Nolensville Season Preview
Nolensville Knights
What remarkable early success the Nolensville Knights experienced in their school’s second season. Despite a horrendous 3-6 December the Knights clattered their way to a Region 6 AA Regional Championship. Only Whites Creek’s surging senior Dennis Stallings Jr. was able to disturb the NHS March charge.
Success begets success and NHS Head Coach Wes Lambert aspires to nudge the needle further to the right in year three.
A seven-man senior class certainly gives the noble knights of Nolensville enough to crusade deep into the playoffs.
FRONTCOURT: It starts with Nate Bloedorn (PrepHoopsTN #68), the intelligent face-up four man from EAB 17u fame. Nate’s ceiling is being nudged up with a shooting range expansion according to Coach Lambert. Nate gives the Knights something fewer than five public high schools have in the entire state…a natural, good-sized big man.
BACKCOURT: Coach Lambert raves about Nathan Foutch. The junior continues to develop as a high-motor point guard.
“I have never been around a kid that sees the court as well as he does,” said Coach Lambert.
Returning Hudson Stroman by February would really help Nolensville’s state ambitions. Stroman is out with a torn ACL until at least February, probably Marsh. Hudson hit 60% from deep in the final 10 games of the 2017-2018 campaign. Coach Lambert mentions Hudson’s deadly accuracy as a wonderful counterbalance to Bloedorn’s lane dominance.
KEY TO SUCCESS: Keeping Nate Bloedorn on the floor is critical. Without fellow forward Brandon Wharton (injury), Nolensville doesn’t have a trustworthy rebounder alongside Big Nate. Though Bloedorn is not prone to accumulating fouls this is a potential pitfall if an attacker gets into his chest.
MOST IMPROVED: Nathan Foutch. “I am here every morning at 7:30 and he is here waiting on me,” said Coach Lambert. “He is undersized and he knows that and he is changing his game to adapt to that. I am excited to see how he takes on that role this year.”
Knight’s Top Ten. Here are ten important games for Nolensville.
- @ Summit (11/20)
- @ Brentwood (11/27)
- Franklin (12/11)
- Cane Ridge at Middle TN Invitational (12/27)
- Forrest (1/11)
- @ Marshall County (1/18)
- @ Community (1/22)
- @ Forrest (1/29)
- Marshall County (2/5)
- Community (2/8)
For Starters
- F Nate Bloedorn
- G Reese Gilbert
- G Zach Campbell
- G Jayden Watkins
- PG Nathan Foutch
2017-2018 Record: 17-14
Head Coach: Wes Lambert
NEWCOMERS: Most of the minutes will be gobbled up by the seniors. Any holes in the tapestry will be patched up by Chris Rooney, Riley Byron, Vaughan Mowell, and Davin Watkins.
Riley Byron had a wonderful fall league often scoring in double figures. Davin is the younger brother of starter Jayden Watkins.
OUTLOOK: As good as Nolensville was last year they return everyone while maturing as a program. Leaning on their senior class NHS appears capable of equally last season’s postseason run. The difference will be a better overall record after the Knights begin with more cohesion and purpose.
Nate Bloedorn is one of the best players in the state and Foutch is the budding star. Together than can push this program to unforeseen heights.