By: Cooper Hart
St. David’s vs Cardinal Gibbons
6’3” ’25 Chance Gladden (Ravenscroft)
Gladden put on a scoring masterclass in the Ravens loss to Greenfield, pouring in 36 points without forcing the action or going away from the offense. He plays so under control and makes it extremely difficult for defenses to speed him up, allowing him the reaction time needed to be a great decision maker as well as the body control needed to be a strong and consistent finisher. His ability to shoot was on full display as well, shooting at a ridiculous clip when left unguarded and showing off his tough shot making ability whenever his team needed a bucket.
6’7” ’24 Jackson Rein (Ravenscroft/Williams)
Rein recently committed to Williams, a top-10 D3 team in the country, and followed the commitment up with a hot start to his high school season. He did a great job of leveraging his shooting ability and attacking closeouts. A lot of forwards who can shoot fall too in love with their shot, but Rein made it a point to put consistent pressure on the rim, attacking closeouts and finishing through contact well. His efficiency scoring the ball and the clear matchup problems his size caused Greenfield was impressive to watch and should be something he can use to consistently impact winning this season.
6’2” ’26 Kobe Edwards (Greenfield)
With NC State (AC) and Liberty (HC & AC) in to watch him, Edwards did not disappoint. He finished with 22p and 5r with a TS% of 71.8%. After a relatively quiet first half, Edwards came alive in the second, getting to his pull-up game whenever he wanted and sparking a much-needed Greenfield run. His ability to stop and start on a dime is notable, and his ability to leverage that change of pace into advantages for himself and teammates is even more impressive. His upside as a combo guard is incredibly enticing as he continues to take strides athletically and grow into his frame.
6’8” ’25 Cash McSweeney (Cardinal Gibbons)
McSweeney was absolutely dominant in the Crusaders’ season opening win over St. David’s. He finished the game with 25p, 10r, and 6a while being the best player on the court in almost every facet of the game. He was constantly dictating the action around the rim, whether from the high/low post or on the glass. His touch, footwork, and vision were on full display as he got to his spots consistently and scored with efficiency in the paint. He was also vital in the Cardinal Gibbons press break, able to effectively make passing reads out of the middle, handle pressure, and capitalize on advantages. His offensive versatility, specifically in his feel for the game, should make him an intriguing prospect to monitor this season.
6’1” ’24 Ronny Turner (Cardinal Gibbons)
Despite battling foul trouble, there was arguably no one who impacted winning more on a possession-by-possession basis than Turner. He finished with 10p, 5r, 5s, and shot 5/7 from the field. He was crucial in the Crusaders’ ability to pressure the ball, flying around defensively and creating havoc on seemingly every play. He has a natural nose for the ball and does a great job of anticipating plays, allowing him to be involved in practically everything. He also did an excellent job of turning defense into offense, constantly pushing the tempo, and finding his way to the rim. His elite motor, toughness, and IQ should only add to his offer sheet this winter.
5’11” ’27 George Coleman (St. David’s)
Despite the loss, Coleman showed plenty of intriguing flashes. He finished with 16p, 3r, 3s, and shot 6/10 from the field and 3/4 from three. He was consistently able to create space and get good looks off against an aggressive and physical Cardinal Gibbons defense. He used a variety of pivots, head fakes, and ball fakes when in the paint to find space, showing a mature level of finishing craft that you don’t often see from young guards. He flashed the ability to make jump shots off the dribble as well and it’s an area I expect him to grow in as he gets more comfortable and confident this season. He should quietly be one of the more productive freshmen in Raleigh this season and expect him to consistently produce for the foreseeable future.