Tennessee High School Basketball Preseason Rankings: Top 25 Teams

High school basketball in the state of Tennessee is set to begin this week as teams begin their latest quest for a state title.

The Volunteer State features a slew of competitive programs, three of which rank inside the top 200 nationally in the On3 Massey Ratings. Leading the preseason rankings is Memphis Bartlett.

Below are the top 25 teams in the state of Tennessee entering the 2024-25 basketball season, as of Nov. 18, per the On3 Massey Ratings.

The On3 Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.

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1. Memphis Bartlett

After falling in the semifinals of the Class 4A state tournament last season, Bartlett is back atop the state rankings to kick off the 2024-25 campaign. The Panthers won 33 games last season and are now set to play top talent from around the country this winter. The Memphis program will be a tough out come March, as its defensive ratings sits atop the state, per the Massey Ratings.

2. Brentwood Academy

Brentwood Academy won 25 games last season, falling in the 2A state championship to Briarcrest Christian. The Eagles are one of two programs in the state who have a top-five offensive and defensive rating, per the Massey Ratings. They’ll open the season with a stretch of tune-ups before a clash against top-10 Baylor School sets the tone in Early December.

3. Briarcrest Christian

The defending 2A state champs won 30 games last season en route to hanging a banner. Briarcrest Christian checks in with the No. 5 offensive and defensive rating in the state and will once again be a power in and around Memphis. The Saints are currently favored to win each of their regular season matchups, per the Massey Ratings.

4. Cordova

Last season, Cordova won 27 of its first 28 games. While that mark will be tough to match this winter, the Wolves are poised for another successful year, thanks to an offense that checks in No. 4 in-state, per the Massey Ratings. A massive tilt against top-ranked Bartlett on Jan. 10 is one to watch early in the new year.

5. Webb School of Knoxville

Knoxville’s Webb School was a 2A state semifinalist in the 2023-24 season, losing to No. 2 Brentwood, finishing what was a 25-win year. The Spartans will look to prove they’re worthy of being in the Volunteer State’s upper echelon. They currently aren’t scheduled to play a top-25 opponent until Dec. 3, when they take on No. 20 Cookeville.

6. Independence

The defending 4A state champs, Independence completed a 32-6 season with a trophy last time around. The Eagles are a frontrunner to repeat at the top of the mountain and will be spearheaded by an offense that ranks No. 9 in-state preseason, per the Massey Ratings. They’re set to take on top-ranked Bartlett this weekend.

7. Baylor School

Down in Chattanooga, Baylor School is coming off a 19-win season, though aspirations are much higher this winter. The Red Raiders, led by senior guard Zane Restelli and others, have the No. 10 defensive rating in the state, per the Massey Ratings. A slew of ranked games are on the docket, including a Dec. 7 outing against No. 2 Brentwood Academy.

8. Memphis Christian Brothers

Like Baylor School, Christian Brothers in Memphis is expected to out-do its ho-hum 2023-24 season. The Purple Wave went 16-12 last year and will also lean on its defense this winter, as it ranks No. 8 in the state, per the Massey Ratings. Junior three-star power forward Keeper Jackson will be one to watch for the Wave.

9. Fulton

Fulton won its final 20 games of the 2023-24 campaign en route to a 3A state championship. The Falcons went 35-2 last season and are once again favorites to earn another trophy in the coming months. Fulton has a top-20 offensive and defensive rating in the state and is favored to win each of its first 10 regular season contests.

10. Bearden

Bearden began the 2023-24 season on a 10-0 run and finished it with 27 victories. The Bulldogs will compete with the best in Knoxville and open the year with the No. 11 defensive rating in the state, per the Massey Ratings. December could be fruitful, as they take on Fulton, Hillsboro and Independence in an eight-day span.

Teams 11-25 in Tennessee High School Basketball Rankings

11. Pope John Paul II
12. Hillsboro
13. Whitehaven
14. Hamilton Heights Christian
15. Maryville

16. Germantown Houston
17. Memphis University School
18. Montgomery Bell
19. Knoxville Catholic
20. Cookeville

21. Brentwood
22. First Assembly Christian
23. Douglass
24. Oak Ridge
25. Ravenwood