Many Mid-TN Newcomers Join the 2026 Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2881570' first='Aaden' last='Batts']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The following Class of 2026 players are entering the Top 200, a reflection of their probable college recruitment(s) in the coming 12 months. <a href="https://prephoops.com/tennessee/rankings/2026-rankings/">Full Rankings</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Newcomers</span><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2767423' first='Kipras' last='Redeckas']&nbsp;- Webb-Bell Buckle<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610424' first='Tahj' last='Davie'] - Clarksville Academy<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2881570' first='Aaden' last='Batts'] -LEAD Academy<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2855390' first='Will' last='McCarter'] - Ravenwood<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2855319' first='Jackson' last='Nichols'] - Eagleville<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2880796' first='Chance' last='Whitlock'] - Warren County<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2882412' first='Mont' last='Seagraves'] - Hendersonville&nbsp;<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2852268' first='Vernon' last='Roberts Jr.'] - Davidson Academy&nbsp;<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2885469' first='Kentez' last='Anthony'] - Whites Creek&nbsp;<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2847487' first='Kenzyous' last='Fowler'] - Antioch<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2856711' first='Eric' last='Hazlett'] - Pearl-Cohn<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2852198' first='Joshua' last='Bolden'] - Davidson Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Debuting: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2767423' first='Kipras' last='Redeckas'] (Webb-Bell Buckle)<br><strong>Why?</strong> Breakout candidate. Kipras can score in a couple of ways. Perfect height for a college guard. Kipras played behind Jax Howard and [player_tooltip player_id='2194624' first='Eli' last='Brown'] this past season, so most don't know his name or game. That is changing right now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Debuting: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2852268' first='Vernon' last='Roberts Jr.'] (Davidson Academy)<br><strong>Why?</strong> Speedy guard. Vernon tacked on some muscle in the last six months. He earned All-District last winter and should be freer to score now that Davidson Academy added JP Strong to the backcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Debuting:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2610424' first='Tahj' last='Davie'] (Clarksville Academy)<br><strong>Why?</strong> Starred back in October of 2024 at the Prep Hoops Expo. Tahj plays with strength and agility. His game projects to an NAIA combo forward. Can create his own as a face-up slasher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Debuting:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2852198' first='Joshua' last='Bolden'] (Davidson Academy)<br><strong>Why?</strong> All-District hooper Bolden plays football and basketball. Though he is receiving college offers for football he confirmed to @PrepHoopsTN that he will play basketball in his senior season. It will be an exciting year for Davidson Academy. They have a brand new head coach. Two brand new budding stars. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Debuting:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2881570' first='Aaden' last='Batts'] (LEAD Academy)<br><strong>Why?</strong> Standing 6-foot-5, [player_tooltip player_id='2881570' first='Aaden' last='Batts'] helps his team in a variety of ways. Batts rebounds well (5.4 rpg). He will be the best rebounder for LEAD Academy this next season. He defends well. Batts averaged over 1 block per and 1 steal per. Aaden can score too. LEAD Academy received 7.0 ppg from Batts in 2024-2025. That number will climb in his senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Debuting:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2880796' first='Chance' last='Whitlock']<br><strong>Why?</strong> Phenomenal strength. Chance shared that he developed a passion for lifting weights and the results are plain. Whitlock stands about 6-foot-7. Warren County will have a legitimate big man operating in the lane all year in Chance. Look for a breakout season from him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->