Overlooked talent

<p>Tennessee is a large state filled with talent that most scouts, fans, even coaches overlook.  It is not an accident that players from Tennessee commonly dominate college programs despite achieving a surprisingly short list of college offers.  </p> <p>PrepHoopsTN provides a scant glimpse at some of the overlooked players thus far in 2020-2021.</p> <p>Many of these players are either players previously undervalued or possibly players that developed their game in the last few months.  For whatever reason these players escaped the @PrepHoopsTN gaze until now.  </p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="1034042" first="Davion" last="Evans"] (McMinn County)</span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">Davion is a new name to us, but the reputation within his program is strong.  Davion is a productive member of the Class of 2023. </p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />Tyler Runyan (McMinn County)</span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">In a powerful victory over White County Monday evening, Runyan scored 14 points.  </p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Riley Byron (Nolensville)</span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">Riley is not the kind of player that theatre owners purchase cardboard cutouts for.  His visage will not sell many movies, considering the only moderate amount of regional hype he gets.  Byron will help the program win basketball games.  Monday evening, Byron knocked down two three-pointers and helped his Knights to a 61-59 win at Fairview.  </p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Bryce Tippit (Northview Academy)</span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">Few shooters are more dependable night in and night out than Bryce Tippit.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Kaden Snitzer (Eagleville)</span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">KS is an uncommonly steady ’23 guard with the skills to take on a meatier role as the season progresses.  First evaluated December 1st. <em> See below.</em></p> <blockquote> <p><strong>Kaden Snitzer (2023) | Eagleville</strong></p> <p>Eagleville’s next great guard is likely Kaden.  In the game against Gordonsville, Kaden made clear his potential.  Kaden’s devotion to fitness is already apparent midway through his sophomore academic year.  He is stronger than his peers physically.  For EHS Kaden plays purposeful, quick, solid.  He can handle the ball under pressure while making calm, efficient decisions.  The defensive end is not a weak spot.  Many young guards fail to hold up their end of the bargain defensively.  It takes time to develop mental discipline needed to contribute on that end, but Kaden understands the system well and does not take plays off.</p> </blockquote> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="983739" first="Kheller" last="Die"] (Station Camp)</span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">Kheller is a player that we featured way back in the spring.  His reputation is not loud, but his production is.  Kheller keeps hitting three-pointers and his Bison keep winning basketball games. They enter the back half of December with wins in 77.7% of their games.<br /> <br /> Kheller knocked down four three's against Gallatin and five against Cookeville.  He maintains a string of 20+ point games.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Griffin Cooper (Columbia Academy)</span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">Freshman. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13708648/5fd83a06f31d251014fd4dac">Check his film</a>.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" /><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: ’comic sans ms’, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Jackson Arnold (Fairview)</span></span></p> <p style="padding-left: 90px;">Electric from deep.  Arnold thrived last winter for Franklin Classical. You can find him with the Fairview Yellowjackets now.</p> <p><em>For the best statewide coverage of high school basketball follow @PrepHoopsTN.</em></p>