Nashville's Early Standouts: Five Players Shaping the City’s 2025–26 College Basketball Scene

Photo / Cumberland's Triston Conger attempts a shot / Cumberland Athletics

By David Oglesby

NASHVILLE, TN - Nashville basketball is up and going and as the season starts some players are emerging as the ones to watch. Based on early numbers around Music City, here are five players who are standing up and representing their programs in a strong way.

1. Duke Miles / Vanderbilt - At the top is Duke Miles, the steady-handed guard leading a Vanderbilt team already receiving national attention. Miles is averaging about 16 points and nearly six assists per game while shooting efficiently and creating for others — the kind of floor leadership that turns good rosters into tournament contenders. Vanderbilt’s 4-0 start and national recognition (No. 24 coaches’ poll, AP votes) make the Commodores an outlier in the Nashville landscape: their resources, depth and nonconference résumé place them in a different tier than most local programs. Miles’ play validates that gap; he’s not just piling up stats, he’s the fulcrum for a team expected to contend in both the league and on a national stage.

   
   

2. Triston Conger / Cumberland - Cumberland’s senior forward Triston Conger is a force in the smaller-college scene. Leading his team with roughly 21 points per game while posting efficient shooting splits, Conger combines interior scoring and rebounding that tilt games in Cumberland’s favor. The Bulldogs lean on him offensively, and his presence explains why Cumberland has already looked like one of the more dangerous mid-major outfits locally. When Conger gets position and the ball, defenses must rotate — and Cumberland’s supporting cast often benefits with open looks and second-chance points.

   
   

3. Aaron Nkrumah / Tennessee State - Tennessee State’s early results have been driven by a quartet of scorers, and out of that group Aaron Nkrumah stands out. Averaging near 18.5 points per game in a balanced TSU attack, he’s blended inside-out scoring with consistent efficiency. TSU’s team numbers — a top scoring average around 94 points per game and a strong rebounding margin — reflect a program identity built on pace and board control. Nkrumah is the primary beneficiary and architect of that identity: when he’s scoring, Tennessee State’s offense hums; when he draws attention, the Bruins and guards thrive in the spaces created.

   
   

4. Tyler Lundblade / Belmont - Belmont’s veteran-talented core has always been defined by tough, methodical play and efficient scoring, and Tyler Lundblade is the latest example. He’s averaging in the mid-teens and showing a reliable outside stroke that opens up Belmont’s halfcourt sets. Belmont’s 4-0 start — and the recent gritty rivalry win over Lipscomb that showcased defense, free throws and timely veteran play — underscores the program’s steadiness. Lundblade’s scoring and willingness to step into late-game moments encapsulate what has made Belmont a consistent threat in the region: veteran poise and role players who execute.

   
   

5. Simeon Williams / Fisk (and other local standouts) - Across the river and in neighboring programs, players like Simeon Williams at Fisk have been doing the heavy lifting. Williams’ scoring totals and efficiency have been central to Fisk’s offense; he’s a go-to option who can create off the bounce and knock down shots. While Fisk’s overall record and roster context differ from Division I peers, Williams’ individual impact is unmistakable. Likewise, players such as Mekhi Cameron at Tennessee Tech and Zyree Collins at Austin Peay have produced early and consistently, showing that Nashville’s talent pool runs deep across classifications.

   
   

What’s striking early in the season is how different program profiles shape player value. Vanderbilt, with national attention and deeper roster talent, elevates its players’ narratives — a strong performance there carries broader implications for conference standings and NCAA chatter. Belmont remains a model of program continuity: experienced guards and forwards executing a clear system. Tennessee State’s uptempo identity plays into star scorers who can finish and rebound; Cumberland and Trevecca (and even standout players at smaller schools) lean on individual studs who can swing games singlehandedly.

What to watch next Through conference play and nonconference measuring sticks, keep an eye on how these five players influence outcomes. Does Miles sustain Vanderbilt’s efficient creation against stiffer opponents? Can Conger keep producing while Cumberland faces varied defensive looks? Will Nkrumah’s scoring translate into wins when TSU meets tougher rebounding units? Also watch supporting casts: Vanderbilt’s depth might blunt an off-night, while smaller programs live and die by their stars.

Early-season stats only tell part of the story, but in Nashville they point to a clear truth: this is a town where basketball is crowded with interesting narratives — from Vanderbilt’s national flirtation to the scrappy, high-output performances at mid‑major and small-college programs. These five players have given fans reason to tune in; how their seasons finish will define the local pecking order come March.