TSWA names college players of the week - Feb. 10

February 10, 2026 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – Carson-Newman’s Jack Browder garnered TSWA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors, averaging 30.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in two games for the Eagles, as announced Tuesday by the organization.

He posted 35 points and nine boards at UVA Wise, hitting 8-of-16 field goals and 17-for-20 at the foul line. It marked his seventh career 30-point game and moved him into seventh on the all-time scoring list at Carson-Newman.

He added 26 points at Anderson University, connecting on 8-of-18 field goals and 9-for-11 free throws. Browder is recording 23.3 points and 9.8 boards per contest in 22 games this season.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes was voted TSWA Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, registering 35.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals in a pair of victories over ranked opponents for the Commodores.

She netted 37 points on 13-of-25 shooting, 6-for-9 from 3-point range, and 5-of-6 free throws with four assists and four steals at 16th-ranked Kentucky. She posted 34 points, four rebounds and six assists versus fourth-ranked Oklahoma, hitting 13-of-23 field goals with three 3-pointers and 5-for-5 at the foul line.

Blakes is averaging 25.9 points, 3.8 boards, 4.6 assists and 3.1 steals in 25 contests this season.

SOFTBALL: Trevecca Nazarene’s Shay Hollingworth and Belmont’s Maya Johnson were named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively.

Hollingsworth batted .769 (10-for-13) with four doubles, one triple, eight runs scored and seven RBIs in four games for the Trojans. She collected three hits with a triple and three runs scored in the first game against Ashland University and added two hits with a double in the second contest.

She was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBIs versus Kentucky Wesleyan and registered two hits and two RBIs against Tiffin University.

Johnson posted a 2-0 record with 27 strikeouts and one run allowed over two games, tossing a perfect game and defeating 15th-ranked Georgia.

She threw a perfect game against Missouri State in the season opener, striking out 15 on just 83 pitches. She followed that with seven innings against Georgia, allowing eight hits with one walk and 12 strikeouts in a 2-1 victory.

2026 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 10 | Shay Hollingsworth, Trevecca Nazarene (Player); Maya Johnson, Belmont (Pitcher)

TSWA/USA Today Network Prep Poll - Feb. 9

February 9, 2026 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association and USA Today Network announced the basketball rankings for the 2025-26 season on Monday, February 9. The Top 10 teams in each of the four Division I classifications and Top 5 in two Division II classes were selected by TSWA members and USA Today writers with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote.

BOYS
Division I
Class 1A
1. Eagleville (20-0) – 120 (12). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Pickett County (24-3) – 108. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Jackson County (20-5) – 88. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Richland (16-4) – 84. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. Humboldt (12-6) – 74. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
6. Perry County (14-5) – 60. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
7. Gleason (20-3) – 49. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
8. Booker T. Washington (14-4) – 37. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
9. Wayne County (15-9) – 17. Last Week: Ranked No. 9
10. Jo Byrns (14-6) – 16. Last Week: Ranked No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 2A
1. Chattanooga Prep (10-10) – 116 (9). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Tellico Plains (18-4) – 109 (3). Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Huntingdon (13-3) – 88. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
4. Gatlinburg-Pittman (18-4) – 79. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
5. Peabody (18-3) – 72. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
t6. White House Heritage (17-5) – 48. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
t6. Westview (15-6) – 48. Last Week: Not Ranked
8. Cannon County (18-6) – 37. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
9. Tyner Academy (15-8) – 30. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
10. Summertown (18-4) – 18. Last Week: Ranked No. 9
Other who received 10 or more points: Hillcrest (10)

