2025-26 season: Expectations

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 season is finally here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The road to Murfreesboro, Tennessee has started. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Great things have already happened in the early days of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But, most importantly, there will be high expectations for talented teams and prospects across the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kirkwood's backcourt</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2309002' first='Armani' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2278560' first='Bryce' last='Garnett'] will be one of the best backcourts in Class 4A this season. Both are lethal on the offensive end. Smith and Garnett can rotate playing at both guard positions. Both can make shots from the perimeter. Smith had 43 points in a win over defending Division II-A state champ Providence Christian Academy Tuesday night. Garnett added 17 points in the win. This is only the beginning for Smith and Garnett. These two prospects are going to give teams fits on a nightly basis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>High scoring offense for Bartlett</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bartlett took care of business Monday night, defeating Rossview, 94-47, at Milan High School in the second game of a doubleheader. The Panthers should score a lot of points this season. They have the roster to do so. Bartlett can play fast with sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2194475' first='Braylon' last='Williams'], sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2194617' first='DJ' last='Okoth'], junior shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='2291122' first='Dylan' last='Jones'] and senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2083148' first='Axton' last='Perry'] on the floor together. Williams is the floor general that can control the pace of the game and make shots. Jones has proven to be a knockdown shooter from 3-point range. Okoth and Perry are dangerous near the rim. Add in talented freshman point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2979284' first='Malachi' last='Hill'] and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2307628' first='Sydney' last='Thompson'] to be the icing on the cake for the Panthers, who are clearly a legit Class 4A state title contender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>All-Region for the Eagles' big</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore big man [player_tooltip player_id='2543986' first='James' last='Humphreys'] should be an All-Region player this season. He's going to get touches. Humphreys knows how to finish at the rim. On the defensive end, he does a great job of altering shots. Humphreys is going to be a double-digit scorer for a Brentwood Academy team that's going to be competitive in Division II-AA. He's already showed great promise with 21 points in a scrimmage against a solid Kirkwood team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>All-District season for Coleman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collierville's junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2781134' first='Christian' last='Coleman'] is going to be a nightmare for most teams that can't match his size (6-foot-6) and stout frame. In Class 4A District 15, Bartlett and Houston are the only teams with size to throw at Coleman, but he should have his way with everyone else in the district. He should be able to score at will in the post. Coleman's ball handles are good enough to get downhill. He scored 21 points in a home win over Southwind Tuesday night. If Coleman stays healthy, he will average, at least, 20 points per contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->