Tennessee: 25 Student-Athletes to Watch in 2015-16

For years, every Tennessee boy could dream of playing in one of only three 100,000 seat football stadiums and every Tennessee girl could dream of playing for Pat Summit and the top basketball program in the country.

From Lake County High School (photo of Stavonski Wilkes) to Blackman High School (Crystal Dangerfield) to Dickson County (Chassity Carter), it was all about beating Alabama on the third Saturday in October and winning another title.

We ran the Value Add Sports calculations on all returning Tennessee athletes and emailed sports writers and other experts in the state to help rank the 25 state players to watch on a list we will update here.

Former Vol Reggie White is the all-time great, and, while he will not be matched, the Vols expect a big comeback this season. On the basketball front, Dangerfield and Carter await one final year playing at the Tennessee high school level before going to UConn and Vanderbilt. The Commodores also boast the best men’s hoop players in the state.

Here are the top 25 to watch:

1. Baldwin, Wade, Vanderbilt, Basket, PG
2. Cierra Burdick, Tennessee, Women’s basketball
3. LaChance, Riley, Vanderbilt, Basket, SG
4. Crystal Dangerfield, Blackman High School, Girls Basketball
5. Kyle Wright, Vanderbilt, Baseball, RP
6. North, Marquez, Tennessee Volunteers, Foot, Rec
7. Chassity Carter, Dickson County, Girls Basketball
8. Isabelle Harrison, Tennessee
9. Tarrant, Ricky 2, Memphis, Basket, SG
10. Carlyn Baldwin, Tennessee, Soccer, Midfielder
11. Wertman, Cassie, Tennessee, Track/Field, Shot PutMen
12. Moore, Armani 4, Tennessee, Basket, SF
13. Champion, Erin, Tennessee, Track/Field, Pole VaultMen
14. Williams, Michael, East Tenn. St., Track/Field, 400m Intermediate HuMen
15. Stavonski Wilkes – Football – RB/DB – Lake County High School
16. Jeren Kendall, Vanderbilt, Baseball, OF
17. Lydia Simmons, Vanderbilt, Soccer, Midfielder
18. Sydney Kingston, Memphis, Soccer, Midfielder
19. Christin Stewart, Tennessee, Baseball, OF
20. Bradshaw, Craig 23, Belmont, Basket, SG
21. Brandhoff, Vivian, Memphis, Track/Field, Shot PutMen
22. Pryor, Greg 1, Chattanooga, Basket, SG
23. Hughes, Amber, Tennessee St., Track/Field, 200m DashMen
24. Will Toffey, Vanderbilt, Baseball, 3B
25. Johnson, Darius, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, Foot, OLine

Other Receiving Votes

Wilson, Damien, Memphis, Basket, SF

Talbert, Madelin, Lipscomb, Track/Field, 5,000m RunMen

Bradds, Evan 35, Belmont, Basket, C

Odia, Loveth, Mid. Tenn. State, Track/Field, 400m DashMen