Class AA Rankings (January 8th)
Pearl-Cohn captured the win of the week. Wooddale dropped a pair. Last week 11 teams hung on in the Top 10, but this week 10 deserve it. The considered schools just beneath became more lonely though as five of the considered lost 1-2 games in the last week. Pearl-Cohn is at their highest point of the year. Tyner Academy also picked up a huge win.
Class AA is deep and crawling with athletic, consistent teams. Jackson South Side still resides atop the @PrepHoopsTN Team Rankings after winning a historically loaded event in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. By the way, South Side took down the hosts by 11 in their own gym! Wooddale is playing heavyweights weekly and will be judged harshly only by readers of their loss column. The Cardinals are good enough to repeat in 2020, but both East Nashville and Pearl Cohn feature gifted teams. Fayette Ware is no longer in the top two. 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 (14-0)
Last week: 1
Peak: 1
Deep team with an exciting mix of athleticism and defensive investment. Certain opponents will simply crumple to them. When they are in tougher games South Side is able to make key baskets. There is not a chasm between South Side and the field, but there is nobody else worthy of consideration for #1 again this week. Will lose no more than 4 games this entire season.
2. Pearl-Cohn (6-1)
Last week: 4
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: 2
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 (9-2)
Last week: 3
Peak: 3
Lost to Pearl-Cohn Tuesday night. Check out their wins: Franklin, Sycamore, Cane Ridge, Hillsboro, Stratford, RePublic! Lost to Mt. Juliet (@PrepHoopsTN AAA#4), 79-66.
5. Fayette-Ware (7-3)
Last week: 5
Peak: 1
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 (11-2, 7-0)
Last week: 7
Peak: 6
Tyner Academy put down Howard in Howard’s gym Friday in yet another fantastic result. Their loss to Pearl-Cohn was crushing, but not enough to remove them from the Top 10. Easy win over East Ridge tonight. Fell by one point to top 3 Class AAA team Cleveland High and lost to Pearl-Cohn (#4) handily.
8. Scott (15-0, 1-0)
Last week: 9
Peak: 8
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. Scott defeated Livingston Academy for their 13th win of the season. South Fork Physical Therapy Christmas Classic Champions.
9. Upperman (14-2)
Last week: T10
Peak: 10
Three wins in the last week. Dropped two at Zaxby’s Christmas Classic (Blackman, MBA). Both opponents are well-respected. District play will be challenging though the Bees enter as favorites. Knocked off one of the toughest District 8AA York Institute. Three Upperman players have been ranked for the last year+: Alex Rush (PrepHoopsTN #62), Colin Gore (#115), Jace McWilliams. Fellow ’21 Isaiah Allen is very capable of scoring in bunches and senior Filip Babic is a lower block behemoth.
10. Sullivan South (13-2, 3-0)
Last week: 8
Peak: 8
Last week Sullivan South overmatched Sullivan North in the Action Athletics Christmas Tournament Championship Game, 62-47. They took down Sullivan North again one week later, 63-49. David Crockett handed South their second loss of the year…both to David Crockett. Two seniors are averaging around 19 ppg on the year (Cole Layne, Ben Diamond).
Newcomers:
Drop Zone: Dyersburg
Considered (in descending order of strongest case for inclusion): Dyersburg (12-3), Covington (12-3), Fulton (9-3), Howard (8-2), South Greene (13-4), Sweetwater (11-2), Greeneville (8-3), Carter (12-4), Polk County (9-2).
*2019 AA State Champion
Think you have a better Top 10? DM @PrepHoopsTN now!