Class 3A
1. Upperman (21-5) – 119 (11). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Tullahoma (18-4) – 106 (1). Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Jackson North Side (18-2) – 95. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Alcoa (15-9) – 81. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
5. Fayette-Ware (16-3) – 70. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
6. Fulton (16-8) – 62. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
7. Heritage (19-6) – 52. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
8. Stone Memorial (15-7) – 36. Last Week: No. 8
9. Red Bank (19-7) – 19. Last Week: Ranked No. 10
10. Cumberland County (17-7) – 12. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 4A
1. Bartlett (21-4) – 120 (12). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Bearden (27-1) – 108. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Germantown Houston (15-5) – 94. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Maryville (20-3) – 85. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. Walker Valley (21-2) – 68. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
6. Whitehaven (19-7) – 58. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
7. Beech (24-2) – 51. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
8. Brentwood (22-3) – 31. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
9. Blackman (20-3) – 29. Last Week: Ranked No. 9
10. Southwind (19-6) – 13. Last Week: Ranked No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-A
1. Providence Christian (20-6) – 60 (12). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Battle Ground Academy (24-5) – 48. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. St. George’s (18-5) – 36. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
4. Boyd Buchanan (17-11) – 17. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
5. Franklin Road Academy (18-6) – 13. Last Week: No. 3
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (27-2) – 60 (12). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Briarcrest Christian (20-3) – 45. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
3. Knox Catholic (18-5) – 38. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Lipscomb Academy (24-3) – 17. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
5. Pope Prep (20-6) – 11. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

GIRLS
Division I
Class 1A
1. Richland (18-2) – 120 (12). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Greenfield (21-2) – 108. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
3. Van Buren County (20-3) – 95. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
4. Gordonsville (20-3) – 82. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
5. Wayne County (20-5) – 71. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
6. Pickett County (16-9) – 52. Last Week: No. 9
7. Jackson County (16-9) – 49. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
8. Coalfield (19-6) – 43. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
9. Unaka (16-4) – 25. Last Week: Not Ranked
10. North Greene (20-5) – 13. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 2A
1. York Institute (21-3) – 117 (9). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Gatlinburg-Pittman (21-3) – 111 (3). Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Westview (18-3) – 96. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Huntingdon (19-3) – 81. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. Stewart County (21-3) – 71. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
6. Pearl-Cohn (18-4) – 50. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
7. Gibson County (18-7) – 49. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
8. Smith County (16-10) – 36. Last Week: Ranked No. 9
9. Cascade (19-6) – 21. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
10. Tyner Academy (16-4) – 13. Last Week: Ranked No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 3A
1. Stone Memorial (21-3) – 119 (11). Last Week: Ranked No. 2
2. White County (24-4) – 104. Last Week: Ranked No. 1
3. Daniel Boone (22-3) – 95 (1). Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Cocke County (24-3) – 81. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. South Gibson (20-4) – 68. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
6. Upperman (20-6) – 63. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
7. Jackson South Side (18-5) – 41. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
8. Northview Academy (18-4) – 35. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
9. Alcoa (19-6) – 27. Last Week: No. 9
10. Clinton (25-2) – 21. Last Week: Ranked No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 4A
1. Bradley Central (24-0) – 120 (12). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Bearden (23-3) – 107. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Whitehaven (21-3) – 92. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Cookeville (21-3) – 78. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
5. Lebanon (20-4) – 59. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
6. Blackman (20-3) – 55. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
7. Green Hill (22-2) – 50. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
8. Sevier County (14-5) – 47. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
9. Nolensville (20-4) – 30. Last Week: Ranked No. 9
10. Bartlett (14-10) – 19. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-A
1. University School of Jackson (17-5) – 58 (10). Last Week: Ranked No. 2
2. Ezell-Harding (25-0) – 45. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
3. Christian Academy of Knoxville (22-4) – 33 (2). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
4. Middle Tennessee Christian (21-4) – 14. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. Providence Christian (20-4) – 13. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: The King’s Academy (11)

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (21-5) – 60 (12). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Christ Presbyterian Academy (20-2) – 41. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
3. Ensworth School (13-3) – 36. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Lipscomb Academy (21-6) – 31. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
5. Father Ryan (15-3) – 11. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Publications that participated in the voting include The Tennessean in Nashville, the Knoxville News-Sentinel, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, The Daily Herald in Columbia, The Leaf-Chronicle in Clarksville, Five Star Preps, The Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, The Herald-Citizen in Cookeville, The Chattanooga Times-Free Press, The Mirror-Exchange in Milan and Tri-Cities Sports.

