The Vanishing 2027 Class

PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2260983' first='Jamir' last='Dean']   "If this was my last game, I went out with a bang," smirked [player_tooltip player_id='2260983' first='Jamir' last='Dean'] Saturday minutes after his Alcoa Tornados captured the program's third State Championship in the last four seasons.   The star junior was answering a surprisingly probing question from Jesse Smithey of <a href="https://www.5starpreps.com/articles/author/jsmithey/">5Star Preps</a> regarding whether Dean might graduate early (December 2026) and "early enroll" at the college football program of his choice a semester early. If he elects to go this way Jamir would almost certainly just entirely skip his senior basketball season with Alcoa and instantly weaken their chances at repeating in 3A next spring.   Honestly, Dean was noncommittal to the question and looked to Alcoa Head Coach Ryan Collins before answering, perhaps searching for a safe albeit unrevealing answer. There is no rush to make the decision about his senior year as Jamir still does not even know for which college football program he intends to star after high school.   According to On3.com 22 Division 1 football programs offered him a full scholarship presumably as a wide receiver, his best high school position. Colleges already extending an offer include three SEC schools (Vandy, Arkansas, Mississippi State), Wake Forest, Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan State, Middle Tennessee and Memphis. Suffice to say he will have plenty of options after graduation. For the basketball universe in Tennessee what matters most is when he graduates not where he goes afterward.   When asked about Jamir's chance of early enrolling in December Dean's father Derrell Dean revealed, "It is not guaranteed, but it is probably most likely...85-90%."   Because the college head coach usually dictates to the player and his family their intentions regarding early enrollment or not. And often it is not an ask as much as a 'you will be early enrolling.' Depends upon the program and depends upon the coach.   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Chance of Playing 2026-2027 in Tennessee: 10%</h4>   Friday, March 27th, [player_tooltip player_id='2716618' first='Korajo' last='Dickens'], the #8 ranked college prospect in our Class of 2027, announced via Twitter and Instagram that he was reclassifying down from 2027 to 2028. Though not announced publicly equally talented younger brother [player_tooltip player_id='2856292' first='Kharlo' last='Dickens'] will reclass down from 2028 to 2029.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/korajodickens/status/2037541038940680468?s=20 </div></figure>   With an almost entirely revamped roster Montgomery Bell Academy Head Coach Kevin Anglin coached up the Dickens brothers and a young, unproven point guard to a 19-9 season along with a stunning run to a second consecutive DII-AA State Semifinal. It included a shocking victory over reigning Division II-AA Champions Knoxville Webb in the State Quarterfinals. Korajo was very good in his first season with M.B.A., which will be his last.   The star junior intends to leave Montgomery Bell Academy for UNDECIDED. What a fun mystery!   Talking to his mother Saturday just before the NCAA Tournament's Elite 8 tipped was genuinely pleasant and cheery, but she revealed that the family is yet to decide where the brothers will play in 2026-2027. "We haven't 100% figured it out.," said Dickens' mother Bri Coleman.   Chance of Playing 2026-2027 in Tennessee: 96%   Two top 10 players likely leaving the Class of 2027 will undeniably shake up the rankings and deeply impact the 2026-2027 postseason potential of perennial power Alcoa. Also, it will force exceptional X's and O's coach to virtually find half of a roster a year after finding about two-thirds of a roster. Can it be done?   Big picture the Top 10 juniors enter their final AAU summer as certain targets of poaching prep schools regionally. The number varies year to year but typically the state loses 4-5 dudes to schools or basketball factories beyond the Tennessee borders. Superstars like Keon Johnson, Brandon Miller, and Jahvin Carter sticking around is only as common as George Washington's pasty mug appearing after a coin flip.   Will any of this current Top 10 vanish?   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>RANKING</td><td>NAME</td><td>SCHOOL</td><td>STATUS</td></tr><tr><td>#1</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2101889' first='Justin' last='Frison']</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>#2</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2291122' first='Dylan' last='Jones']</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>#3</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2376260' first='Davis' last='Cochran']</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>#4</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2133810' first='Ty' last='Cobb']</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>#5</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1719620' first='Ryan' last='Wingard']</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>#6</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2133797' first='Bryson' last='Wade']</td><td>Brentwood Academy</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>#7</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2111892' first='Jordan' last='Myles']</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>#8</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2716618' first='Korajo' last='Dickens']</td><td></td><td>RECLASSIFYING to c/o 2028</td></tr><tr><td>#9</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2655029' first='R.J.' last='Tate']</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>#10</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2260983' first='Jamir' last='Dean']</td><td>Alcoa</td><td>MOST LIKELY graduating December 2026</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   Stick around and find out. Nine months until next season tips off. A lot can and will happen in nine months.

PICTURED: Jamir Dean Jamir Dean 6'3" | SG Alcoa | 2027 State TN