Trey' last='Pearson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1760996' first='Fred' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='1277259' first='Cam' last='Swearengen'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1549096' first='MJ' last='Hayes'] round out the top six. [player_tooltip player_id='2367403' first='Aiden' last='Bolden'] stays put at No. 7. [player_tooltip player_id='1943896' first='Nickalai' last='Anderson'] moved up two spots to No. 8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->