Avery Coles and the Top ’26 Centers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2139567' first='Avery' last='Coles']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Early July, we updated the 2026 player rankings. In this feature, the third of the positional breakdown series, the focus is centers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Rim Protectors</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2352126' first='Austin' last='Tinnon']</strong> - Tullahoma</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>State-Runner Up [player_tooltip player_id='2352126' first='Austin' last='Tinnon'] managed to block 48 shots this past season. His presence was a constant deterrent. Tullahoma lost a lot to graduation. Tinnon's offense will called upon to be even more consistent in 2025-2026. He reminds a bit of Daniel Saylor (Sycamore HS '20). Both showcased some touch from the mid-range and ran the floor decently. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2678069' first='Andrew' last='Joyner']</strong> - KACHEA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During his junior season Andrew recorded an outrageous 136 blocks for an average of 4.1 per game! It is necessary to inject that Joyner's KACHEA team does not play a TSSAA schedule. They did face Sullivan East twice and a sprinkling more, but they are outside of TSSAA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline">New to TN</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2886050' first='Idris' last='Abubakar'] </strong>- Whitehaven</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most recently a high schooler in Colorado, Idris started for Whitehaven's Tigers at BCAT's Hoopfest. Great height. Strong. Agile. He should be an All-District player. Idris was born in Nigeria.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Undersized Centers</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2634808' first='Tyler' last='McKennon']</strong> - Hickman County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2634808' first='Tyler' last='McKennon'] is a solid 6-foot-5 bruiser for Hickman County. Few college programs are taking a center at that height regardless of his 2A dominance. McKennon possesses very strong back, shoulders, and legs. Solid off of two feet. McKennon is not going to dribble past anybody, but he passes over players from the high post with a better than average vision.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2850812' first='Reid' last='Vining']</strong> - Farragut</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2847447' first='David' last='Taft']</strong> - Montgomery Bell Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>M.B.A. added needed size when they recruited transfers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2716618' first='Korajo' last='Dickens'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2856292' first='Kharlo' last='Dickens']</strong> , but neither are true centers like [player_tooltip player_id='2847447' first='David' last='Taft']. Veteran big David stands 6-foot-6 and rebounds with both hands high. Strong and muscular, Taft will definitely play under the rim if he elects to play college basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2864959' first='Jaxon' last='Hardaway'] </strong>- White Station</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throwback big. Though he stands 6-foot-8, Jaxon predominately plays at the rim. Hardaway could play college football, as he excels as either a right tackle or a left tackle. Double-double machine in high school at the 4A level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->