Nickalai Anderson Commits and Mid-August Recruiting News

Less than two weeks after his Lenoir-Rhyne official visit, the sixth best prospect in the senior class verbally committed to the Bears.

State Champion Nickalai Anderson Nickalai Anderson 6'7" | SF Providence Christian Academy | 2026 State TN earned elevated interest from five Division 1 programs coming out of BCAT Hoopfest and July AAU.

Lipscomb University, Samford, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, and UT Martin each showed love and wanted to keep him close as they recruited him, but Anderson decided waiting for offers was not the move. He found a future home in Hickory, North Carolina during a very late July official visit and verbally committed today.

Both Lee University and Mississippi College developed interest in his game this summer too.

Nickalai Anderson Nickalai Anderson 6'7" | SF Providence Christian Academy | 2026 State TN is a slender, springy wing forward with the kind of length and speed that college coaches love. His upside suggests sophomore year D2 dominance or eventual mid-major starter if he chose that route instead.

In his first year at the helm in 2024-25 Brent Owen and the Bears finished with a 29-6 record, making it the most wins in a single season in school history. They won the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Tournament Championship, the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championship, and advanced the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Evansville, Indiana. It marked the first time in men’s basketball history LR has won an NCAA Division II Regional Championship.

Lenoir Rhyne extended his contract three years in April after just one season on campus. They are hoping to keep him at least those three years, but upward trajectory looks nearly certain.

PrepHoopsTN Combine All-Star DJ Wilbur DJ Wilbur 5'10" | PG Red Bank | 2026 State TN (Red Bank) earned his second offer Sunday. “Extremely grateful and blessed to receive my Second offer from Pellissippi State Community College,” he tweeted. Wilbur can shoot or drive better than most. He holds realistic expectations for winning District MVP in 2025-2026.

State Champion Peyton Applegate Peyton Applegate 6'7" | PF Providence Christian Academy | 2026 State TN (Providence Christian Academy) is “talking with Trevecca, Union, Alabama Huntsville,” he shared. The power forward attended Samford University’s Elite Camp and received positive reviews, but that relationship remains very new.

After his unofficial visit this weekend, Grafton Graves Grafton Graves 6'5" | PF Wilson Central | 2027 TN Wilson Central) picked up a Johnson University offer.

Top Seniors Setting Official Visits

Sharpshooting guard Carter Ezell (Centennial) has been recruited pretty heavily recently, in his words. They invited him to visit soon. “University of Chicago has been in touch as well,” said Ezell this weekend via Twitter DM. Another Williamson County hooper, Daniel Cochran is currently a sophomore at University of Chicago. His freshman year was amazingly successful indivually.

Knoxville Catholic guard Cade Murphy set multiple official visits: Colgate, Eastern Kentucky, Columbia, Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech.

Jarron Talley (HHCA) will take a visit to Ohio University soon though could be an unofficial or an official visit. The Ohio University coaching staff is going to clarify that within days.

Adam Barrouk Adam Barrouk 6'8" | SF Hamilton Heights Christian Academy | 2026 TN (HHCA) is talking with Cal State Fullerton quite a bit and their staff will probably be lining up a visit for him shortly.

Ja’Michael Mitchell Ja’Michael Mitchell 6'0" | PG Whitehaven | 2026 State TN (Whitehaven) maintains consistent contact with Austin Peay, UT Martin, and LeMoyne Owen. Foes might remember him from Wilson Central. He transferred after this past junior year.

Johnson University offered EJ Bryson Jr. (Whites Creek) Sunday after camp.

You can read much more about official visitors statewide here.