January made me shiver but the stars shined bright and the points came in bunches all over the state. As the playoffs approach let's break down the action during the month of January from all four corners of the Volunteer state. Today’s focus will be on the western portion of the state. 

 

West Tennessee Headlines

Jacob Gazzo (Briarcrest Christian) has been on a mission since the start of the new year. Fully healthy, the Ole Miss signee has made his mark on the court for the top-ranked Saints and doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. Gazzo was brilliant this month dropping 29 against Cordova, 27 against MUS and a pair of 25-point efforts against St. Benedict and Memphis East.

Big things are happening down at Fayette-Ware as they begin their push to the state tournament. A deep roster with some outstanding talent has surfaced this season and the Wildcats are poised to deliver. Damarien Yates (Fayette-Ware) is a Mr. Basketball candidate and has been solid including this 27-point effort against Raleigh-Egypt. Jeremiah Hayes (Fayette-Ware) has moved up the charts with his play including a 26-point effort against Craigmont.

Over at Mitchell, tradition is always the calling card for the Tigers and some young talent is taking notice. Kaden Smith (Mitchell) was big in the month of January with a couple of high-level efforts including 26 against Freedom Prep and a 30 spot against Crosstown while talented sophomore Cameron Brown (Mitchell) added a cool 33 against Crosstown and 27 spot against Freedom Prep.

 

Scoring Exploits

Christian Gilliland (Northpoint Christian) is among the top scorers in the city this season at last look he was standing at 28.9 points per game with efforts including 25 against Lausanne, 32 against Rossville Christian and 35 against St. George’s.

Jordan Frison (Memphis Overton) is piling up points in his senior season. A legit Mr. Basketball candidate, the senior guard had a huge month of January including 29 against White Station, 34 against Kirby and a 44-point outburst against Memphis Central.

K.J. Tenner (Cordova) brings back memories of the great Tyler Harris and his scoring explosions are legit, no doubt. Let's see what the hotshot guard had up his sleeve in January. How about 34 against Collierville, 35 against Arlington and finally 37 against the state's top-ranked squad in DII Briarcrest?

M.J. Hayes (FACS) is among the top freshman not only in the city but all over the state. How did he do in January you ask? Let's take a look, here’s 29 against Lausanne, 26 against Northpoint and 25 against St. George’s.

Mavrick Miller (Houston) has been a very talked-about prospect this month. His squad is surging and ready for a massive playoff run while the sharpshooter was at his best including this 41-point effort against MHEA.

 

Here are some other large-scoring nights in West Tennessee for January

Brandon Payne (Millington) 32pts vs. Bolton

Delrico Grady (KIPP) 30pts vs. City University

Drew Petro (CBHS) 30pts vs. St. Benedict

Corbin Bowling (Fayette Academy) 29pts vs. Central Baptist

Rodarius Jackson (Sheffield) 28pts vs. Hillcrest

Landon Royston (ECS) 28pts vs. FACS

Fred Deere (St. George’s) 27pts vs. Harding Academy

Cordarius Sledge (Power Center Academy) 27pts vs. Fairley

Jordan Clemons (Covington) 26pts vs. Brighton

Marcus Martin (Dyer County) 26pts vs. Camden Central

Jamarcus Powell (Lausanne) 26pts vs. FACS

Ethan Turner (Gibson County) 26pts vs. Huntingdon

Jay Dancey (Munford) 25pts vs. Millington

Kody Hickerson (White Station) 25pts vs. Lausanne

Kylan Jones (St. Benedict) 25pts vs. Munford

Jordan Patterson (KIPP) 25pts vs. City University

Julius Thedford (Whitehaven) 25pts vs. White Station

Jakeel Truss (Bluff City) 25pts vs. MSE

 

Milestones

Jackson Hayes (Henry County) had a huge month in January starting with a 29-point effort against Northwest all while surpassing the 1,000-point plateau for his career. His teammate Brice Donaldson (Henry County) was active as well including a 27 spot in the game against Northwest and a 32-point effort against Dickson County.

There seems to be a lot of buzz coming from the Hillcrest side of Memphis with their group of talented juniors. Jordan Allen (Hillcrest) gave us a triple-double with 23 points, 13 boards and 12 assists while against Fairley, Jerrod Mackey (Hillcrest) accomplished the triple-double as well with 18 markers, 13 caroms and 11 dimes. Mackey made more news with a 40 spot against Oakhaven while Allen added 30 large against Sheffield.

Tylon Chatman (Haywood) has been getting buckets since his final campaign has begun, the diminutive scoring ace dropped 29 against Ripley and 28 against Munford in January and moved past 1,500 career points for the Tomcats.

 

Players to Watch

Holden Warmath (Covington) is making the most of his senior season on the court. The talented guard is making folks take notice with his scoring exploits during the month of January. He had 28 against Ripley, 26 against Haywood and 34 against Mitchell.

Triston Fleming (St. George’s) had been turning heads with his effort this season. Fleming had a nice 31-point effort against Kirby and followed up with a slick 26 against FACS. 

R.J. Robinson (Middleton) is arguably the top candidate for Mr. Basketball in the Class A ranks this season. His team carries the top spot in the state polls and the senior guard has been on a burst in January culminating with a nice 31-point effort against Peabody.

 

Have You Seen?

Mason Tidwell (Loretto) is another in the talented lineage of multi-sport athletes from Loretto. This class of 2026 riser is among the top prospects in the state on the diamond and has shown some serious game on the hardwood as well, including a 36-point effort against Hardin County this month.

Xavier Alexander (Memphis Overton) is quietly one of the top scorers in the city this season. Alexander checked in with 27 against Kingsbury and with his backcourt mate Jordan Frison (Memphis Overton), they are among the top-scoring duos in the city.