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The boys basketball season may have just ended but it’s not too early to go ahead and take a look ahead to next season.
Taking into account what teams are losing and what they’re bringing back personnel-wise, we decided to rank the top 12 teams large and small class teams in the 615 Preps coverage area well ahead of the 2024-2025 season tipping off.
Here are our way-too-early boys hoops rankings for next season:
Large Class
1. Pope Prep: The Knights went to new heights this year and bringing back several members of that core, should be in the mix for DII-AA title next season. Fred Bailey is a talent that will be hard to replace but Pope will still have one of the best backcourts in the state next year with Trey Pearson, Osby Cavin and Jarron Talley all going into their junior year.
2. Hillsboro: Cortez Graham will be back as will Tyren Fisher and Xavier Washington. That trio alone makes the Burros a way-too-early favorite to compete for the 4A title next year. Add in the fact that they were upset before even making it to Murfreesboro, this is going to be a dangerous group next season.
3. Franklin: If I were to pick a favorite in District 10-4A right now, it would be hard to pick but Franklin’s early odds look really good. The Admirals have one of the top three players in the district returning in 6-foot-8 forward Christian Brown along with a really good and experienced core.
4. Brentwood: Daniel Cochran may have been the centerpiece of the Bruins’ run back to Murfreesboro, but they were far from a one-man show. Sophomore guards Hudson McKnight and Jackson McCutcheon established themselves as players to keep an eye on. Oh, and Daniel’s little brother Davis just kept getting better as his freshman year went on.
5. Hume-Fogg: There won’t be a better 3A team in our coverage next season than Hume-Fogg. The Blue Knights lose only one senior from a team that made it back to the state tournament for the time since 1989. Now that they’re experienced, a historic could be in store for the team located on Broadway.
The rest of the top 12
6. La Vergne
7. Father Ryan
8. Brentwood Academy
9. Cane Ridge
10. Blackman
11. Siegel
12. Independence
Small Class
1. Providence Christian: Perhaps no team had as much heartbreak to end their year in our area than the Lions who looked well on their way to the DII-A title before a fourth quarter collapse. They’ll be replacing a star in Judson Bjornstad but with Preston Wade and Aiden Bolden back in the fold, they should be back in Cookeville next year competing for the gold ball.
2. Goodpasture: It came as a shock to many that Goodpasture wasn’t back in Cookeville playing for a state title again this season. Don’t expect that to be the case come next year. Jayden Jones and Rhett Broussard will lead a talented team hungry to get back to the top of a DII-A scene they’ve been a leader in the last five seasons.
3. Whites Creek: If you were to pick the Cobras as a way-too-early favorite in the Class 2A field next season, it wouldn’t be that outlandish of a pick. Several 2A teams will be rebuilding but Whites Creek will not as they only graduate two seniors. As good as this season was, next season could be historic.
4. Friendship Christian: This was a season to remember for the Commanders and losing only one senior, they could be even better next year. Colby Jones will be hard to replace but several young players played key minutes this season that will pay off once the new year rolls around.
5. East Nashville: It’s fair to say that the Eagles are ahead of schedule this season. They made it back to Murfreesboro in what was supposed to be a rebuild year with a roster full of sophomores. That experience will prove pivotal next season as they look to take that next step.
The rest of the top 12
6. BGA
7. Clarksville Academy
8. White House Heritage
9. Eagleville
10. Pearl-Cohn
11. LEAD Academy
12. Gordonsville
