Segond Sompa, Jacob Williams and the Top 2027 Bigs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2880037' first='Jacob' last='Williams']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A few classic bigs emerged already to represent the Tennessee's Class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2027","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"77243","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6934bef59b803"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2779428' first='Segond' last='Sompa']</strong> broke out last spring in Grace Christian's late-season surge and playoff run. Tremendous agility displayed by Sompa leaps off of the page and then the post player can run the floor quite well. His shooting touch lags behind the rest of his game though he is capable of finishing 8' and in. Sompa defends the rim quite well and projects as a plus-plus rebounder. Sompa plays strong thanks to both his natural power and the strength he develops with training. There is some potential as a ball-handler too...not a guard's quality of handle, but a forward who can break a flashing forward defender with some sizzle. His athletic ceiling is probably the highest of any big man on this list hence his lofty ranking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2880037' first='Jacob' last='Williams']</strong> transferred from a young and strong James Lawson High (2024-2025) team to a young and impressive Goodpasture squad where he is enjoying some success. Williams is a throwback big man kind of like Andre Drummond in that he specializes in playing in the lane and around the rim on both ends. He is not the modern big that faces up from 20' and hits three-pointers. Williams does what he does and helps provide a deterrent to driving guards. Ideally, Williams will improve his endurance over time. In the last six months Jacob became lighter on his feet, which helps his productivity as an offensive player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2449556' first='Hunter' last='Noel']</strong> (Davidson Academy) is a project big with wonderful size (6-foot-11) and length. Much like [player_tooltip player_id='2880037' first='Jacob' last='Williams'], Hunter must figure out where he belongs in the modern game, which demands so much movement from centers. Noel blocks shots regularly. His primary contributions for DA are rebounding defensively and giving the team floor balance. Noel is much, much better at showing for the ball this season. He catches post feeds wonderfully. His high center of gravity enables powerful defenders to root him out and nudge him away from the low block though. His improvement in the last year is impressive, but it takes longer for nearly 7' young hoopers to develop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2878965' first='Dain' last='Clark']</strong> (Ensworth) showed back in June at BCAT Hoopfest that he is a very active, slightly undersized big. The team needs him and the frontline to help pull defenses away from elite high school scorer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2308938' first='Steven' last='Sherman']</strong>. Dain shows really nice shooting touch inside 18' and from the free throw line. Again, the effort and motor of Dain create so much value. Clark is more forward than center truthfully, but Ensworth uses him as a center. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->