UC Top 5 Presented By TLTSports Performance – Week Of November 15

Throughout the 2021-2022 high school basketball season, UCR’s Noah McKay, Rusty Ellis and Kailee Means will put out their top five boys’ and girls’ basketball teams in the Upper Cumberland as part of the UC Top 5 Presented by TLTSports Performance.

Week one of the season is here! Early in the year this list will probably fluctuate wildly as we get a gasp on who is better than expected, and who is struggling to live up to expectations. Without further ado, let’s get to this week’s list!

UC Top 5 Girls’

  1. White County

The Warriorettes lost a superstar and several other role players from the 2020-2021 team, but they appear to have reloaded and be a very dangerous team. One huge advantage for Sparta… their size. With several girls over 6 feet, they have the ability to tower over opponents. With the return of Alaina Stiles, Nia Powers and Celeste Reed along with several freshmen, the Warriorettes are our preseason favorite in a GREAT district.

  1. Cookeville

The Lady Cavs return players all over the court from a team that was one point away from the sectional round last season. They have a Miss Basketball contender in Cassie Gallagher who combines with Jordan Gillies and KK Graves to form a powerful big-3. The move to 4A makes things more difficult for CHS, but we think they’ll be able to challenge Lebanon for the district title and have an opportunity to make a long run.

  1. York

Reese Beaty, learn her name. The freshman point guard for York is primed to burst onto the varsity basketball scene, and has an opportunity to become one of the best girls’ basketball players we’ve seen in the area. Around her the Dragonettes boast a returning class featuring Gabby Beaty, Ellie Leffew and Sage Smith. The move to 2A should be very beneficial for York, as they should cruise to a district title with a clear path to Murfreesboro. This may be the lowest they are on this list all season.

  1. Cumberland County

Emery Baragona, Jalynn Baldwin, Jorja Anderson and Abby Houston lead a great core for the Lady Jets under first-year head coach Kim Cram. The Lady Jets should be a factor in the very difficult District 7/3A, and we think this is one of the more underrated teams in the state.

  1. Livingston Academy

Years of rebuilding has brought the Lady Wildcats to this season. Four returning starters, including a star in Aleah Melton should lead to some dominant wins in Hogeye Country. If they can navigate their non-district schedule successfully, they could vault up this list quickly. We think all three teams out of District 7/3A on this list are capable of making runs to Murfreesboro (so is Upperman).

UC Top 5 Boys’

  1. Cookeville

This Cavs team is fantastic on-paper. The addition of DJ Potts-Heard to a core of sophomores who played a ton last season creates a team that has the potential to make it to Murfreesboro. We think this is clearly Josh Heard’s best team in his third season as head coach, and while the 4A classification will be difficult, this should be a strong season.

  1. Clay County

The reigning 1A champions are the odds-on favorites to bring a second-straight gold ball back to Celina. Grant Strong returns and will be right back in the Mr. Basketball discussion. The Bulldogs lost Gunnar Silk, but we think Jimmy Burchett is poised to fill the defensive role Silk played. Their biggest (and only?) threat may be right down the road.

  1. Pickett County

Here is the threat. The Bobcats made the final-four last season, and return a ton of talent. The two Amonetts have turned to three with the addition of Jacob Amonett who we think will be a favorite for freshman of the year. They boast a great supporting class including Hunter Wattenbarger. Last year it felt like the Bobcats may have been a year away, the year is now here and we expect them and Clay County to battle all season long, possibly including the 1A state championship game.

  1. Cumberland County

Jackson Inman returns for the Jets and is a prime candidate for District 7/3A player of the year. The Jets are in a tough, but winnable district and we think this is their year to take a step forward into contender status, they take the fourth spot.

  1. White County

We may be underrating the Warriors, but we also may be overrating them. How do they replace Grant Slatten? On-paper, it looks like Jake Davis, Thomas Paul, Japeth Richmond, Malaki Dowell and others make a strong core of players. If one (or two) can emerge as a star in the absence of Slatten and Tanner Paul, the Warriors will become the favorite in District 7/3A.