The Upper Cumberland’s basketball talent took center stage Tuesday night as three of the region’s brightest stars were recognized with the state’s highest individual honor.
Jackson County’s Will McCrary, Pickett County’s Zoey Nicolas and Upperman’s Ty Cobb were named TSSAA Mr. and Miss Basketball winners, capping standout seasons that helped define high school basketball across the region.
For McCrary, the award serves as validation for one of the most dominant all-around seasons in Class 1A. The Jackson County forward has been a force on both ends of the floor, using his 6-foot-5 frame to control the paint while also leading the Blue Devils offensively. McCrary averaged more than 22 points and 12 rebounds per game during a breakout campaign that saw him pile up double-doubles and emerge as one of the state’s most productive players.
In girls basketball, Pickett County’s Zoey Nicolas added her name to the storied tradition of Lady Bobcats standouts by earning Miss Basketball honors. Nicolas has been the engine behind Pickett County’s offense, combining scoring ability with strong court vision that has helped her climb into the program’s all-time top 20 in both points and assists.
Nicolas’ path to becoming one of Tennessee’s top players began in a church league when she was in the second grade. Since then, she has steadily developed into a dynamic guard and team leader, helping guide the Lady Bobcats while drawing attention from college programs for her ability to control the pace of a game and make plays for teammates.
Upperman’s Ty Cobb continues to build on a career that has already reached historic heights. The Bees guard brought Upperman back to the state championship, averaging career highs in rebounds per game and free throws attempted per game along the way. Cobb becomes the first player to win back-to-back Mr. Basketball awards in Class 3A since Alex Lomax in 2016-17 and the first to win the award multiple times since Darius Garland did it twice in 2017 and 2018.