High school basketball opened its season last week.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Nashville-area boys teams in 2022-23.
Statistics in parentheses are from 2021-22.
Last year’s state champions
Class 1A: East Robertson (27-6); Class 2A: East Nashville (33-3); Class 3A: Greenville (30-6); Class 4A: Dobyns-Bennett (33-6); Division II-A: FACS (30-2); Division II-AA: Christian Brothers (27-0).
Last year’s state runners-up
Class 1A: Peabody (25-10); Class 2A: Milan (25-8); Class 3A: Jackson South Side (25-3); Class 4A: Bearden (31-6); Division II-A: Goodpasture (30-5); Division II-AA: Knoxville Catholic (30-3).
This year’s title contenders
These teams could be big factors in their respective classifications when March rolls around.
Class 1A: Why not defending champion East Robertson? It returns Robertson County Connection Defensive Player of the Year Elijah Groves. Zech Prince (10.7 points per game, 5 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists) is also back. Shaun Groves and Mason Eidson help form a good corps, even in the absence of last year’s senior star Taylor Groves.
Class 2A: East Nashville could win its second consecutive title. Tennessee State commitment Jaylen Jones (15 ppg, 9 apg) will not have 2022 grad Jarrod Taylor as his running mate, but he’s likely to increase his scoring average. Jordan Crawford is averaging 10 points through three games and Raz Armstrong could be a breakout player of the year candidate.
Class 3A: No Midstate team from Class 3A reached last year’s state tournament. Can that change? Midstate programs that played in sectionals last year — Page, MLK Magnet and Portland — are a combined 2-4 in the early season.
Class 4A: Lebanon went 28-7 last season and returns Tulsa commitment Jarred Hall (19 ppg, 12 rpg). The other big hitters from 2021 — Cane Ridge, Clarksville and Beech — were hit hard by graduation and must work their way back up.
Division II-A: Goodpasture, led by Vanderbilt commitment Isaiah West, is loaded again. West was hurt much of last year but the 6-foot-1 combo guard will make a huge impact. The Cougars go even deeper. Guard King Keary (16 points) and forward Jayden Jones (16 points) helped Goodpasture roll over Independence on Tuesday. The dark horse? Clarksville Academy. Read more on CA in our storylines below.
Division II-AA: Brentwood Academy enters a new era with coach Andy Blackston. The Eagles return star point guard Tyler Tanner (17 ppg, 4 spg, 3 apg), who should continue his rise as a junior. He holds offers from Hampton, Tennessee Tech and Vanderbilt. BA star quarterback George MacIntyre — the No. 2 QB in the 2025 class — will provide an athletic and big (6-5) presence. Don’t forget Lipscomb Academy. The Mustangs wound up being a force last season behind dual-sport stars Kaleb Beasley (11.7 ppg, 4.2 rpb, 2.4 apg) and Junior Sherrill.
4 storylines to watch
What’s the next act for Independence? Mark Wilkins proved to be a dynamic hire at Independence, guiding the Eagles one game shy of the Class 6A state tournament. Junior guard Jett Montgomery (22.4 ppg) is a great player to build a team around.
Can other Metro teams break through? Pearl-Cohn came one game short of the Class 2A state tournament last year. But the Firebirds return Doyel Cockrill III (19.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.6 spg) as a lead scorer and guard Keith Roland is another perimeter player to watch. Javion Kinnard will help too after football season ends, and 6-foot-5 forward Mekhi Wallace is a tough presence inside.
And what about MLK Magnet? The Royals came close to the state tournament last year and return Avery Townsend, who averaged 14 points and four rebounds, as well as Simeon Williams, who put up 15 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Don't forget Hillsboro: The Burros have underclassmen who have matured since their 2020 run to the state tournament came up just short. Trey Johnson (14.8 ppg) and Caden Herron (14.5 ppg) are now seniors.Â
The Hoppe effect: Former Brentwood Academy coach Matt Hoppe landed at Clarksville Academy, where forward and Morehead State signee Eddie Ricks III (21 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.3 apg) returns to a team that went 23-13 last year and reached the DII-A semifinals.
The Brandon Miller effect: How will Cane Ridge fare without former star and McDonald’s All-American Brandon Miller? He is already making a splash at Alabama. It was no secret that Miller made the Ravens go. Stepping into his role will be 6-foot-7 Da’Ron Hall, but asking Hall to fully fill those shoes isn’t a fair ask.
25 players to watch
Daniel Cochran (F, Brentwood, Jr.): Cochran emerged as a sophomore averaging 17.3 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Tyler Tanner (G, Brentwood Academy, Jr.): Don’t be surprised if more Division I offers come his way. His 17 points, four steals and three assists per game last season were accumulated on a loaded team. He could have a big year if freed up to score.
