Zay Bridges and the top ’27 small forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2299334' first='Zay' last='Bridges']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2299334' first='Zay' last='Bridges'] is one of many talented small forwards. Read about an assortment of the best junior wings below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2027","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"77247","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698672ac41a01"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Tier</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1719620' first='Ryan' last='Wingard'] </strong>(McCallie),<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2111892' first='Jordan' last='Myles']</strong> (Houston), and possibly<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2716618' first='Korajo' last='Dickens']</strong> comprise the top tier of Class of 2027 small forwards. Wingard is the best athlete, and he started this winter to produce at the elite level his supporters hoped for. [player_tooltip player_id='2111892' first='Jordan' last='Myles'] and his Houston squad are hunting a State Championship to follow that magical 2021 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Houston Boys' Basketball History</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Championship Record:</strong>&nbsp;3-0<br><strong>Appearances (2):</strong>&nbsp;2021, 2020<br><strong>Team Champions (1):</strong>&nbsp;2021</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">On the Rise</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2281200' first='Jay' last='Kirk'] </strong>played and played well for Alcoa on their 2025 postseason run, so he was not an unknown by any stretch. In a captivating win over Knoxville Catholic [player_tooltip player_id='2281200' first='Jay' last='Kirk'] completely dominated a team full of future college wings. This necessitated his meteoric rise in the rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tough, Tough</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3073828' first='Jovis' last='Erwan']</strong> (Knoxville Catholic) plays with the toughness of a linebacker and his primary contribution to a talented Knoxville Catholic team is absolutely as rebounder/defender. When your team dresses<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1959161' first='Cade' last='Murphy']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2634289' first='Malachi' last='Brown'] </strong>the coach does not need shots from you. They need you to get Cade Malachi extra shots. That is what Jovis does with exceptional strength and effort.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2884439' first='Jevon' last='Lee'] </strong>(Shelbyville Central) is another max effort guy that both AAU coaches and high school coaches rave about. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2930953' first='Grafton' last='Graves']</strong> (Wilson Central) may lack the raw strength of Jorvis his effort lags not a lick. Grafton can attack from any number of positions. Graves kind of lines up as Central's center but prefers to face 'em up. Nice shooting touch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like [player_tooltip player_id='2884439' first='Jevon' last='Lee'], Sevier County forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2358523' first='Parker' last='Newman']</strong> plays football. He continues to hulk up and bulk up, which makes him a terrifying foe in the rebounding battles necessary to win basketball games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stewarts Creek junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2358778' first='Sean' last='Goggins']</strong> is a strong small forward, but he does not showcase the strength in the typical way...swinging elbows or grunting. He is a finesse attacker from the wing that absorbs contact expertly. He typically uses his strength to get to the paint and to finish after contact. Goggins won @PrepHoopsTN Combine MVP in June 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2716618' first='Korajo' last='Dickens'] </strong>(Montgomery Bell Academy) is a naturally strong young man with a versatile game. The MBA Big Red newbie is like Goggins in that he does not lean on his strength as much as benefit from it naturally.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2815295' first='Kelsey' last='Rose'] Jr</strong>. (Jackson Christian) is a true joy to watch. His agility with the body of a defensive end is shocking. Rose Jr. is a candidate for Mr. Basketball this year thanks to his constant productivity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->