Class of 2026 Features the best SF Bunch in PrepHoopsTN History

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2817446' first='Charlie' last='Taubenheim']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Early July, we updated the 2026 player rankings. In this feature, the second of the positional breakdown series, the focus is small forwards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"77247","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686805fc19042"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline">New Homes</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Small forwards ('26) became unusually transient this cycle. Three of the Top seven SF's changed schools and there could be a fourth by September. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1760996' first='Fred' last='Smith']</strong> - Briarcrest Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2024/03/fred-smith-wins-mvp-d-ii-aa-all-tournament-team-named/">State Champion (2024) and 2024 State Tournament MVP</a> [player_tooltip player_id='1760996' first='Fred' last='Smith'] looks likely to find a new home for 2025-2026. Briarcrest Christian will be good again, but with some different personnel. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194485' first='Joshua' last='Huggins']</strong> is the big get. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1658056' first='Parker' last='Pounds']</strong> played wonderful at BCAT and Greg Spright deservedly carries a strong reputation onto the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fred remains in the Top 5 thanks to his extreme attacking talent with a 6-foot-6 frame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2367403' first='Aiden' last='Bolden']</strong> - Providence Christian Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>State Champion [player_tooltip player_id='2367403' first='Aiden' last='Bolden']'s senior season will be thrilling, exciting. But where will he suit up? Like [player_tooltip player_id='1760996' first='Fred' last='Smith'], Aiden did not play at BCAT Hoopfest late in June. Unlike [player_tooltip player_id='1760996' first='Fred' last='Smith'], Aiden appears headed to a TSSAA program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1904052' first='Abe' last='Reinbold']</strong> - McMinn County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Cleveland High School's Athletic Director making the wacky decision to depart with Head Coach Reggie Tucker at least <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1904052' first='Abe' last='Reinbold'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2460271' first='Amari' last='Martin']</strong> (to Bradley Central) transferred away. Reinbold will play for McMinn County, a program enjoying a strong run of success this decade. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the 9th time in program history McMinn County advanced to the State Tournament in 2023. Starters were: Hayden Smith, Tucker Monroe, Davion Evans, Reese Frazier, Cayden Hester. Trent Peak was an integral Sixth Man.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Multiple Cherokee graduates advanced to college basketball since 2020 too. Reinbold possesses the size and skill to do the same.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Hidden Gems</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2767423' first='Kipras' last='Redeckas']</strong> - Webb-Bell Buckle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2767423' first='Kipras' last='Redeckas'] did not get a ton of touches last winter, but his skill suggests college hoops is in his future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2735316' first='Rylan' last='Woods'] </strong>- Tellico Plains</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Truly an epiphany occurred when watching [player_tooltip player_id='2735316' first='Rylan' last='Woods'] and a tremendous Tellico Plains team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1/21/25:</strong>&nbsp;Rylan is a new discovery to me, because bluntly Tellico Plains is typically an afterthought in boys basketball. Not this year. Rylan and the Bears are a very good team, possibly a District Championship winning team. Rylan is an elegant wing forward. Handle is impressive. Bounce is wonderful.&nbsp;<strong>Gaas Herman</strong>&nbsp;guarded him much of the night, but it was not successful for Notre Dame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2736840' first='Joshua' last='Sain'] </strong>- McNairy Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joshua earned PrepHoopsTN Combine MVP last month with a sterling performance. Sain is springy and speedy (3.14 seconds 3/4-court sprint). He projects at either wing position for NAIA/NAIA+.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1959189' first='Cayman' last='Camfield']</strong> - Wayne County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following their leader [player_tooltip player_id='1959189' first='Cayman' last='Camfield'], Wayne County's Wildcats won a game at the 1A State Tournament this spring. Cayman scored 18 points on 18 shots in the victory. In their narrow semifinal loss Cayman scored 16 points on just 10 shots. Alas, it was not enough as Hillcrest won 44-41.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2678918' first='Amaury' last='St. Ann']</strong> - Bartlett</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How could a player for powerhouse Bartlett High be a "Hidden Gem"? Well, Bartlett's bench is always very, very deep and Amaury's minutes are limited. Still, the talent and agility are there though St. Ann stands 6-foot-4, a bit short for a forward. Strong, physical player with some wiggle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->