Top Jackson area high school juniors for 2018-19 school year
It’s hard to believe that that 2018-19 school year is right around the corner, which means that sports will be heating up quickly.
Before the year begins, we are looking at who could be the top athletes in West Tennessee.
We looked at the top returning seniors last week, so now we look at the top returning juniors.
1. Chloe Moore (Greenfield girls basketball) – Moore, a 2017-18 Class A Miss Basketball finalist, helped lead the Lady Yellowjackets to the Class A state championship last season.
If Greenfield is going to repeat, Moore will play a key role. She is quick around the perimeter with the ability to pull up for a jumper at any time.
Moore averaged 17.7 points, 4.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds to be named to the All-West Tennessee first team. She has multiple NCAA Division scholarship offers.
2. Hunter Ensley (Huntingdon baseball and football) – Ensley, a Tennessee baseball commitment, was named All-West Tennessee in baseball and football last season.
In baseball, he helped the Mustangs to the Class A sectionals as he batted .452 to go along with 12 doubles, six triples and 32 RBI.
As a defensive back on the football field, he helped the Mustangs to the Class 1A quarterfinals with 87 total tackles with six coming for loss to go along with four interceptions.
3. Tess Darby (Greenfield girls basketball) – Darby, a 2017-18 Class A Miss Basketball finalist, also played a key role in the Lady Yellowjackets’ run to the Class A state championship last season.
Darby is crucial around the basket with her ability to play in the post.
She averaged 15.2 points and 4.9 rebounds to be named to the All-West Tennessee first team.
4. Lane Forsythe (TCA baseball) – Forsythe, a Mississippi State commitment, helped the Lions to a third-place finish in the Class A state baseball tournament.
The shortstop batted .425 this season with 12 doubles, five triples, 24 RBI and 20 stolen bases. He is also a wall defensively on the field.
5. Noah Halbrook (Peabody baseball and football) – Halbrook, an All-West Tennessee baseball first-team member, proved that he can do about anything on the field.
In football, he had a five-touchdown game last season. With Cooper Baugus out indefinitely, Halbrook will see more time at quarterback.
He is also the ace pitcher for the baseball team and batted .460 with six doubles and 34 RBI.
6. Kevin Davis (TCA track and football) – Davis, the 2018 All-West Tennessee track and field athlete of the year, has speed on his side.
He won the Small Division 100-meter dash with a time of 10.65 seconds, and he was runner-up in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.53 seconds.
He also uses that speed on the football field returning punts and kickoffs along with playing at wide receiver. He led TCA in receiving last year with 539 yards receiving.
7. Aly Goodman (South Gibson girls soccer) – Goodman, a Murray State commitment, stands 5-foot-3, but she is an explosive scorer on the soccer field.
She scored 42 goals and added 18 assists last season for South Gibson to be named the 2017 All-West Tennessee girls soccer player of the year.
The Lady Hornets reached the Region 7-AA semifinals behind her scoring.
8. Will Pucek (USJ boys soccer) – Pucek, an All-West Tennessee boys soccer first-team member, started the season hot before getting hurt in a match against Evangelical Christian School.
Pucek scored 28 goals in the first seven matches of the season before finished the year with 38 goals and 10 assists.
9. Jarel Dickson (Peabody football) – Expectations are for Dickson to carry most of the rushing load for the Gold Tide this season.
He was one of the top running backs last season as he helped Peabody reach the Class 2A quarterfinals. He finished the season with 1,184 yards and 20 touchdowns on 189 carries.
10. Khyla Wade-Warren (McNairy Central girls basketball) – Wade-Warren, an All-West Tennessee second-team selection, helped the Lady Bobcats to the District 14-AA title last season.
She averaged 15.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks as she created match-up problems with almost every team the McNairy Central went up against.
11. Markeston Douglas (Haywood boys basketball) – Douglas, an All-West Tennessee second-team member, can dominate around the basket.
He has had one season to learn the starting role, and now it is time to take Haywood to the next level. Last season, he averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds.
12. Lucas King (McKenzie boys basketball) – King, an All-West Tennessee third-team member, had a breakout season last year on a Rebel team with no seniors.
He has speed with the ball, and he is a sharpshooter. Last season, he averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds.
13. Macey Lee (TCA girls basketball and volleyball) – Lee has the ability to take over in both sports she plays for the Lady Lions.
Lee averaged 15.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 steals last season for the basketball team that reached the Region 7-A quarterfinals.
She also can play all six spots on the volleyball court for the Lady Lions, who reached the Region 6-A semifinals last season.
14. Kaci Fuller (Huntingdon softball and basketball) – Fuller, a UNC-Charlotte commitment, was named to the All-West Tennessee first team as an outfielder this past season.
She hit .505 with six home runs, 44 RBI and 37 runs scored as the Fillies reached the Region 6-A semifinals.
15. Macey Neal (Gibson County softball and basketball) – Neal, a UT Martin commitment, is a strong player for the Lady Pionners on the basketball hardwood and softball diamond.
Neal, an All-West Tennessee softball second-team member, batted .500 with four home runs, 19 RBI, 41 runs and 25 stolen bases at Gibson County reached the Class A state tournament. She also averaged eight points and four rebounds per game on the basketball court.
MORE: Top returning seniors for 2018-19
MORE: Top players from the 2017-18 school year
MORE: Greenfield girls basketball ranked No. 1 in preseason Dirty Dozen
MORE: Haywood boys basketball ranked No. 1 in preseason Dirty Dozen
Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.