Friday, May 29, 2026
NASHVILLE
WEATHER
Clarksville Christian five-star prospect Lauren Hassell has committed to Vanderbilt University and head coach Shea Ralph, Hassell announced in an X post Friday.
Hassell is the daughter of Clarksville Christian head coach, Austin Peay Hall of Famer and former NBA guard Trenton Hassell. She is the No. 13 player in the Class of 2027 and No. 2 in the state behind University School of Jackson’s Haylen Ayers, according to 247 Sports.
Lauren chose Vanderbilt over a dozen other Power Four schools such as UConn, Louisville, North Carolina and Baylor among others.
Ralph was named SEC and Naismith National Coach of the Year after leading the Commodores to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009.
“I’ve had a relationship with her for a long, long time and just the people and the players she’s been able to bring in and how her program keeps going up and up,” Lauren said of her relationship with Ralph. “It’s something I really want to be a part of, especially since it’s only 40 minutes away from my house. I feel like that’s amazing and it was a big factor.”
Hassell enters her senior season at Clarksville Christian with 2,820 career points, 122 shy of former Northwest standout Kim Brooks’ Montgomery County record of 2,942.
She averaged 25.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 steals, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks this past season while leading the Centurions to their fifth consecutive TSIAA state championship and TSIAA Miss Basketball honors.
Vanderbilt finished 29-5 after having its season ended with a 67-64 loss to Notre Dame in the Sweet 16.
“I think they offered me a long, long time ago,” Lauren said. “So it was kind of just like I had my schools plotted out and just whoever continued to build that relationship with me. Everything happens for a reason, so that type of thing happened.”
April 28, 2026
The Tennessee Sports Writers Association has announced its 2026 all-state boys basketball teams.
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