Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding
performers in high school basketball. The tradition continues to close
out the 2025-26 season by naming the top player in each state.
Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in
addition to local and state accolades.
Ty Cobb of
Upperman (Baxter) is the 2025-26 MaxPreps Tennessee High School Basketball Player of the Year. The 6-foot-2 junior guard led the Bees to a 31-6 record and a trip to the Class 3A state semifinals.
For the season, Cobb averaged 29.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per contest while shooting 58.0 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from 3-point range.
With a year left to play, MaxPreps Tennessee Player of the Year Ty Cobb has already piled up 2,647 career points. (PHOTO: Carl Edmondson Jr.)
In a 54-51 loss to Fulton (Knoxville) in the state semifinals, Cobb contributed a game-high 33 points to go along with six rebounds.
Cobb had back-to-back 48-point outbursts at the Classic at Tennessee High School in December, leading Upperman to wins over Greeneville and Thomas Jefferson Campus (Brooklyn, N.Y.) on consecutive days.
Regarded as a top 200 prospect nationally in the Class of 2027 by Rivals, Cobbs committed to Liberty over offers from Belmont, Middle Tennessee, Northwestern State, Samford, Tennessee Tech and UT-Martin.
Each
state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in
the MaxPreps All-America Team, which is scheduled to be released in
April. Past selections include 2026 NBA All-Stars Karl Anthony-Towns
(2014), Scottie Barnes (2020), Devin Booker (2014), Jaylen Brown (2015),
Jalen Brunson (2014, 2015), Cade Cunningham (2019, 2020), Kevin Durant
(2006), Jalen Duren (2021), Anthony Edwards (2019), De'Aaron Fox (2016),
Chet Holmgren (2020, 2021), Brandon Ingram (2015), Jalen Johnson
(2019), Tyrese Maxey (2019) and Norman Powell (2011).
Past MaxPreps Tennessee Players of the Year
2019-20 – Moussa Cisse, Lausanne Collegiate (Memphis)
2020-21 – B.J. Edwards, Knoxville Catholic (Knoxville)
2021-22 – Brandon Miller, Cane Ridge (Nashville)
2022-23 – Jaylen Jones, East Nashville Magnet (Nashville)
2023-24 – Jahvin Carter, Alcoa
2024-25 – Fred Smith Jr., Briarcrest Christian (Eads)
