2027 class: Who will be the unsung hero? (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every team can use a senior that's cool, calm, and collected when the bright lights come on. Every team needs vocal leadership. Every team needs a senior that's not afraid to take a big shot or come up with a huge defensive stop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams with aspirations of competing for state titles will lean on the seniors at some point during the season. It's a natural thing to do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now the question is: Which senior will rise to the occasion?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2499038' first='Luke' last='Mathey'], Brentwood: Mathey played behind the Bruins' backcourt of Jackson McCutcheon and Hudson McKnight last season. Now, Mathey will have to step into a starting role and help lead the program back to the TSSAA Division I Class 4A Boys' State Tournament. He's a 5-foot-9 point guard that can make shots from the perimeter. Mathey will have opportunities with a lot of eyes on the Bruins' star [player_tooltip player_id='2376260' first='Davis' last='Cochran'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2408382' first='Jd' last='Hauser'], Father Ryan: Hauser should move up the food chain in 2026 after the Irish lost their top two scorers - Michael Fisch and Josh Williams - off a team that finished the 2025-26 season 16-15. Hauser has the ability to be a top 2 scoring option. He's coming a junior season averaging 10.3 points per game on 45 percent shooting. Hauser is an efficient scorer. He takes good shots. Hauser is a dark house candidate to make the Division II Class AA All-Middle Region team. His numbers should be better in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2401784' first='Terry' last='Slater'], Overton: Slater will have the opportunity to lead the Bobcats. The 6-3 guard averaged 8.7 points per game last season and returns this upcoming season with the potential to lead Overton in scoring. Slater can finish at the rim through contact. He can make shots from the perimeter. Slater is a reliable and trustworthy ball handler. He rebounds well to be a guard. Slater averaged 5.7 rebounds per game last season. Slater has the tools to help the Bobcats compete and possibly land a top 3 finish in Class 4A District 8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2291144' first='Cassius' last='Vaughn'], Southwind: Vaughn should be the Jaguars' lead guy heading into the season. The Jaguars lost 4 of their top 5 scorers from last season's team that finished 24-10. Vaughn is the only trustworthy player returning. He averaged 7.4 points per game last season. Vaughn is a fierce competitor. He will sit down on defense and not give up anything cheap. In 2026, the 5-8 point guard will be an All-District player and lead Southwind in scoring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2570869' first='Jalen' last='Denk'], Upperman: Denk is an athletic forward that's going to be impactful on both ends of the floor for the Bees. He's a huge addition to Upperman after having a strong junior season at Cookeville averaging 13.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. At 6-5, Denk can make shots from the perimeter and has good touch around the rim. He's a prospect with a lot of varsity experience under his belt that's going to add value to a Bees program that's built to compete for championships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->