Freshmen at the State Tournament

PICTURED: Terrell Cole Terrell Cole 6'1" | PG Humboldt | 2029 TN

So few high school hoopers ever play in a State Tournament. A list of all freshmen who earn State Tournament minuets shrinks that number to nearly zero. Three particular freshmen really impressed me mid-March at the TSSAA State Tournament. Read.

In the state semifinal versus undefeated Eagleville Terrell Cole Terrell Cole 6'1" | PG Humboldt | 2029 TN played a lot and played pretty well. The freshman needs a lot of work defending the ball. His positioning is not great, and he gives way too much ground to the driver. Cole's athleticism sets him apart from other freshmen. He moves like Fayette Ware's Kylon Terry Kylon Terry 6'2" | SG State TN did at the same age. Confident in the lane. Quick feet. He projects as a combo guard. Right now, he plays either wing spot for Humboldt...kind of a small forward with handles. Cole plays better as a help defender. Quick hands. Good reactions.

With a glut of weapons Bartlett didn't need another great scorer, but they have one in Malachi Hill Malachi Hill 5'10" | PG Bartlett | 2029 TN . Hill hit two lovely three-pointers in Bartlett's State Championship game. When he missed the third, he secured the miss off of the rim.

In all, Malachi pulled down four rebounds, fewer than one Walker Valley Mustang managed. In other words, Hill was almost better at rebounding than anybody on the opposition...and he is a guard.

A left-handed lead guard Malachi Hill Malachi Hill 5'10" | PG Bartlett | 2029 TN provides the team what it needs and not what he is. You will see Malachi play more with the ball in his hands down the line. Right now, Bartlett leans upon Dylan Jones Dylan Jones 6'5" | SG Bartlett | 2027 State #48 Nation TN and Braylon Williams Braylon Williams 6'0" | PG Bartlett | 2028 State TN instead. Malachi Hill Malachi Hill 5'10" | PG Bartlett | 2029 TN is a decent on-ball defender, but when teams get him below the free throw line, he gets bullied. He desperately needs to gain good weight...like all freshmen.

With a big lead 22-point lead heading into the fourth quarter Bartlett Head Coach Dion Real inserted freshman sing Kaleb Taylor Kaleb Taylor 6'6" | SF Bartlett | 2029 TN . Look for Taylor to challenge for the #1 spot in our 2029 rankings thanks to his mix of size for the position and agility. He pulled down a rebound seconds into action. In the five minutes he played Saturday Kaleb scored a three-point shot, dished out a single assist, and collected that rebound.