Each year, North Carolina basketball welcomes a varying amount of incoming transfers from all over the globe. Often times, these prospects are unheard of or have little to no traction behind their names. However, guys like Lewis Duarte and Randi Ovalle have been established within the states for quite a while, and are arguably as enticing as ever before. Both guys represent the Dominican Republic and now stand out as obvious cornerstones for Victory Christian, quietly one of the more talented rosters across the state. So, how did these players end up in this situation'
It wasn’t too long ago when an eighth-grade Duarte stood out with the New York Lightning, before he was fully able to speak English. His foundation back then transitioned seamlessly into his current identity, thriving on size, motor, and an all-around skillset. Now, Duarte is even more capable of taking over and dominating a game on both ends of the floor. He’s a powerful athlete with great instincts, toughness, and two-way versatility at 6-foot-6. Duarte shows a willingness to do the little things while still leading by example in various facets of the game. He scores the ball effectively from all three levels, showing shot-creation abilities, and knows how to run a team on either side of the ball. His offer sheet is all over the place and includes the likes of South Alabama, New Mexico, GCU, Pacific, Illinois, Southern Utah, and Mississippi State.
Like Duarte, Ovalle is an incredibly intriguing long-term prospect that has already shown the necessary tools to shine in various settings. At 6-foot-7 and gifted with incredible offensive polish, Ovalle regularly highlights the ability to operate off the dribble, score from all three levels, and naturally cause mismatches with the ball in his hands. He’s very skilled for his size, able to reliably pass, handle, and shoot the ball at an extremely impressive rate, but also displays IQ and understanding as a defender. Though Ovalle is already clearly brimming with talent, he has the tools to get even better over the next calendar year. His offer sheet of Pacific, GCU, UC Riverside, Fresno State, Montana State, Washington State, Mississippi State, Illinois, San Diego, and Loyola Marymount should only continue to grow.
While Duarte and Ovalle are only two of the prospects on Victory Christian, their names should certainly continue to trend upward throughout the foreseeable future. Both guys possess obvious Division I ability and should turn the heads of college coaches throughout the remainder of the current season.