Reason for the Ranking (Top 135) in 2021
EDITOR’S NOTE: Two players left the Tennessee Class of 2021 rankings after this article was posted. Therefore, everybody’s ranking is now two better/higher than it was.
Time to revisit the Class of 2021 rankings and adjust to account for the player’s growth or stagnation. Rankings are subjective and PrepHoops.com ranks purely upon potential and where the player will be at their basketball peak. Production factors in only when helping prove the potential is greater or lesser. Why did we rank these guys? Why are they at this spot? Take a look at several Class of 2021 prospects and learn a little about their reputation.
Peruse the complete 2021 rankings. DM @CourtneyHoops90 or @AndrewForce8 to state your case to be ranked in 2022.
The following players are now ranked in the Top 180 statewide (LEFT-new rank).
Read about #136-140.
Read about #141-145.
Read about #146-150.
Read about #151-155.
Read about #156-160.
#131 Caleb Smith Caleb Smith 6'2" | PG Fayette Academy | 2021 State TN (Fayette Academy)
Caleb Smith Caleb Smith 6'2" | PG Fayette Academy | 2021 State TN is deeply respected by the Fayette Academy coaching staff. “ Caleb Smith Caleb Smith 6'2" | PG Fayette Academy | 2021 State TN is a lockdown defender,” shared Fayette Academy Head Coach Brandon Bradford. “He will guard other team’s best player and frustrate them the entire game.. Averaging about 2 steals per game and 8 deflections per game.” Caleb made the Honor Roll. PrepHoopsTN scout Courtney Asher Smith also featured Caleb recently. In his junior season, Caleb Smith Caleb Smith 6'2" | PG Fayette Academy | 2021 State TN averaged 10.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.7 assists per game. The one vexing statistic of Smith’s in 2019-2020 was his field goal percentage (41%).
Expect a big senior season from [player_tooltip player_id="983726" first="Caleb" last="Smith"] (Fayette Academy).#132 Trenton Gresham Trenton Gresham 6'0" | PG Tyner Academy | 2021 State TN (Tyner Academy)
Tyner Academy guard Trenton Gresham Trenton Gresham 6'0" | PG Tyner Academy | 2021 State TN , now up to 6-foot-1, moves quickly. His balance is exceptional. Trenton doesn’t get the ball-handling responsibilities, or rather did not, with Tyner Academy to show his potential as a point guard. With Tyner Academy in 2019-2020 Gresham was more of a utility guard. At 6-foot-1 Trenton’s college future will have to be point guard or nothing. For this reason, it is imperative he continues to develop his handles and hopefully get film with more passing, penetrating, etc. for college scouts to scan.
This evaluation below was done by @PrepHoopsTN in June of 2019. He is quicker, faster, and one inch taller since that evaluation. Still, it gives a substantial indication of his strengths and weaknesses.
Trenton Gresham Trenton Gresham 6'0" | PG Tyner Academy | 2021 State TN (Tyner) played in the PrepHoopsTN Summer Combine All-Star Game to conclude his successful Saturday in Cleveland, Tennessee. Trenton moved well, smoothly gliding around the court.
- Class of 2021
- 6’0″ 183 pounds
- Wingspan — 6’2″
- Height w/o shoes — 5’11 1/2″
- Height w/ shoes — 6’0″
- Hand Span — 9.0″
- 3/4 court sprint — 3.37, 3.72
- Summer Combine Ranking — #13
- All-Star Top 20
NBA Stylistic Comparison: 2016 Hawks Dennis Schroder
College Projection: NAIA.Trenton Gresham Trenton Gresham 6'0" | PG Tyner Academy | 2021 State TN finished the day as the seventh best 2021 prospect. His feet danced lightly across the deck. His handle appeared to be in the top half of the attending point guards. Gresham hit a decent number of pull-ups. Broadly speaking he is a skilled player currently with the foundation to improve rapidly.
Nobody posted such disparate times in any sprint as Trenton Gresham Trenton Gresham 6'0" | PG Tyner Academy | 2021 State TN . His first time was 3.37. He followed that up with a 3.72. Unfortunately, time disallowed a third trial run for Trenton. He kept up with the speediest guards in the building during open play. Perhaps he is closer to that 3.37 in 3/4 court sprints.
Anecdotally, Gresham delivered a speedy style reminiscent of Dennis Schroder (OKC). There were other guards that dominated the basketball and still Gresham impressed. The wingspan measured a +2 and his handspan (9.0″) was larger than the average male’s.
Trenton played with a casualness that could be mistaken for laziness. For evaluation settings this can be trepidatious and the quickest way to minimize those external concerns is to be vocal. Trenton, to be a quality point guard, must communication often. He should share the coach’s directive. He should give information about defender location. Just talk. It helps everyone and instantly conveys interest and alertness.
#133 Laithan Shingledecker Laithan Shingledecker 6'5" | SF Science Hill | 2021 State TN (Science Hill)
Dynamic guard Laithan Shingledecker Laithan Shingledecker 6'5" | SF Science Hill | 2021 State TN helped vault Science Hill deep into the Class AAA play-offs this past season. In all, Science Hill won 32 games and only missed state by a single game. Oak Ridge destroyed the 1AAA Regional Champions soundly, 84-68. Physical, strong. Amare uses his chest and shoulders well in deep to finish off plays. He projects as a versatile scorer capable of getting his against a variety of defenders.
#134 Davin Watkins Davin Watkins 6'0" | PG Nolensville | 2021 State TN (Nolensville)
Point guard Davin Watkins Davin Watkins 6'0" | PG Nolensville | 2021 State TN stands 6-foot-2ish. He can handle and finish in the lane decently. His outside shot takes a little too long to get out of the pocket, but it is effective. Davin is the younger brother of former Nolensville High starter Jayden Watkins. This is the third consecutive year NHS landed a player in the top 150 (Nate Bloedorn in ’19, Nathan Foutch Nathan Foutch 6'0" | PG Nolensville | 2020 State TN in ’20, Watkins in ’21).
#135 Amarion Jones Amarion Jones 5'7" | PG Westwood | 2021 State TN (Westwood)
Dynamic short point guard. “Speed, quickness [and] can make open jumpshots and picks up 94 feet on defense,” shared Westwood Head Coach Chris Adams. Jones averaged 11.2 ppg, 4.7 apg, and 3.8 steals. Needs to get his turnovers under control. He was also featured in this story by Courtney Asher Smith.
Peruse the complete 2021 rankings.
Follow @CourtneyHoops90 and @AndrewForce8.