What We Know Now: D9AAA
In this article:
Within D9AAA there is history. Much of that history, recently especially, includes Mt. Juliet. Fortunately for the rest of 9AAA the steady stream of Mt. Juliet greatness forked this fall; it forked into two schools. What does the opening of…
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Continue ReadingWithin D9AAA there is history. Much of that history, recently especially, includes Mt. Juliet. Fortunately for the rest of 9AAA the steady stream of Mt. Juliet greatness forked this fall; it forked into two schools. What does the opening of Green Hill High School mean for the district longterm? Unclear. Today it is only important to address this season.
Which team is our favorite to capture the crown? Are there any players with realistic college basketball ambitions?
Partial Rosters w/ starters*
Wilson Central
#1 Zack Markus* (2021)
#2 Evan Riggan* (2022)
#12 Ethan Thomas* (2023)
#23 Damian Fayne* (2022)
#24
Adler Kerr
Adler
Kerr
6'2" | PG
Wilson Central | 2022
State
TN
* (2022)
#10 Tyler Hayes (2021)
Hendersonville
#3 Hays Pfaffmann* (2021)
#10 Ellis Ellis* (2022)
#11 Graham Charlton* (2021)
#23 Justin Biggs* (2022)
#30 Jordan Zuger* (2021)
#1 AJ Owens (2022)
#4 Harrison Perry (2022)
#20 TJ Lane (2022)
#33 Dace Shuck (2022)
Portland
#13 Hunter Hicks* (2022)
Green Hill
#3 RiggsAbner* – (2021)
#11 Zach Blair* – (2021)
#12
Paxton Davidson
Paxton
Davidson
6'3" | PG
Green Hill | 2022
State
TN
* – (2022)
#15 Blake Stacey* – (2022)
#43 Jordan Burch* – (2023)
Lebanon
#3
Kobe Tibbs
Kobe
Tibbs
6'3" | SG
Lebanon | 2021
State
TN
(2021)
#5
Jarred Hall
Jarred
Hall
6'8" | SF
Lebanon | 2023
State
#65
Nation
TN
* (2023)
#11 Jackson Painter* (2022)
#23 Yarin Alexander* (2022)
Station Camp
#2 Tyler Moore* (2021)
#4
Donovan Smith
Donovan
Smith
6'0" | PG
Nashville Christian | 2023
State
TN
* (2021)
#11
Eli Rice
Eli
Rice
6'7" | SG
Beech | 2022
State
TN
* (2022)
#23 Grady Parsons*
#33
Kheller Die
Kheller
Die
6'4" | SF
Station Camp | 2021
State
TN
* (2021)
#0
Isaiah Davis
Isaiah
Davis
6'7" | PF
Nashville Christian | 2022
State
TN
(2022)
Station Camp will win with defense. The frontcourt of Station Camp features some really nice size (Parsons, Eli Rice Eli Rice 6'7" | SG Beech | 2022 State TN , Kheller Die Kheller Die 6'4" | SF Station Camp | 2021 State TN ). Even though Eli Rice Eli Rice 6'7" | SG Beech | 2022 State TN checks the opposing lead guard circumstances often find him helping on the defensive glass and deterring shots in the lane.
Eli Rice Eli Rice 6'7" | SG Beech | 2022 State TN is such a patient perimeter defender. He doesn’t rush on close-outs. Because Rice calmly closes out, keeping his hand high, shooters struggle to get clean looks in his area.
With their plus size in 9AAA, the Bison are solid switching out high. Also, Station Camp can keep their hands high and obstructive on deep shooters. At least during the district push this team will be a tough nut to crack.
Ellis Ellis is faster than almost everybody. In a division lacking the point guard stars of a year ago, Ellis Ellis is a unique jewel. Few players react faster to the bounding basketball. Consistently, Ellis Ellis makes deflections or steals by just bursting to his interrupting point more quickly than any opponent thought possible. Arc-to-arc speed is perhaps an apt descriptor. From the point of deflection to the other three-point line Ellis Ellis is as quick as anyone in middle Tennessee. Sure there are softspots in Ellis Ellis game, outside shooting for one, but his strengths are unique and nearly impossible to replicate. Speed kills.
Lebanon’s Blue Devils are devilishly athletic. The Thanksgiving banquet table probably needed to be elevated by a foot to enable all the long-legged hoopers to sit down. Lebanon runs out an incomparable team of horses, more athletic and lengthy than the rest. Midway through December the team requires more cohesion to capture close wins. Like Beech, but for very different reasons, Lebanon is a team on the way up.
Projected Order of Finish
1. Beech
2. Station Camp
3. Lebanon
4. Green Hill
5. Wilson Central
6. Hendersonville
7. Mt. Juliet
8. Gallatin
9. Portland
Analysis: Beech began their season without three starters. With football concluded two returned. Ideally Kaleb Powell Kaleb Powell 6'3" | PG Beech | 2021 State TN will be back 100% in the New Year. Station Camp deserves the nod as favorites, but Beech feels like a team capable of getting hot.
The Mt. Juliet team from last year has no equal in the current district and fans of competition will agree this chase will be more entertaining.
Homecourt advantages are much less glaring with CoVid restrictions. Further, several D9AAA teams are looking at multiple postponements in the coming week(s). Who knows which teams will get a full slate of games in?
Unheralded
2023 Ethan Thomas, Wilson Central: Young wing Ethan Thomas draws charges at a remarkable rate. Look for Thomas to innovate with his feet and brain, creating turnovers out of half-chances.
2022 AJ Owens, Hendersonville: Owens’ feet are fast and he imagines the game crisply. Owens improved his speed in the last year quite a bit. The game, at the varsity level, runs away from him. For HHS, Owens gives consistent effort.
Top College Prospects
Jarred Hall
Jarred
Hall
6'8" | SF
Lebanon | 2023
State
#65
Nation
TN
Eli Rice
Eli
Rice
6'7" | SG
Beech | 2022
State
TN
Yarin Alexander
Kristian Shaw
Kristian
Shaw
6'6" | SG
Beech | 2022
State
TN
Riggs Abner
Riggs
Abner
6'6" | SG
Green Hill | 2021
State
TN
Isaiah Davis
Isaiah
Davis
6'7" | PF
Nashville Christian | 2022
State
TN
Kobe Tibbs
Kobe
Tibbs
6'3" | SG
Lebanon | 2021
State
TN
Andrew Paige
Andrew
Paige
6'5" | SG
Beech | 2022
State
TN
Kheller Die
Kheller
Die
6'4" | SF
Station Camp | 2021
State
TN
Paxton Davidson
Paxton
Davidson
6'3" | PG
Green Hill | 2022
State
TN