Jace Ward and the top senior PGs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2274878' first='Jace' last='Ward']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Late June, we updated the <a href="https://prephoops.com/tennessee/rankings/2027-rankings/">2027 player rankings</a>. Focus today on the point guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2027","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"77246","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a3b0a028dbde"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rising</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2621353' first='Cole' last='Kizer']</strong> enjoyed a really solid junior year with Franklin High. It looks like he will take on a large role with Battle Ground Academy as an incoming transfer for the reigning state runners-up. It looked like Kizer was more shooter than passer a year ago and while he can still shoot very well, he proved that pointing the offense is within his capacity. He moved up as a result.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2274878' first='Jace' last='Ward']</strong> (Dyersburg) climbed a decent amount. Ward played exceptionally well in the 2025-2026 season. It is just really difficult for us to track that northwest corner of the state effectively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"[player_tooltip player_id='2274878' first='Jace' last='Ward'] is an elite offensive player and an elite point guard," shared PeakX AAU Director Jackson Chism. "As a point guard he knows how to dictate the pace. Dictate the tempo of the game. The kid can hit a shot from anywhere on the floor. If it is a mid-range jumper, then it is very consistent. He must shoot it over 50%. It is that efficient. That is his game. That mid-range. Corner to the other corner."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking back on what he accomplished and how he has matured physically...Ward deserved to be higher. And now he is.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"He averaged 29.6 points per game as a junior," said Director Chism. "He was a Mr. Basketball candidate. I think he could have won it if more people knew his game. He is an underrated defensive player. You can't put him on the best player in case he gets into foul trouble. He is probably our third leading scorer."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2815194' first='Tommie' last='Cannon']</strong> (Shelbyville Central) is an undersized explosive scorer. He is fun to watch. Predicting his college level is tricky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3353427' first='Austin' last='Jones']</strong> earned PrepHoopsTN Combine EAST MVP. Not a traditional point guard, the hulking athlete does play a lot of point for Red Bank High. Jones is tall, strong, and explosive. His shooting touch is average, but his rebounding is exceptional for a guard. Great quickness and bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why is [player_tooltip player_id='2133810' first='Ty' last='Cobb'] not higher?</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A couple of fans asked why [player_tooltip player_id='2133810' first='Ty' last='Cobb'] was not ranked higher, like Top 3 or up top. It is a great question and one I have debated with in my mind for awhile. Courtney Smith and I both see a gap opening up between Ty and the Top 3. [player_tooltip player_id='2101889' first='Justin' last='Frison']'s skill is insane and not replicated across the class. He creates for himself and others at a staggeringly high rate and he routinely plays against 4A and EYBL competition. Then you have the hottest name in middle Tennessee [player_tooltip player_id='2376260' first='Davis' last='Cochran']. Size matters and Davis is a guy that dozens of college programs are coveting. For good reason. His shooting range is fantastic. He moves well and looks to be continuing his high trajectory. [player_tooltip player_id='2291122' first='Dylan' last='Jones'] is a high-end athlete that keeps improving. Like [player_tooltip player_id='2133810' first='Ty' last='Cobb'], he creates his own shot and scores constantly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The difference is height and strength. Ty does not get up as high as Dylan and Jones is just a bigger, stronger dude now and will probably be throughout their careers. [player_tooltip player_id='2133810' first='Ty' last='Cobb'] is still a great high school player that will compete favorably in college. But these are reasons we have him slightly off of the top.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->