Da’Ron Hall (F, Cane Ridge, Jr.): Hall, at 6-foot-8, is one of the most electric dunkers and shot blockers in Metro. He averaged 7.3 points last year but should make a jump.
Dominic Reed (F, Centennial, Jr.): He emerged during a big sophomore season (16 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 spg).
Eddie Ricks III (F, Clarksville Academy, Sr.): Ricks was a highlight reel last year, averaging 21 points.
Jaylen Jones (G, East Nashville, Sr.): It’s a good thing Tennessee State signed Jones, because it wouldn’t be surprising to see other schools catch on to him this season. He could realistically average 10 assists per game.
Jordan Crawford (G, East Nashville, Sr.): Look for Crawford to be Jones’ running mate after averaging 12 points and three assists last year.
Elijah Groves (G, East Robertson, Jr.): A member of the Groves family and its lengthy athletic history, Elijah averaged 10.7 points, five rebounds and 3.5 assists during the team’s run to the Class 1A title.
Devaki Garr (G, Ensworth, Sr.): He was somewhat overshadowed last season by now-Vanderbilt freshman Malik Dia, but Garr averaged 16 points and 4.3 rebounds.
Isaiah West (G, Goodpasture, Sr.): You wonder what West has in store for his senior year, but he isn’t one to put up big numbers just because he can. The Vanderbilt commitment has plenty of weapons he can distribute to.
King Keary (G, Goodpasture, Jr.): After averaging 16 points as a sophomore, Keary should emerge as a big name in the area.
Jayden Jones (F, Goodpasture, So.): As a freshman he averaged 13.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.3 assists.
Jason Burch (C, Green Hill, Sr.): Cut from the old-school postman mold, Burch put up 15 points and seven rebounds last year.
Kaleb Beasley (G, Lipscomb Academy, Jr.): Beasley (11.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 2.4 apg) is one of the top defensive backs in the nation but could realistically also play Division I basketball if he wanted to.
Jack Medalie (G, Franklin, Sr.): He’s getting attention from mid-major schools after averaging 14 points and eight rebounds last season.
Jarred Hall (F, Lebanon, Sr.): Hall should be one of the top scorers and rebounders in the area. In addition to 19 points and 12 rebounds, he shot 85% from the foul line last year.
Monzo Sweeney (G, Maplewood, Sr.): The Panthers hope he can elevate the team after averaging 22.1 points and six rebounds.
Marcel Reed (G, MBA, Sr.): Reed will make an immediate impact after football season ends. The Ole Miss quarterback commitment helped the Big Red win the Division II-AA state title in 2020 and followed that with a big junior season (15.1 ppg, 4 rpg, 1.5 apg).
Nazier Leonard (SG, Northeast, Sr.): There were so many good players around Clarksville last year that some may have overlooked Leonard’s 20 points and seven rebounds per game.
Donovan Smith (G, Nashville Christian, Sr.): Smith could help the Eagles surprise people in DII-A after a big junior year (15.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.6 apg).
Doyel Cockrill III (G, Pearl-Cohn, Sr.): He averaged 20 points last season and is capable of huge outputs. Last year he broke former Pearl-Cohn and Tennessee star Ron Slay’s single-game records with 46 points and 13 3-pointers.
Keith Roland (G, Pearl-Cohn, Sr.): Roland has been active early as the Firebirds play without their football stars. He scored 18 points and collected eight rebounds and seven assists to three turnovers Monday in a 71-44 win over Woodale in the Memphis MLK Invitational.
Auden Slaughter (So, Santa Fe, SG): As a freshman Slaughter wasted no time getting buckets, averaging 23 points.
Caelum Harris (F, Stewarts Creek, Jr.): As a sophomore (10 ppg, 7.3 rpg) Harris was a tall, athletic presence inside and out. He was invited to play with the Philippines national team over the summer.
Grayson Burleson (G, Summertown, So): The Vanderbilt baseball commitment averaged 17.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists last season.
10 others to keep an eye on
Tucker Carter (Cheatham County, Sr); Kamryn Eden (Westmoreland, Sr.); Cannon Hale (Gallatin, Sr.); Maverick Lee (Cheatham County, Sr.); Jayce Mangrum (Greenbrier, Sr.); Ryan Worrell (White House, Jr.): Christian Brown (Franklin, So.); Zane Brown (White House, Sr.); Malik Fuller (Stratford, Sr.); Calvin Goliday (Hillwood, Sr.).
