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Conference Commentary

Conference Favorite: Fairview

For the last year+ Fairview struggled with inexperience. Then, just after Christmas 2020, everything clicked and the Yellowjackets grew up. Suddenly, the FHS team could not lose, rattling off 8 wins in 9 games and advancing to the District Championship. Unfortunately for Fairview’s men they could not figure out Creek Wood and lost the title to the Indians then fell 60-53 to Marshall County in the regional.

With the maturation of [player_tooltip player_id="1137154" first="Kennedy" last="Pendergrass"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1137135" first="Mays" last="McCoy"] FHS should not only enter the season as favorites, they should hover in and around the PrepHoopsTN 10 all season.

Top Contenders: White House-Heritage, Harpeth

WHH is coming from a slightly easier district than Fairview, but it is difficult to diminish their amazing 2020-2021 season.

Days past Martin Luther King’s birthday, Harpeth was playing their sixth basketball game of the 2020-2021 season. They missed an entire month of basketball in the middle of that strange, scrambled season.

The strain made cohesion impossible and hunger for a traditional season ravenous.

Rebuilding: Sycamore, Cheatham County

In addition to adding a new coach in Fisher Bailey, Sycamore High must replace a strong senior class with a single, solitary Class of 2022 member (Charlie Thomason).

In the last two years Sycamore lost multiple college players. That level of talent is challenging to replace and further the experience also lacks compared to Harpeth, Fairview or Heritage. Cheatham County did bring back some nice pieces, but the team was not successful last season and needs to build from within.

21-22 Conference Predictions

Fairview
Harpeth
White House-Heritage
Sycamore
Cheatham County

Partial Squads with Starters*

Cheatham County

#10 Tucker Carter* (2023)
Liam Hayes* (2022)
#23 Maverick Lee* (2023)

Maverick Lee is a nimble wing with college potential. He gets up and down the court better than most.

Sycamore
#13 Charlie Thomason* (2022)
--Hunter Gill (2023)
Lucas Morris (2025)
--Josh Strother (2023)
--Jesse Lewis (2024)
--Rhett Hunt (2023)
--Tristan Murphey (2024)
--Hunter Green (2024)
--Nicholas Lyle (2023)
Blake Jones (2025)
Andrew Stuard (2025)
--Marshall Bega (2023)
--Austin Morris (2023)
--Brendan Saylor (2023)
Ben Kimbrough (2025)
Brayden Bracey (2025)
Daegan Allen (2025)
--Tristan Murphy (2024)
--Dalton Williams (2023)

The Sycamore War Eagles return 13 players from their program, but few of those returnees gained any meaningful experience last year. The growth of the returnees, like it does with most programs, will determine the success or failure of this team.

Harpeth
#10 [player_tooltip player_id="1263629" first="Logan" last="Johnston"]* (2023) 10.0 ppg, 34% FG
#11 [player_tooltip player_id="1311975" first="Aiden" last="Williams"]* (2022) 10.0 ppg, 28% FG
#14 Matthew Gray* (2022)
#20 Aaron Bateman* (2022) 6.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg
#34 Ryan McMillan (2022) 1.5 ppg

[player_tooltip player_id="1263629" first="Logan" last="Johnston"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1311975" first="Aiden" last="Williams"] were key scorers for Harpeth a year ago. Unfortunately, neither registered a strong shooting percentage. This year the Indians will be stronger and deeper, but efficient scoring is a key element. Johnston rebounded quite well from the guard spot (4.1 rpg) and both he and Aiden disrupted passing lanes and ripped dribblers.

[player_tooltip player_id="1311975" first="Aiden" last="Williams"]’ AAU highlights.

Aaron Bateman scored 6.5 ppg last season, third among the returnees. His 4.5 rebounds per is an indication of his value to the team, along with post defense.

White House-Heritage

#0 Eli Woodis (2023)
#1 Jonathan Lopez (2022)
#3 Nolen Horner (2023)
#5 Taye Francis* (2022)
#10 Gavin Burnett (2023)
#12 Dylan Tate (2023)
#14 Ian Hall (2023)
#20 Daniel Bale* (2022)
#23 Hayden Thompson (2023)
#32 Dontarrius Teasley (2023)
#40 Asher Green (2023)
#50 Brandor Rosa (2022)

Heavy varsity experience, in the form of multiple years dressing, exists on this roster. Taye Francis, Eli Woodis, Hayden Thompson, Asher Green, Gavin Burnett, Daniel Bale, Brandor Rosa, and Dontarrius Teasley all dressed multiple years. There is excellent continuity within the Patriots locker room. Daniel Bale is a strong favorite for District Player of the Year, though Fairview’s starters [player_tooltip player_id="1137154" first="Kennedy" last="Pendergrass"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1137135" first="Mays" last="McCoy"] will certainly have a say.

Taye Francis, Daniel Bale, and Brandor Rosa earned captaincy.

Bale shot 64% from the field last year, a ridiculous figure.

Fairview

#0 Carter Durham* (2022)
#2 [player_tooltip player_id="1177173" first="Jackson" last="Arnold"]* (2022): Classic point guard. Does not force shots. Comfortable setting up Kennedy or taking his own shot if open.
#23 [player_tooltip player_id="1137154" first="Kennedy" last="Pendergrass"]* (2022): The court vision of Kennedy is wonderful. Despite his scoring prowess, and the need for him to score, Pendergrass makes probing passes constantly. He moves exceptionally without the basketball, which enables him to get higher percentage shots at the tail end of possessions. Kennedy is a player that projects as small college off-guard. Plus shooting touch. Plus plus basketball awareness. Fierce competitor. The small details are important to Kennedy and when he or his teammates err it visibly pains him.
#32 [player_tooltip player_id="1137135" first="Mays" last="McCoy"]* (2024)
#34 Shammah-rapha Takop* (2022): Serves FHS as a lane liason. Takop is a serviceable rebounder. He will not be requested to score or create his own.

Preseason All-District Team

First Team

Daniel Bale (White House-Heritage)

Tucker Carter (Cheatham County)

[player_tooltip player_id="1263629" first="Logan" last="Johnston"] (Harpeth)

[player_tooltip player_id="1137154" first="Kennedy" last="Pendergrass"] (Fairview)

[player_tooltip player_id="1137135" first="Mays" last="McCoy"] (Fairview)

Second Team

[player_tooltip player_id="1177173" first="Jackson" last="Arnold"] (Fairview)

Maverick Lee (Cheatham County)

[player_tooltip player_id="1311975" first="Aiden" last="Williams"] (Harpeth)

Charlie Thomason (Sycamore)