Class AA Rankings (January 13th)
Just three teams have claimed the #1 spot so far and it appears unlikely South Side will fall anytime soon.
Early December AA Team Rankings.
Mid December AA Team Rankings.
January 1 AA Team Rankings.
Think you have a better Top 10? DM @PrepHoopsTN now!
1. Jackson South Side (15-0, 5-0)
Last week: 1
Peak: 1
FIve of their next seven games are away from home. It will hardly matter. The class of Class AA keeps winning and winning big. Can they maneuver through district play undefeated? Will lose no more than 4 games this entire season was our original prognostication. That needs to be a 2. The South Side Hawks will lose no more than 2 games.
2. Pearl-Cohn (8-1, 4-0)
Last week: 2
Peak: 2
Sustained one of the worst injuries for any team to endure in the state…that of Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. Only Keon Johnson, also injured, will be missed more by his team. Still, Pearl defeated #3 East Nashville 72-71! Crushed Tyner Academy at the Henry Bowles Classic at Howard High. Stuffed with talent and speed at every position. Cane Ridge clipped them in overtime thanks to a Brandon Miller 3-point buzzer beater to end regulation.
3. Wooddale(10-6)*
Last week: 3
Peak: 1
Key wins over Jacksonville (AR), Bryant (AR), Parkview (AR), Christian Brothers, and Olive Branch (MS). Wooddale dropped two to Memphis East and unquestionably faced the most challenging schedule in the state. Defending State Champions. Johnathan Lawson welcomes longtime AAU teammate and friend Jalen Brown to an already strong team. Defeated by Memphis East (@PrepHoopsTN AAA#2), 90-79. Wooddale and South Side played this past Summer and Wooddale won by 3 or 4. They were both missing key players.
4. East Nashville (10-2, 3-1)
Last week: 4
Peak: 3
Delivered Maplewood’s first district loss in a foul-saddled contest Friday evening. Both Maplewood’s starting forward Jermaine Donnell (PrepHoospTN #53) and Eagle wing scorer Isaiah Jones fouled out well before the finish. Lost to Pearl-Cohn Tuesday night. Earlier in the season, Mt. Juliet pock-marked a then-unblemished resume (@PrepHoopsTN AAA#4), 79-66.
5. Fayette-Ware (8-3, 3-0)
Last week: 5
Peak: 1
Took down rivals Haywood to prove we are underrating the former #1 team in the state now. Overwhelmed Bolivar Central, 85-77, Tuesday night. In December, the Wildcats dropped to MAHS, while only shooting 29% from the floor.
Big district win over Bolivar tonight 85-77 c/o ‘22 CG Harmonta Griggs had 40pts, 5rbs, 4blks, and 3stls
c/o 21 PG Trey Henderson had 15pts, 5rbs, 2stls, and 1blk @PrepHoopsTN @tnhoopsreport @johnvarlas @CourtneyHoops90 @_KhariThompson— Coach Chearis (@CoachChearis) January 8, 2020
6. Community (17-1)
Last week: 6
Peak: 6
The Vikings captured their most impressive win of the season Tuesday dispatching the 10-win Eagleville squad, 71-60.
7. Tyner Academy (12-2, 8-0)
Last week: 7
Peak: 6
Did not play over the weekend. Holding steady. Tyner Academy put down Howard in Howard’s gym in yet another fantastic result. Fell by one point to top 3 Class AAA team Cleveland High and lost to Pearl-Cohn (#4) handily.
8. Scott (16-0, 1-0)
Last week: 8
Peak: 8
They did more than anyone could have asked of them, but now they will be asked much more. Four of the next five games for Scott will be against exceptional programs: Alcoa x 2, Fulton x 2. Scott is going to have a real fight on their hands for 4AA with Alcoa, Fulton, Austin-East all difficult teams. Nobody has defeated Scott yet though. South Fork Physical Therapy Christmas Classic Champions.
9. Carter (14-4, 3-1)
Last week: NA
Peak: 9
Carter and star guard Ty Hurst conquered Sevier County Monday evening. It is their third consecutive road win of the month.
10. Upperman (15-2, 4-0)
Last week: 9
Peak: 9
Four wins in the last seven days. Handled Watertown in Watertown’s gymnasium, 60-42 Friday evening. “District play will be challenging though the Bees enter as favorites,” we said in December. Can we add “will be challenging for everyone else” to the prediction? Is it too late? Knocked off one of the toughest District 8AA teams in York Institute. Three Upperman players have been ranked for the last year+: Alex Rush (PrepHoopsTN #62) recoded a double-double Friday night. Senior Filip Babic is a lower block behemoth.
Newcomers: Carter
Drop Zone: Sullivan South
Considered (in descending order of strongest case for inclusion): Dyersburg (13-3), Covington (14-3), Howard (11-2), Fulton (11-3), Jackson North Side (9-3), Sullivan South (14-3), Ripley (15-5), Sweetwater (12-3), Fairview (11-5), Greeneville (9-3), Polk County (12-3), Watertown (12-4), Craigmont (10-3), Crockett County (11-5), South Greene (14-5), Sycamore (9-3), Creek Wood (10-3).
*2019 AA State Champion
Think you have a better Top 10? DM @PrepHoopsTN now!