The Tennessee high school hardwood scene is heating up, and the spotlight just got a little brighter for some of the state’s top talent. The TSSAA has announced its 2026 Mr. and Miss Basketball finalists, honoring elite boys and girls players across six classifications. From small-town standouts to Division II dynamos, this year’s list is packed with athletes who’ve not only dominated the stat sheet but have also become the heartbeat of their programs.
The awards will be handed out on Tuesday, March 10 at 5:30 p.m. inside MTSU’s Tucker Theater - a fitting stage for the state’s best to receive one of Tennessee high school basketball’s most prestigious honors.
Let’s break down the finalists by division and classification.
Division II-A Miss Basketball Finalists
- Haylen Ayers (University School of Jackson)
- Kayte Madison Bjornstad (Providence Christian Academy)
- Jules Ferrell (Middle Tennessee Christian School)
This group brings a mix of poise and power. Bjornstad and Ferrell have been the engines behind their teams all season, while Ayers has quietly built a résumé that’s impossible to ignore.
Division II-AA Miss Basketball Finalists
- Meeyah Green (Webb School of Knoxville)
- Ava Jarrett (Lipscomb Academy)
- Ava Jones (Hutchison School)
Three versatile scorers who can take over a game in different ways. Jarrett’s leadership has been a difference-maker for Lipscomb, while Green and Jones have turned heads with their all-around games.
Class 1A Miss Basketball Finalists
- Laila Downs-Darden (McEwen High School)
- Rayanna Fisher (Greenfield High School)
- Zoey Nicholas (Pickett County High School)
Don’t let the size of the schools fool you - these girls play big. Fisher’s court vision, Downs-Darden’s scoring instincts, and Nicholas’ two-way impact have made them the go-to players in their regions.
Class 2A Miss Basketball Finalists
- Maliyah Glasper (Gatlinburg-Pittman High School)
- Wylie Kee (Huntingdon High School)
- Kaegan Young (Cascade High School)
Each of these finalists has been a pillar of consistency. Glasper brings energy on both ends, Kee is a physical presence in the paint, and Young has been a steady hand in close games.
Class 3A Miss Basketball Finalists
- Andrea Flores (Daniel Boone High School)
- Chelby Jordan (Dyersburg High School)
- Sydney Wilhite (Cumberland County High School)
This trio has shown they can carry their teams in crunch time. Flores is a floor general with a high basketball IQ, Jordan thrives in transition, and Wilhite can shoot the lights out from deep.
Class 4A Miss Basketball Finalists
- Cecilie Brandimore (Franklin High School)
- Kimora Fields (Bradley Central High School)
- Natalya Hodge (Bearden High School)
Big-time players in big-time programs. Brandimore’s steady scoring, Fields’ defensive dominance, and Hodge’s clutch play have all been critical to their schools’ success this season.
Division II-A Mr. Basketball Finalists
- Lawson Lee (Battle Ground Academy)
- Segond Sompa (Grace Christian Academy)
- **Chris Washington, Jr. ** (Providence Christian Academy)
Each of these guys brings something different to the table - Lee’s leadership, Sompa’s athleticism, and Washington’s scoring touch have all been on full display this year.
Division II-AA Mr. Basketball Finalists
- Cade Murphy (Knoxville Catholic High School)
- Trey Pearson (JPII)
- **Fred Smith, Jr. ** (Briarcrest Christian School)
Pearson has been a spark plug for JPII all season, while Smith and Murphy have consistently delivered in high-pressure moments. All three have the kind of game that translates beyond the high school level.
Class 1A Mr. Basketball Finalists
- Camden Cole (Eagleville High School)
- Will McCrary (Jackson County High School)
- Darion Taylor (Humboldt High School)
Cole’s been a standout in the Midstate, McCrary’s court awareness is next-level, and Taylor’s explosiveness makes him a nightmare in transition. These are players who can take over a game in a heartbeat.
Class 2A Mr. Basketball Finalists
- Jayden Barton (Gatlinburg-Pittman High School)
- Derrick Roberson (Chattanooga Preparatory School)
- Jackson Simmons (Unicoi County High School)
This is a gritty, high-IQ group. Barton’s been a steady force, Roberson brings a physical edge, and Simmons has a knack for making the right play at the right time.
Class 3A Mr. Basketball Finalists
- Ty Cobb (Upperman High School)
- Nick Steen (Fulton High School)
- Markylon Terry (Fayette-Ware Comprehensive High School)
Cobb’s been a highlight reel all season, Steen’s defensive instincts are elite, and Terry can score from anywhere on the floor. This trio has raised the bar in 3A.
Class 4A Mr. Basketball Finalists
- Justin Frison (Houston High School)
- DJ Okoth (Bartlett High School)
- Cutter Sisk (Beech Senior High School)
Frison’s leadership, Okoth’s size and skill, and Sisk’s all-around game have made each of them the cornerstone of their respective teams. These are the kind of players you build a program around.
From DII powerhouses to small-school phenoms, this year’s finalists represent the best of Tennessee high school basketball - not just in talent, but in work ethic, leadership, and impact. When the awards are handed out in March, only a handful will walk away with the trophy, but every name on this list has already earned a place in the state’s basketball spotlight.