The 2024-2025 season is officially underway with several games this week and more to come. A few are intriguing but most have predictable outcomes. It’s time to find out, in the words of Three 6 Mafia, “Who Run It?” This is a Power 5, but I will likely extend it to 10. Check back soon for updated team rankings.
11-20-24 (Top 5)
1. Whitehaven High School (Last Season 23-9) Whitehaven was right there last season but ultimately came up a little short against Cordova in their season finale. What will they do for an encore? It’s still kind of up in the air but make no mistake about it, they have enough to win a state title. Will it be easy? No, not at all. No one is going to roll over and say, “hey, beat us by 20-25 points. We won’t show up tonight to play, your team is too talented for us, in fact, we forfeit.”
No, that will not happen. This is Memphis and while the Tigers are a really good team, super talented from 1-5 with future college basketball players, no will lay down for them. In fact, I expect quite the opposite. They are going to get everyone’s best shot in every game they play. Will everyone’s best shot be good enough to beat them? No, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t going to try. Whitehaven has the best starting 5 in the city regardless of whether Jarmon Brittman or Rashad Bryant starts. Which could cause trouble if egos get involved instead of the bigger picture.
I think they will be able to score with anyone. They will have nights where they explode and hit the upper 80s and 90s in points. They may even have a few 100-point games. They have enough firepower to beat anyone. Even the good 4A teams will have a problem with the Tigers. They just have a lot of options to score and to rebound with Cameron Brown, Bob Dickson, Dorion Bowen and Taquez Butler. It’s going to be all about their chemistry early on. These are the good problems they will have:
- adjusting to playing with each other in games
- knowing where guys will be
- adjusting to shots that they will have to turn down for a dunk inside or a kick for a 3
- making unselfish plays for each other
I think they will find a way to deal with those good problems… and that’s why I have them here at #1 overall in the city.
2. Bartlett High School (Last Season 33-6) 1-0- The Panthers have already kicked off their season with a victory over Fayette Ware last night at their home gym, 67-49. I wouldn’t call that an easy game for them as Fayette Ware always plays hard. Bartlett is starting with a tough schedule and will see some challenges ahead this weekend. In Nashville, they will take on #2 ranked Maryville and #4 ranked in the state, Independence High School. That’s a pretty tough start just 1 week into the season but it’s to get them ready for the heat that Memphis brings on a nightly basis.
The Panthers will face nationally ranked teams as well later in the year. Their success will come down to the development of Bray Williams and DJ Okoth. They have to get used to high school. Both are starters along with Dylan Jones, KJ Neville and Ethan Gatewood. The squad will have to help the youngsters along the way. Jones arrived late last year so it’s his first full season there and he will have to adjust. He’s really talented and at 6’6, I call him a player who can flip a game. There aren’t many of those type of guys with that size in Memphis.
Bartlett is pretty much in the mix every year like they have been for the past 5-6 years, nothing has changed. They will compete for an opportunity to go to the state. They are going to be battle tested and I expect them to get better and better throughout the season.
3. Southwind High School (Last Season 15-12) 1-0– Like Bartlett, the Jaguars have kicked off their season with a decisive win at Melrose last night. If you don’t know, let me tell you, the Jaguars are legit and can contend just like Bartlett and Whitehaven. Ron Towns, Kris Smith, Justin Edwards have been playing for 27 years at Southwind, lol. Of course, that’s a joke but they have been through so many tough games and were on the cusp of some big upsets last year. A year older, stronger, and more experienced, this team is ready right now, not next year, now.
A look at their roster makeup shows that they have similar height to Whitehaven with multiple 6’6 guys, a 6’7, 6’5, 6’5 and a 6’4 in Kingston Goodwin who comes over from Germantown. Add in Dallas Berkley as a scorer giving them instant offense and Southwind becomes more than just a challenger. They have to be taken seriously. I haven’t mentioned Kris Carroll yet, one of the best shooters in the city. Be on the lookout for Austin Price, Dezerrion Burns and an improved Kris Smith. Ron Towns is going to score a lot of points this year. With all of their options to score, I think that generates more open looks for him. I could see a scenario where they could actually win their side of 4A in the city. I think they are that good.
4. Houston High School (Last Season 18-16) They got off to a slow start last season but did end up rebounding some and rounding into form late in the season. They were young at PG with Justin Frison and Jordan Myles handling the duties in key spots. That won’t be the case this year. The whole team should be better. Both of the players I mentioned are top 5 guys in 2027.
The Mustangs have shooting and scoring with Caleb Jeffries. Keiron Jackson is a top 3 player in 2025, and some argue he may be #1. Take this ranking with a grain of salt, I said something similar last year… but again, I didn’t account for their youth being such a factor last season. I think they need to get off to a good start and from there, I think they can begin to truly see themselves as a team who can be right there with Bartlett and Southwind in 15AAAA.
5. Briarcrest Christian High School (Last Season 30-4) 1-0– They won the state title last year and lost arguably the best player in their school’s history in Cooper Haynes. He isn’t the only kid they lost, but he’s a huge piece to lose because he was relied on to score so much. Next up for them though is Fred Smith Jr. A 6’8, multi-skilled kid with an incredible motor. He is the best player in the junior class. Having that title though puts a lot on his shoulders, but I think he’s strong enough to hold that up all year. He has to which means the 15-point games last season, have to be 20 this year. The 10-12 rebounds, they have to be at 13-14 this year. Everything has to uptick, even the aggression as a scorer. He’s a really good passer, has a great feel for the game and is an intelligent player. I don’t think upgrading every aspect of this game will be hard to accomplish.
Greg Spight Jr will be in different role as well as the lead guard, the PG but he will have to score for them too and along with Parker Pounds, a 6’4 2026 whose release looks quicker these days, and Landon Rodgers, another shooter, sneaky good one as well, Briarcrest has the makings of another solid season. 6’5 Daniel Towles will have to rebound for them and help inside with Smith Jr. Towles might be asked to score some as well should his front court teammate be in foul trouble. Back to backs are tough to repeat. Being good after a state title is tough but I think the Saints can do it. I’m not saying they will repeat as state champions, but I think they can be good enough to win their league again and have a chance to get out of the city and take on the state road trip again… possibly.
In The Mix
Don’t sleep on Overton with Kevin Gladney, a 6’5 super athletic 3-4. He has others around him. They have a big team too and should put some fear into 16AAAA. Ridgeway is another team I considered as well coming off a state runner up in 2023-2024. I talked about them being contenders in 3A last week. Check it out below.
4 Burning Questions Before High School Season Begins (Contenders Or Not?) 2A-3A
