Armani Smith and the Best ’27 Shooting Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2309002' first='Armani' last='Smith']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ten junior shooting guards joined the @PrepHoopsTN Class of 2027 rankings late last month. Read about the newcomers and the mainstays below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2027","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"77248","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6980a173ab484"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Newcomers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3464647,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/PaulSama_4e7a87.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/PaulSama_4e7a87.png?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-3464647" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='3221248' first='Paul' last='Sama'] - HHCA</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3221248' first='Paul' last='Sama'] - Hamilton Heights Christian Academy<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3150194' first='Sam' last='Dabbs'] - Briarcrest Christian<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3189801' first='Devin' last='Bertram'] - Harriman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3223936' first='Tucker' last='Powers'] - Nolensville<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3141608' first='Jack' last='Whitworth'] - Battle Creek<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3270244' first='Dayton' last='Palmer'] - Loudon<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3272220' first='Wil' last='Shirey'] - Richland<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3279052' first='Jack' last='Jackson'] - Richland<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3281219' first='Keaton' last='Clawson'] - Cumberland Gap<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3365202' first='Kyran' last='Glover'] - Middle Tennessee Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Easily the most talented newcomer in this pack, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3221248' first='Paul' last='Sama'] </strong>runs like a deer and jumps like a Puma. HHCA is struggling through a very tough season though Sama is worth a long watch thanks to his elite athleticism and general creativity with the basketball. More scorer than supplier. Sawa is the kind of tall wing with the kind of talent that typically exists in the Top 30 statewide. That is possible if he stays in the state next season. Prep school hoopers are much more likely to bound around the country to different programs. French-born, Sama now stands about 6-foot-5 with wonderful agility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3223936' first='Tucker' last='Powers']</strong> is a strong wing at 6-foot-3. Nolensville has a big man in [player_tooltip player_id='1946924' first='Chris' last='Johnson'] (Columbus State Community College verbal) and two primary ball-handlers (Ryland McElvey, [player_tooltip player_id='1959892' first='Bryant' last='Hall'] Jr.), so roles are tough to secure. Powers perfects the part of role player by rebounding aggressively and defending multiple positions. NHS will have many more minutes and touches available next year and maybe Powers will absorb those. He is ready physically. According to CourtneyHoops90, Powers scored 11 points and helped with two assists in a <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/12/top-performers-week-6-4/">win</a> over Lebanon back in late December.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Fringe</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most years around 115 players sign/commit to college basketball programs from the state of Tennessee. Though the Class of 2027 is solid in the Top 60ish no more than 75 are clearly college basketball prospects. Anybody ranked below #75 needs to do more to get away from that "fringe" territory, an unofficial barrier between playing college basketball and not playing college basketball. Surely a young man can accomplish a lot and enjoy a wonderful high school career without playing beyond, but for readers here this is a helpful guideline. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What does it all mean? Well, probably there need to be many more prospects around the state seen and added to the rankings because the 110-115 number is very consistent. The talent did not drop off 40 spots just one single year. Most likely we just have not seen enough of the top players and need to expand our 2027's with more top guys.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kirkwood junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2510498' first='Montavious' last='Clardy']</strong> is a guy in that fringy area. Blessed with elite bounce Clardy is a dynamic, exciting player. He is a difference-maker at the 4A level for a team that will win their district. Unfortunately, his recruitment will require some finesses. We measured Clardy at 5-oot-7<a href="https://prephoops.com/2024/08/2024-prephoopstn-combine-evaluations-part-vii/"> about 1.5 years ago</a>. The tremendously athletic guard is now 5-foot-8 and strong. Fit will be critical.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tall Off-Guards</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2291122' first='Dylan' last='Jones'] - Bartlett - 6'5"<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3221248' first='Paul' last='Sama'] - HHCA - 6'5"<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2350372' first='Brady' last='Harris'] - Cumberland Gap - 6'4"<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2194897' first='George' last='Mabury'] - Independence - 6'4"<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2456024' first='Jeffrey' last='Whittaker'] - White House Heritage - 6'4"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3221248' first='Paul' last='Sama'], [player_tooltip player_id='2194897' first='George' last='Mabury'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2350372' first='Brady' last='Harris'] are kind of small forwards/shooting guards. They are all three nimble enough to play shooting guard at the college level. Frankly, there is almost no difference between SG and SF anymore with the way modern college teams play. Still, having height is helpful.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->