@PrepHoopsTN Combine Evaluations: Part IV

PICTURED: Jayden Barton Jayden Barton 6'3" | SG/PG Gatlinburg-Pittman | 2026 State TN (Sevier County)

October always ushers in the Fall @PrepHoopsTN Combine. The Battle Ground Academy gym hosted high energy. Read about several of the campers with their evaluations from the day. All of the quoted portions are evaluations from the player's 5v5 coach, who stayed with them through about 6-7 games (16 min running clock). All measurements/times are listed in the linked article.

'27 G Clark Farler Clark Farler 6'3" | SG Battle Ground Academy | 2027 State TN

How did he measure against the competition?

Class of 2027

6'1" PG

Camp Ranking -- #35

State Ranking -- Watch List

More fast than quick right now, Farler recorded promising sprint times (3.08s, 3.16s). Remember the distance of that sprint was 65' not the 75' that the NBA-Combine players run. Regardless, his time ranked 13th.

A little stiff getting from his dribble into his shooting motion. His hands might cross upon the shot release. Clark's elevation is fine, but the right arm does not seem to be moving in the right direction. The shot preparation of Farler's lower half is sound and consistent.

Reaction time for rebounds was better than average. Clark must lock in on rebounding with both hands more often though.

How did he measure against the competition?

- Class of 2026

- 5'8" PG

- Camp Ranking -- #21

- State Ranking -- Top 140

Good poise. Thompson did not turn the ball over much at all. Great lower body strength. His hand measured larger than the average guard (9.0" x 7.5"). Christian showed really strong lower body, pushing himself through traffic in transition. He looked like the rider at the beginning of an Olympic bobsled race. Powerful push. Thompson surged up the floor with a low dribble. His ability to get to top speed or decelerate from top speed appeared elite.

If a team needs him to be a pass-only guard, then he can do it. During the event he was effective setting up teammates with the pass. His team did not move to the corners and show for three-pointers off of the pass, but that is absolutely the kind of play Thompson could facilitate. The drive and kick.

'26 Jayden Barton Jayden Barton 6'3" | SG/PG Gatlinburg-Pittman | 2026 State TN (Sevier County)

Class of 2026
6'2" SG
Camp Ranking -- #19
State Ranking -- Top 60

Very fast. Quite quick. Barton's shooting touch was special. Jayden's Euro-step ranked in the Top 5 thanks to his large strides and exceptional changing of speeds. Handle is really sneaky good. Barton showed a willingness to incorporate teammates in his plans. Extremely supportive, both of teammates and just other campers he was meeting for the first time. No glaring weaknesses. Like all young hoopers, he can add "good weight" and muscle. Barton is ready to be a big scorer for his high school team this year. Good energy guy, good skill.

<span class="pn-tooltip pn-player-link">
<span class="name-pointer">Wyatt Gilleland</span>
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<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/wyatt-gilleland/" class="link-wrap">
<span class="player-img"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/user-uploads/045A74B7-F6E8-4387-BABB-727D11CBDFBF.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Wyatt Gilleland"></span>

<span class="player-details">
<span class="first-name">Wyatt</span>
<span class="last-name">Gilleland</span>
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6'7" | PF </span>
<span class="high-school">Rockvale | 2025</span>
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(Siegel) — '25 [player_tooltip player_id='1549187' first='Wyatt' last='Gilleland'] (Siegel)

How did he measure against the competition?

Class of 2025
6'7" PF
Camp Ranking -- #17
State Ranking -- Top 130

Wyatt is deft around the rim. Good upper-body strength. He showed that he can get a soft layup up against like-sized bigs. Wyatt's speed is exceptional for a forward (2.99, 3.01 seconds). Gilleland was able to provide cursory cover on high pick action. He would be vulnerable to prolonged perimeter attacks, but for a couple of seconds he is competent at sliding and denying.

Gilleland was ok shooting with his feet set. The range might be to 18' for Wyatt, as long as he is static. Dribbling into the jumper, Gilleland is not a threat right now.

Loves the game.

