Who are the 10 best players in Tennessee's 2021 class?

The AAU season is over, so now everyone’s focus can turn towards the 2019-20 high school basketball season, but not until I revise the top 10 of the 2021 class. When the 2021 rankings in the state of Tennessee were updated over a month ago, I received phone calls about what had transpired. Parents, players and other spectators were either laughing at the newest rankings or very pissed off. Everyone can’t be happy with the results. Rankings are meaningless in a way as long as you’re producing. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples. <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lillada01.html">Damian Lillard</a> was rated a two-star recruit coming out of Oakland High School in the 2008 class on Rivals. He ended up committing to Weber State. Now, he’s a four-time All-Star and has made the All-NBA team four times in a Portland Trailblazers uniform. His teammate <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mccolcj01.html">C.J. McCollum</a> was a three-star point guard in the 2009 class and was ranked 452nd in the nation on Rivals. He ended up committing to Lehigh. McCollum has averaged 20 or more points per game in four of his six seasons in the NBA. In short, McCollum and Lillard’s rankings back in high school didn’t stop them from reaching new heights, even though they weren’t highly recruited coming out of high school. Now, potential matters but results in high school matter more to college coaches. Potential has to eventually turn into results and in this 2021 class, I have to give credit where it’s due. Two years remain for the ballers in the 2021 class to shape into what college coaches are hoping they’re bound to become. I may even change my mind on who I feel is the best in this class, but only time will tell. Here’s my personal top 10 in Tennessee's 2021 class: <ol> <li>PG Kennedy Chandler, Briarcrest: The 6-1 point guard has the most offers amongst the kids in this class - <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/Kennedy-Chandler-46058292/">20</a> to be exact - and has had a great summer on the Nike circuit playing with Mokan Elite 17U. Chandler has shown time and time again he’s not afraid to play on the big stage. He plays bigger than his size and he’s sneaky good on defense. As of right now, he’s the head of this class.</li> <li>G/F Johnathan Lawson, Wooddale: Lawson is bound to play at a high major Division I basketball program. At 6-7, Lawson is very smart with the basketball. He has a high basketball IQ. Lawson knows when to make the right pass and can score with ease. He has only one offer right now from Vanderbilt, and that staff is really high on him. I expect Lawson to load up on solid offers in his junior season.</li> <li>G/F Mason Miller, Houston: Miller has the measurements to play D1 basketball. He’s offensively gifted, but still needs some work on the defensive end and with rebounding. At 6-8 ½, Miller needs to do more of playing his back to the basket. He doesn’t need to settle for a ton of jump shots. He has yet to reach his full potential, but has shown promise this summer. Miller has offers from Memphis, Florida, TCU and Creighton.</li> <li>G/F Drew Williams, Hamilton Heights: Williams has made strides this summer on his ball handling and attacking the basket. He can guard positions 2-4. Williams had a solid summer with BMaze Elite 17U. He has offers from UT-Chattanooga, East Tennessee State and South Alabama. He’s receiving interests from South Carolina, Tennessee, Auburn, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State, Clemson, Georgetown and Winthrop.</li> <li>PG Kameron Jones, ECS: Jones took off this summer with Team Thad 16U. He’s a 6-3 left-handed point guard that’s hard to defend. Jones doesn’t have a problem getting into the lane. He can shoot from the outside. Jones is very fun to watch. He has picked up four offers from Tennessee Tech, Evansville, Troy and South Alabama, and he’s not done.</li> <li>CG Jalen Brown, Wooddale: Brown can definitely stick his name out there as one of the top scorers in this class. In Bluff City Legends 16U final two games of the Peach Jam Invitational, he combined for 44 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals. Brown’s production up to now has been good enough for him to pick up offers from SMU, North Alabama, Tennessee State, Tulsa, Oklahoma State, Troy and Chattanooga State.</li> <li>G/F Alex Anderson, Tipton-Rosemark Academy: Anderson has a high ceiling and has yet to hit it. This summer hasn’t been like the others above him, but he’s been in the gym. Anderson is preparing to let people know his sophomore season wasn’t a fluke. In my opinion, Anderson’s skillset is solid for either a mid-major or high major D1 program. He holds offers from Arkansas State, Troy and South Alabama. Georgia State, Ole Miss, Coastal Carolina, Temple, Southern Miss, North Alabama, Belmont, IUPUI, George Washington and Louisville are currently showing interest. If Anderson can have a stellar junior season, I can see him turning some of these schools into solid offers.</li> <li>PG T.J. Madlock, Houston: Madlock’s mid-range has made some strides. He was already a point guard with the ingredients to dictate the tempo of the game. Madlock is very aggressive on both ends of the floor, something a point guard needs to be. He’s only going to get better from here.</li> <li>PG Tadarius Jacobs, Memphis East: Jacobs is one of the toughest point guards in this class and didn’t get to show much of that last season for the Mustangs due to injuries. He’s been healthy this summer and looked solid at the BCAT Hoopfest. Jacobs has the tools to have a solid junior season. He just needs to stay healthy.</li> <li>CG Randy Brady, Brentwood Academy: Brady is a combo guard missing one thing: solid ball handles. He has a nice mid-range game, but hasn’t shown on a consistent basis that he can score off the dribble. If he wants to be a power five guard, he has to be able to handle the basketball. Like I said earlier in this story, things can change. Brady can get better and be the face of this class. He has plenty of time to do so.</li> </ol>