Rising Briarcest star Jaye Nash follows path of ex-teammate, NBA draftee Kennedy Chandler

Jaye Nash was in the comfortable confines of Briarcrest’s Rowell Arena on a June 18 morning, doing what he does best, putting on a show.

As he showcased his Power 5 talent on the court near the front entrance of the gym, teams filing in to prepare for their game during the Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee Hoopfest, they also got a glimpse of one of Memphis’ top guards in the class of 2024.

“That’s Jaye Nash right there,” one player said as Nash dribbled down the court and set up one of his teammates.

Nash’s name carries some weight nowadays. And at least for the next season, his brand will continue to flourish right at home in Memphis.

That almost wasn’t the case.

"I just wanted to enjoy a year like this,” Nash said after his game. “We had COVID, so it wasn’t really enjoyable during COVID. I just wanted to stay here with my team, stay here with Coach (John) Harrington. He’s a great coach.”

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Nash was next in the line of rising juniors to make the jump to the prep academy level. Curtis Givens III announced he was moving south to Montverde Academy in Florida in May, R’Chaun King; Givens’ teammate at Memphis University School, made way to Link Academy in Missouri soon after.

It’s a trend that’s finally reached Memphis in full force. But as close as Nash was to taking that step, he wanted one true year of high school before he focused solely on basketball.

“I want Jaye to experience high school,” his dad, also named Jaye, said. “Prom, driving to school, driving to practice and just those teenager things that most kids get to experience. And I don’t want to interrupt that, per se.”

Nash, a 6-foot-1 point guard, is presumably the next top guard at Briarcrest behind Kennedy Chandler, who was recently drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2022 NBA Draft. Chandler starred at Briarcrest, bringing the Saints a state championship in 2019.

The two have a great relationship.

“Kennedy gives him a lot of advice, specifically basketball,” Nash’s dad said. “He and Kennedy kind of have their own relationship, per se. Kennedy is like a big brother to him.”

When Chandler was at Briarcrest, he and Nash used to go at each other during practice and in the summer. That intrasquad rivalry helped Nash develop into the guard he is.

“They used to go at it, and Jaye never backed down,” Kennedy’s dad, Kylan Chandler said. “He took on the challenge, and that’s what made him better as well, going against Kennedy every day in practice.”

Kylan sees some similarities between his son and Nash.

"He’s been doing so well, working on his game, getting stronger," Kylan said of Nash. "He’s definitely following in the same footsteps that Kennedy has put in place, in terms of the process and how Kennedy succeeded.”

The potential is there.

Kennedy had Power 5 schools piling into gyms to watch him play. Nash does, too. The offers continue to come in with Arizona State and Cincinnati – which will be in the Big 12 by the time Nash decides where he wants to play – recently offering the four-star guard.

Nash also holds offers from Memphis, Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Texas A&M. He doesn’t have offers from blue bloods Kansas or Duke yet but has interest from them, according to 247sports.

Those will come. And as long as Nash continues to develop, he’ll have more than enough options from which to choose.

“I can’t ever get satisfied with nothing that’s going on right now,” Nash said. “Just got to keep working. There’s always something bigger you can do. No matter on and off the court. There’s always something bigger.”

Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on Twitter @wynstonw__.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Jaye Nash can follow Kennedy Chandler's path at Briarcrest