Underclassmen Letter Grades: Tyner vs. Milan
Milan (24-7) defeated Tyner Academy (23-11) Thursday night to advance to their first State Championship Game since 1942.
These grades do not speak to the potential of each player, rather their singular performance in this one important basketball game.
Read about the top-performing underclassmen below.
Class 2A
Semifinal 2: TYNER (41) vs. MILAN (59)
If you want to look at the complete 2023 rankings, then mash here.
If you want to look at the complete 2024 rankings, then mash here.
Tyner Starters*
Xavier Fisher
Nehemiah Bloodsaw
Nehemiah
Bloodsaw
6'2" | SG
Tyner Academy | 2023
State
TN
* (’23)
Rodney Henderson
Rodney
Henderson
6'1" | PG
Tyner Academy | 2025
State
TN
(’25)
Keelan Jackson
Keelan
Jackson
6'4" | SF
Tyner Academy | 2023
State
TN
(’23)
Anthony Sims (’22)
Milan Starters*
PG
Adam Arnold
Adam
Arnold
5'9" | PG
Milan | 2023
State
TN
* (’23)
G Jodarius Robinson* (’22)
F
Easton Yates
Easton
Yates
6'3" | SF
Milan | 2023
State
TN
* (’23)
G
Gabe Scott
Gabe
Scott
5'8" | PG
Milan | 2024
State
TN
* (’24)
F Kam Tharpe (’22)
Gabe Scott Gabe Scott 5'8" | PG Milan | 2024 State TN GRADE: C
Started. Gabe was scrappy and not altogether aggressive shooting. His defense varied from passable to aggravating…to the Rams. Since he only scored a single bucket, the impact remained a “C”.
Easton Yates Easton Yates 6'3" | SF Milan | 2023 State TN ’23 GRADE: B+
Started. Easton set clean, firm screens early, mostly high above the arc. It really helped the offense flourish. Milan’s offense was methodical and deliberate to the point that Tyner was forced to defend 30-40 seconds. Easton’s off-ball movement and screens helped stretch out the Tyner zone defense, all while creating space for the ball-handlers to operate.
Carson Pruitt Carson Pruitt 6'1" | SG Milan (football) | 2024 TN (MIlan ’24) GRADE:
Started
Adam Arnold Adam Arnold 5'9" | PG Milan | 2023 State TN (MIlan ’23) GRADE: A+
Started. Adam needed to be sharp with the basketball against an aggressive Tyner team, and he absolutely was. Arnold kept his dribble time and time again despite traps and jumping off-ball defenders. His composure and decision-making was elite on a big stage. Arnold committed just a single turnover in his first 18 minutes on the floor. Late in the game, with a secure lead, Arnold moved the ball and his feet swiftly without rushing and accepted the Tyner fouls. When trapped Arnold almost always did the show high and bounce pass around the hip.
Rodney Henderson Rodney Henderson 6'1" | PG Tyner Academy | 2025 State TN (’25) GRADE: C+
Starter. Rodney Henderson Rodney Henderson 6'1" | PG Tyner Academy | 2025 State TN will be a star at the high school level. In this particular game, Henderson was just ok. He only earned a single assist, which is a shame considering his elite ability to breakdown defenders and get into dangerous areas. Henderson’s shot was not on, which happens. He was three of nine from the field, and largely ineffective scoring throughout the critical parts of the game. Henderson did do a wonderful job getting the ball from the backcourt to the fore, with threatening speed.
Keelan Jackson Keelan Jackson 6'4" | SF Tyner Academy | 2023 State TN (Tyner ’23) GRADE: D
Started. It was not Keelan’s best game. He shot nine times, all three-pointers and made three of them. He is a strong outside shooter, but he must show more versatility, as he has in the past. Tyner needed and needs him to be an outside-in player. Prove he can hit that three-pointer and then score quick buckets around the rim. KJ pulled down a single rebound. Unacceptable for a 6-foot-5 star.
Nehemiah Bloodsaw Nehemiah Bloodsaw 6'2" | SG Tyner Academy | 2023 State TN (Tyner ’23) GRADE: C
Traditionally a breakdown scorer and defender, Bloodsaw was simply unable to finish with regularity. His strength enabled him to get into the lane, but the physicality of Milan’s forwards ruined most of those layup attempts.
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