0
0
I moved down to Tennessee in 2018 after living my whole life in Indiana. As a Hoosier, my love for high school basketball came naturally.
I knew how big football was in the south but I was also pleasantly surprised to see just how great the basketball scene was as well. After living in Jackson for eight months, I moved to Middle Tennessee and instantly got a taste for just how good the basketball scene in the area was.
Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to cover some great teams and more importantly, some great players. Thanks to this winter weather keeping me cooped up inside the last few days, I decided to take a look back at 10 of my favorite players that I’ve covered since 2019.
As a side, these are players that I’ve seen in-person multiple times. While several hail from the 615, there are others outside of the 615 Preps coverage area. I decided to include them as well though as they are technically Midstate players.
Without further ado, here are my 10 favorite Midstate boys basketball players I’ve seen live:
Brandon Miller, Cane Ridge
Miller’s the best high school player I’ve ever covered. Period.
He established himself as a Metro Nashville great during a two-year period that I don’t think will ever be matched. There’s a reason he was so dominant at Alabama and then taken with the No. 2 pick in last year’s NBA Draft.
Miller had the ability to score from anywhere on the court and if his jumper was falling, he’d blow right by you and throw down some of the nastiest dunks you’d ever see from a high school player. Defensively, he was a menace too constantly blockin any shot some poor player would put up against him.
Cane Ridge came up short of winning a state title with Miller there but that doesn’t diminish his legacy. If we ever see a player on his level again I’d be shocked.
Doyel Cockrill III, Pearl-Cohn
Cockrill was one of the most under-appreciated players I covered here in Middle Tennessee. When you look at his game overall, he was one of the best players in recent memory to come out of Metro Nashville.
There was nothing Cockrill couldn’t do on the court leading the Firebirds to multiple deep postseason runs during his high school tenure.
Grant Strong, Clay County
With Clay County so far away, I never got to see Strong until the Bulldogs made it to the state tournament. When they made it to Murfreesboro, Strong instantly made a fan out of me.
A pure-scorer through and through, Strong’s junior seasons were something to behold. He was a back-to-back Mr. Basketball winner but when he won it his junior year while leading Clay County to its first state title, that’s something I’ll never forget.
Jarred Hall, Lebanon
Power.
That’s the best way describe Hall’s post game and man was he fun to watch when he got to the basket. Alongside another standout in Yarin Alexander, Hall played a pivotal in leading the Blue Devils back to the state tournament for the first time in two decades.
Capping off his high school career as the 2023 Class 4A Mr. Basketball, Hall was an easy choice to add when making this list.
Jayden Jones, Goodpasture
I remember watching Jones as a freshman against Davidson Acadey and instantly knowing that Cougars had a future star. That night he scored 18 in the win and played a pivotal role in leading them back to the state finals.
I didn’t get to see much of him last year in Goodpasture’s state title run but made sure to get out to a game as soon as possible this season. That night he had 20 points and 18 rebounds in a 30-point win over Clarksville Academy.
Jones is a special player and has all the tools to succeed at the next level. It’s scary to think that he’s just now a junior.
Jaylen Jones, East Nashville
Jones orchestrated one of the best two-year runs of any school I’ve covered down here. From 2021-2023, the Eagles were one of not only the best teams in 2A, but one of the best teams in the state.
Jones played a large part in that.
Jones was the leader for East’s run to its first state title in 2021. While the Eagles weren’t able to repeat last season, Jones capped off his career as a Mr. Basketball winner and is now lighting it up at TSU.
Jett Montgomery, Independence
Admittedly, I wasn’t sure what to make out of Montgomery when I first saw him as a freshman. A pure scorer then, Montgomery is that and then some now establishing himself as one of the state’s top players.
The Southern Miss signee is nearly automatic from outside and a constant 20+ point scorer a night. It’s hard not to like Montgomery’s game.
JJ Wheat, Clarksville
I didn’t get to see Wheat a ton as he was up in Clarksville but the few times I got to see him in the state tournament, it was jaw-dropping.
While they were knocked out in the first round both times I saw him in the tournament, Wheat’s 21-point performance against Houston made me an immediate fan. If there was a job to be done on the court, Wheat did it for the Wildcats.
Malik Dia, Ensworth
Dia was a force inside for Ensworth and one of the best post players I’ve covered down here. I thought Vanderbilt had a future star in him. However, I was shocked to see the limited playing time he got there.
Now at Belmont, Dia’s showcasing the skill he’s had for awhile now. He’s got a bright future with the Bruins and I’m excited to see how it pans out.
Tyler Tanner, Brentwood Academy
I’ve been high on Tanner’s talent since he was in eighth grade. He’s improved every year and has become the Eagles’ best point guard since Darius Garland.
This year Tanner’s arguably the best player in the state and does it all for Brentwood Academy. Vanderbilt has a future star in Tanner. I’m sure Jerry Stackhouse would love to have him now running the point.