College players of the week recognized by TSWA - Feb. 3

February 3, 2026 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – Carson-Newman’s Jack Browder earned TSWA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors, 23.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in two wins for the Eagles, as announced Tuesday by the organization.

Browder netted 26 points and 14 boards versus Tusculum University, making 8-of-18 field goals, 3-for-8 from 3-point range and 7-of-8 at the foul line. He collected 21 points, 13 rebounds and six assists against Coker College, hitting 9-of-17 shots.

He surpassed 1,800 points and 800 rebounds for his career, one of three active college basketball players with those numbers. He registered his 46th and 47th career 20-point games and his 35th and 36th career double-doubles to lead all active DII players.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes was voted TSWA Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, recording 29.5 points, 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game in two outings for the Commodores.

Blakes posted 29 points against 17th-ranked Ole Miss, making 10-of-24 shots overall and 8-for-10 at the foul line with five rebounds and four assists. She registered her sixth game with 30 or more points this season in a victory over Florida with exactly 30 points on 10-of-20 shooting, 3-for-10 from 3-point range and 7-of-7 at the foul line, along with five boards, eight assists and four steals. Blakes has scored 25-plus points in 12 games this season.

TSWA/USA Today Network Prep Poll - Feb. 2

February 2, 2026 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association and USA Today Network announced the second week of basketball rankings for the 2025-26 season on Monday, February 2. The Top 10 teams in each of the four Division I classifications and Top 5 in two Division II classes were selected by TSWA members and USA Today writers with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote.

BOYS
Division I
Class 1A
1. Eagleville (17-0) – 110 (11). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Pickett County (21-3) – 95. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Jackson County (18-4) – 92. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Richland (14-4) – 72. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. Humboldt (11-6) – 67. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
6. Perry County (12-5) – 54. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
7. Gleason (17-3) – 45. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
8. Booker T. Washington (14-4) – 30. Last Week: Ranked No. 10
9. Wayne County (14-7) – 21. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
10. Jo Byrns (13-5) – 16. Last Week: Ranked No. 9
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 2A
1. Chattanooga Prep (8-10) – 108 (9). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Tellico Plains (16-4) – 98 (2). Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Peabody (18-2) – 80. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Huntingdon (13-3) – 75. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. Gatlinburg-Pittman (16-4) – 66. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
6. White House Heritage (16-5) – 46. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
7. Tyner Academy (14-7) – 42. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
8. Cannon County (16-6) – 32. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
9. Summertown (16-4) – 24. Last Week: Ranked No. 9
10. East Nashville (11-3) – 20. Last Week: Ranked No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 3A
1. Upperman (19-5) – 109 (10). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Tullahoma (16-4) – 96 (1). Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Jackson North Side (17-2) – 83. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Fulton (15-7) – 75. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
5. Alcoa (13-9) – 65. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
6. Fayette-Ware (16-3) – 56. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
7. Heritage (17-6) – 47. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
8. Stone Memorial (13-7) – 23. Last Week: No. 10
9. White County (15-6) – 21. Last Week: Ranked No. 9
10. Red Bank (17-6) – 17. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 4A
1. Bartlett (19-4) – 110 (11). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Bearden (25-1) – 99. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Germantown Houston (14-5) – 85. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Maryville (19-3) – 74. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. Walker Valley (19-2) – 67. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
6. Brentwood (22-2) – 59. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
7. Whitehaven (19-7) – 46. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
8. Beech (21-2) – 37. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
9. Blackman (18-3) – 19. Last Week: Ranked No. 9
10. Southwind (19-6) – 13. Last Week: Ranked No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-A
1. Providence Christian (18-6) – 55 (11). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Battle Ground Academy (21-5) – 41. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Franklin Road Academy (17-3) – 36. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. St. George’s (16-5) – 22. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. Boyd Buchanan (16-10) – 6. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (25-2) – 55 (11). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Lipscomb Academy (23-1) – 40. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
3. Knox Catholic (17-4) – 35. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
4. Briarcrest Christian (17-3) – 24. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. Brentwood Academy (18-5) – 11. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

