Region 4-1A: First Look

PICTURED: Brody Pryor

Peak Pickett County intends to win and win convincingly through district play. A successful season in 2026-2027 for Pickett County must end in a trip to Murfreesboro next March. Who are the contenders for the crown?

Following is a look at the top players and top teams in Region 4:

Top Five Players in Region 4 (D7)
Cole J. Amonett Cole J. Amonett 6'2" | PG Pickett County | 2028 State TN (Pickett County)
Nathaniel Cobb Nathaniel Cobb 6'4" | SF Pickett County | 2027 State TN (Pickett County)
Brody Pryor Brody Pryor 6'4" | PF Pickett County | 2028 State TN (Pickett County)
Tristan Taylor (Clarkrange)
Abram Phillips Abram Phillips 6'1" | PG Pickett County | 2028 State TN (Pickett County)


Three Breakout Performers in Region 4 (D7)
Kelvin Cobb Kelvin Cobb 6'6" | SF Pickett County | 2029 State TN , 6-5, Soph., F, Pickett County
Mason McWhirter, 6-2, Jr., F, Clarkrange
J.D. Bristol, 5-11, G, Clarkrange

Coaches Preseason Poll
#1 Pickett County
#2 Clay County
#3 Jackson County
#4 Red Boiling Springs
#5 Clarkrange


Top Five Teams in Region 4-D7

1. Pickett County -- Bobcat starters could conceivably sweep the All-District team, if it was just five dudes on the list. Cole J. Amonett Cole J. Amonett 6'2" | PG Pickett County | 2028 State TN and Nathaniel Cobb Nathaniel Cobb 6'4" | SF Pickett County | 2027 State TN are poised to compete for District MVP. Both are hearing from college coaches and senior Cobb is certain to play somewhere next season. Brody Pryor Brody Pryor 6'4" | PF Pickett County | 2028 State TN gives Pickett County a bruiser inside that most 1A teams simply lack. The guy is an important piece that can get overlooked regionally despite his dramatic impact nightly. Kelvin Cobb Kelvin Cobb 6'6" | SF Pickett County | 2029 State TN is the breakout candidate and the future of the program beyond Cole. It is an embarrassment of riches. If Pickett County loses a district game, then it is a disappointment.

2. Clarkrange -- Not a perennial power Clarkrange returns much of their production from 2025-2026 including Tristan Taylor, Mason McWhirter, J.D. Bristol. Last sprin Clarkrange High lost narrowly (46-43) in the District Semifinals to eventual State Champion Jackson County. For the Buffaloes the depth is there. Tristan and Mason can land on the All-District team with minor steps forward in their development. Tristan averaged 10.5 points per game last year. Mason was a 10.1 ppg guy. Bristol put up 8.9 per. The junior class appears to be one of the best in recent memory between Mason, Bristol, Dalyn Davis, and Jephthah Andrus. Considering the state of Red Boiling Springs and anticipated dropping of Jackson County this might be the Buffaloes best season of the decade.

3. Clay County -- Graduate Cole Eads committed to Cumberland in April and will be missed. Clay County is a school and area that routinely raises talent, so finishing second is imaginable regardless of how experienced or inexperienced the roster is.

4. Jackson County -- Replacing five starters from a State Championship team that played five players almost exclusively will be impossible. Further, Will McCrary graduated. He is the program's greatest player of all-time. Another Will is not walking through the door any time soon. The Blue Devils do have guys who tasted winning. Kason Letterman, Jackson Smith, Noah Longmire, Cole Loftis practiced every day for a State Champion. They walked on the floor in the Murphy Center and posed for photos. That matters. And yet they have proven nothing on the varsity level. It will be a drop off for Jackson County. How far is yet to be determined.

5. Red Boiling Springs -- The last few years left few positive memories for the Red Boiling Springs. This will be more of the same sadly.