'26 SG <span class="pn-tooltip pn-player-link">
<span class="name-pointer">Kaden Matthews</span>
<span class="info-box not-prose" style="background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(247,101,23, 0.95) 0%,rgba(247,101,23, 1) 100%)">
<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kaden-matthews/" class="link-wrap">
<span class="player-img"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/20231008_134941-e1699027812145.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Kaden Matthews"></span>

<span class="player-details">
<span class="first-name">Kaden</span>
<span class="last-name">Matthews</span>
<span class="measurables">
6'6" | SG </span>
<span class="high-school">Smyrna | 2026</span>
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(Stewarts Creek) — '26 SG [player_tooltip player_id='2236641' first='Kaden' last='Matthews'] (Stewarts Creek)

How did he measure against the competition?

Class of 2026
6'4" SG
Camp Ranking -- #14
State Ranking -- Top 75
@PrepHoopsTN Combine All-Star

Must, must, must get faster in the open floor. Matthews projects as a 2/3 and bursting out into the open floor with speed and purpose will lend itself to easy and easier buckets both now and into the future. Played with a lot of guile and decent handle. Continuing his trajectory, Matthews looks like a killer HS slasher and solid mid-range threat.

Consistency is an area within Kaden should work. He displayed a naturalness, an offensive potency and yet he endured a couple of pockets of irrelevance. Most likely, this reflected a lack of focus. When his light switch was turned on, Kaden was among the most difficult to keep out of the lane.

Matthews was a strong defensive rebounder. Thanks to his skill as a dribbler and his rebounding prowess, KM projects as a true 'rebound to rack' threat.

How did he measure against the competition?

'25 G [player_tooltip player_id='1378546' first='Rhett' last='Broussard'] (Goodpasture)

Class of 2025
6'1" PG
Camp Ranking -- #4
State Ranking -- Top 75
@PrepHoopsTN Combine All-Star
Shredder Award (Slasher)

Rhett continued his pummeling of defenses and defenders, a tour he began back in February at the PrepHoopsTN Jv Camp with a near-MVP performance. Broussard can get his shot anytime he wants, and while his consistency wanes from 'can't miss' to 'decent', his shot attempts are always quality looks.

Broussard possesses the desperation to score, that killer's instinct, that dominant scorers must have.

Crafty. Strong. Modestly quick. Broussard played like a shooting guard, more than a point, but his college value can be higher if he pitches himself as an elite-shooting point guard.

How did he measure against the competition?

'27 <span class="pn-tooltip pn-player-link">
<span class="name-pointer">Lucas Alford</span>
<span class="info-box not-prose" style="background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(247,101,23, 0.95) 0%,rgba(247,101,23, 1) 100%)">
<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/lucas-alford/" class="link-wrap">
<span class="player-img"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/20231008_135211.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Lucas Alford"></span>

<span class="player-details">
<span class="first-name">Lucas</span>
<span class="last-name">Alford</span>
<span class="measurables">
5'11" | PG </span>
<span class="high-school">Cannon County | 2027</span>
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(Cannon County) — '27 [player_tooltip player_id='2265072' first='Lucas' last='Alford'] (Cannon County)

Class of 2027
5'11" PG
Camp Ranking -- #27
State Ranking -- Watch List

Good balance. Long, lean guard. Decent offensive awareness, though he is the kind of shooter than should be extremely active moving away from the basketball in order to get more open looks. At this stage he looks to be a competent scorer at the JV level, possibly a priority offensive option. Shooting posture is impressive.

Soft touch around the rim. Could play with more grit...welcome the physicality even more. He does not shy away from it, but to excel as a slasher he will need to embrace that side of the game. Defensive awareness can improve. It is a small detail, but worth mentioning, facing a 2-on-1.5 attack, Lucas elected to stop the dribbler just above the three-point line, and his vacated man was immediately open for a pass on a path to the tin. Would the retreating defender caught up with the dribbler? Maybe, maybe not. Alford made a gamble and it proved slightly wrong. Frankly, he was faced with two bad choices and narrowly picked the worst. Stopping ball is paramount, but a little patience in the face of a true threat might have enabled Alford's teammate to recover and challenge. Instantaneous decisions like this are typically better with more basketball seasoning.

Alford showed off quick feet.