GIRLS
Division I
Class 1A
1. Richland (16-2) – 110 (11). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Gordonsville (19-2) – 98. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Greenfield (19-2) – 89. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Wayne County (18-4) – 76. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. Van Buren County (17-3) – 65. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
6. Jackson County (14-8) – 52. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
7. Coalfield (17-5) – 44. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
8. North Greene (19-4) – 30. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
9. Pickett County (14-9) – 20. Last Week: No. 9
10. Cloudland (20-4) – 15. Last Week: Ranked No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 2A
1. York Institute (18-3) – 107 (8). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Gatlinburg-Pittman (18-3) – 99 (3). Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Westview (16-3) – 88. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Huntingdon (19-3) – 77. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. Gibson County (18-6) – 61. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
6. Stewart County (19-3) – 52. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
7. Cascade (18-5) – 45. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
8. Pearl-Cohn (15-4) – 41. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
9. Smith County (14-9) – 19. Last Week: Ranked No. 9
10. Tyner Academy (15-4) – 8. Last Week: Ranked No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 3A
1. White County (22-3) – 110 (11). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Stone Memorial (19-3) – 93. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Daniel Boone (21-3) – 80. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
4. Cocke County (24-3) – 75. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
5. Upperman (18-5) – 73. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
6. South Gibson (19-4) – 52. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
7. Northview Academy (17-3) – 48. Last Week: Ranked No. 6
8. Jackson South Side (17-5) – 37. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
9. Alcoa (17-6) – 17. Last Week: Not Ranked
10. Clinton (23-2) – 15. Last Week: Ranked No. 9
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 4A
1. Bradley Central (22-0) – 110 (11). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Bearden (21-3) – 99. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Whitehaven (21-3) – 82. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Green Hill (21-1) – 74. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. Cookeville (19-3) – 60. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
6. Sevier County (13-5) – 49. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
7. Blackman (18-3) – 48. Last Week: Ranked No. 7
8. Lebanon (17-4) – 33. Last Week: Ranked No. 8
9. Nolensville (18-4) – 27. Last Week: Ranked No. 9
10. Coffee County (19-5) – 13. Last Week: No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-A
1. Christian Academy of Knoxville (22-2) – 55 (11). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. University School of Jackson (15-5) – 44. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Ezell-Harding (22-0) – 33. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Middle Tennessee Christian (18-3) – 20. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. The King’s Academy (20-6) – 7. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (19-5) – 55 (11). Last Week: Ranked No. 1
2. Lipscomb Academy (19-5) – 44. Last Week: Ranked No. 2
3. Ensworth School (13-3) – 33. Last Week: Ranked No. 3
4. Christ Presbyterian Academy (19-2) – 22. Last Week: Ranked No. 4
5. Father Ryan (14-3) – 11. Last Week: Ranked No. 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Publications that participated in the voting include The Tennessean in Nashville, the Knoxville News-Sentinel, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, The Daily Herald in Columbia, Five Star Preps, The Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, The Herald-Citizen in Cookeville, The Chattanooga Times-Free Press, The Mirror-Exchange in Milan and Tri-Cities Sports.

TSWA honors college players of the week - Jan. 26

January 27, 2026 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – Sewanee’s Nikolas Avaliani earned TSWA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors, posting 29.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in two games, as announced Tuesday by the organization.

The freshman posted 32 points and five boards at Trinity University, connecting on 11-of-18 shots overall, 5-for-10 from 3-point range and 5-of-6 at the foul line. He followed that with 26 points, four rebounds and three assists at Southwestern University, hitting 9-of-16 shots and 8-for-12 at the foul line.

Avaliani is averaging 19.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in 18 games this season.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Trevecca Nazarene’s Jordan Gillies was voted TSWA Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, averaging 24.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.5 steals in two games for the Trojans.

She tied a season-high with 27 points in a win at Auburn Montgomery, connecting on 9-of-16 field goals and 7-for-9 at the foul line along with four rebounds and six assists. Gillies added her third double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds in a win at Montevallo. She notched her third and fourth 20-plus point games of the year as well.

Gillies is registering 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 18 contests this season.