2027 class: Who will be the unsung hero?

<!-- 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>It's too early to give an exact answer, but there are options that could be willing to step up when their numbers are called.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2413439' first='Jayden' last='Jordan-James'], Collierville: Jordan-James was an All-District player last season at Arlington and will look to repeat his success for the Dragons under first-year head coach Erik Buggs. The 6-foot-3 guard always seems to be in attack mode. Jordan-James wants to attack the rim. Most importantly, he wants to score each time he has the basketball in his hands. Jordan-James isn't afraid to take big shots. He shoots it with confidence. That's what Buggs will need out of a senior guard that's taking his final lap around the track field, in hopes of competing against Houston and last season's TSSAA Division 1 Class 4A state champion Bartlett in Class 4A District 15. Jordan-James wants the spotlight, and he has a coach that's going to give it to him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2575799' first='Walker' last='Redding'], Upperman: Redding is coming in from Cookeville after leading the Cavaliers in points (14.0 per game) and rebounds (5.3 per game) a season ago. The 6-5 wing is lethal from the perimeter. Redding shot 49 percent from the field last season and will help the Bees space the floor and take attention off of Upperman's star player [player_tooltip player_id='2133810' first='Ty' last='Cobb']. Redding is going to rebound and take quality shots. He plays the right way. Redding is a perfect asset to have on a roster that's built for a state title run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christian Coleman, Collierville: Coleman is a 6-6 big man with good footwork and upper body strength. He knows how to finish through contact. Coleman will provide the Dragons with spacing as he's able to step out and make shots from the perimeter. He may not take a lot of shots from the perimeter since he's going to have the advantage in the paint most nights in Class 4A, but Coleman is going to be a walking double-double. He should lead the Dragons in points and rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3479677' first='Eian' last='Ryans'], St. George's: Ryans transferred from Houston to St. George's for his final season, in hopes of making a deep run in the postseason. He's now in a program that has reached the final four of the DII-A boys' state tournament in the past two seasons under head coach Dee Wilkes. The Gryphons have went 35-14 in Wilkes first two seasons and will be one of the best teams in DII-A this upcoming season. Ryans can help St. George's with his scoring. He's a knockdown shooter and should fit perfectly playing with junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2795834' first='Carson' last='Crump'], who led the Gryphons in scoring last season (15.6 points per game). St. George's has nice inside presence with [player_tooltip player_id='3544662' first='Kamyrn' last='Green']. Ryans has enough varsity experience under his belt. He's been a solid role player for the Mustangs the past two seasons. This could be the year the Gryphons get over the hump and win a state title. Ryans can contribute to the reality.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2537828' first='Noah' last='Kaufmann'], Lipscomb Academy: Kaufmann joining the Mustangs will make the team offensively difficult to guard. He's been a double-digit scorer throughout his high school career. Kaufmann is a knockdown shooter. He fits perfectly with [player_tooltip player_id='2933245' first='John' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2571711' first='Christian' last='Blivens']. Kaufmann can play on the opposite wing of Williams, who's another knockdown shooter. Blivens at point guard is explosive and can get into the lane with ease. Kaufmann should have another All-Region type of season. The spacing should be perfect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->