Division II Class A and AA: 5 predictions for the season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>TSSAA Division II Class AA will be one of the best leagues to watch this upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Competition will be stiff in DII Class A as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's an early prediction. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A sophomore wing out of East Tennessee will make an All-Region Team. This is an easy prediction to make.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm feeling good about those predictions heading into the season. Plenty of talented players are in both leagues. Great coaches are in both leagues as well. There will be a lot of competitive games this upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before the basketball goes up in the air, here are my 5 predictions heading into the season: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notre Dame's sophomore will make an All-Region Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3651684' first='Dunnie' last='Knight'] is a 6-foot-5 wing that's going to be matchup problem for many teams this upcoming season. He finishes well around the rim. Knight can put the basketball on the floor and make shots off the dribble. He plays with a good pace, runs the floor well, and scores within the offense. At season's end, Knight should appear on the DII Class A East All-Region Team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Graves will be the best 3-point shooter in the DII Class AA Middle Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2869497' first='Lucas' last='Graves'] is a lethal shooter. One shot falls, and he quickly gets into rhythm. Graves displayed how well he shoots the basketball during the AAU season playing for Darius Garland Elite. Graves should be a double-digit scorer for Brentwood Academy. His opportunities will come with ease as defenses will have to worry about junior big man [player_tooltip player_id='2543986' first='James' last='Humphreys'] and senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2133797' first='Bryson' last='Wade']. Graves will make a lot of teams pay this upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaufmann could be the best transfer fit in DII Class AA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There have been a lot of transfers during the offseason. [player_tooltip player_id='2537828' first='Noah' last='Kaufmann'] leaving Ezell Harding and heading over to Lipscomb Academy gives the Mustangs the final piece to the puzzle on the offensive end. Kaufmann is a trustworthy ball handler. He's going to take care of the basketball. Kaufmann can make shots from the perimeter. He's an huge upgrade at the guard spot and because of his arrival, Lipscomb Academy is going to be a scary team to play in the regular season and postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Duor will average a double-double</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCallie's [player_tooltip player_id='2959343' first='Junub' last='Duor'] will average a double-double and lead the team in rebounds. He's a 6-6 wing that's going to be disruptive on the defensive end. On the offensive end, Duor is going to be difficult to contain at the rim. He can make shots from the perimeter and take his defender off the dribble. Duor should have a productive year for the Blue Tornado and have the program in contention to make a deep postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Huggins will average 25 points per game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Briarcrest's [player_tooltip player_id='2194485' first='Joshua' last='Huggins'] will lead the Saints in scoring. He's a nice foundational piece to build around after 4 successful years with Fred Smith. The offense will run through him. The 6-6 wing will get a lot of touches and be the focal point of the Saints offense. Huggins will average 25 points per game and be efficient from the field and score within the frame of the offense. He's going to score on the block, at the elbow, and from 3 at times. As long as Huggins produces, Briarcrest will be a fringy Final Four team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->