Hunter Noel and the best senior centers stand tall

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Late June we updated the<strong> <a href="https://prephoops.com/tennessee/rankings/2027-rankings/">2027 player rankings</a></strong>. The Class of 2027 players are ending their AAU careers soon and embarking on their final high school year. Read about the best true centers.</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":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a3f09a07961a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing center has never been more difficult in the history of basketball. Systems require you to defend the rim as well as somehow deter men a foot shorter from driving around you after a successful high screen is applied. Oh, and 'We need you to make a 18' jumper with regularity.' Also, run the floor over and over and over. The mission is impossible. Tennessee is growing a few senior centers with promise though.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2779428"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a3f11cad5481"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>6/26/26:</strong> Like a flag blowing in the wind, Sompa's full beauty is on display this month. He runs the floor with grace, aptly as he plays for Grace Christian. While Sompa projects as a forward he does play center a lot within the high school ranks. Light on his feet. Sompa earned offers from Oral Roberts. Arkansas State, Richmond, and Tennessee Tech. The elegance of his footwork sets him apart from other big men at this age. He shows off impressive command of his body and can finish from different angles when challenged. Add on his natural power and the Top 10 ranking statewide becomes warranted. Honestly, Sompa's ceiling may be higher than the 5-7 guys thanks to his relative newness to the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2449556"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a3f11cad54e1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>6/7/26:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2449556' first='Hunter' last='Noel'] earned placement on the PrepHoopsTN Combine All-Star Team earlier this month. Noel is what centers were for decades: tall, long-armed, homebound. Though he has some shooting touch you are not going to ask Noel to hedge out 18-20' as a defender. That is a disastrous gameplan. When pitted against Beech in June, Davidson Academy kept Noel beneath the free throw line despite Beech's relentless attempt to pull him away from the lane and it worked as a strategy. Noel is exceedingly coachable. He made a lot of defensive reads correctly with his eyes and feet against Beech High. A dream for anyone eager to instruct him. It is a tall ask for a tall, young man but Hunter needs to get stronger in his back to fend off the hyena-like rebounding foes. They try, and sometimes succeed, in uprooting him or dislodging him from the best position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2836288"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a40988c87140"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>6/12/26:</strong> The Golden Eagles lost by a single point in the District Tournament Championship to Lincoln County but did finish the year with 19 wins. That team lost a lot of talent and experience to graduation. Berry starts as center again though the rebounding burden will be significantly heavier without Tae Shelton. Berry's height is noteworthy and he rebounds ok, but there are limitations with mobility. Jasiah also plays lineman for the football team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->