Every few years, a new school is formed (usually in one of the major cities), becomes a hotbed for talent, and eventually trends upward in the national spotlight. Well, that’s precisely what happened earlier this summer when coaches Scott Taylor and Nick Jones sent shockwaves through the grassroots scene by announcing their move to Ambassador Christian School. After going 145-62 in eight seasons together at Myers Park and advancing countless players to the collegiate level, this decision was largely unforeseen. There were questions regarding what players they’d be able to secure at a brand-new school. However, it didn’t take the coaching tandem long to attract multiple significant building blocks. Let’s take a closer look at their initial group…
The eldest of their core, 6’7 ’25 Dylan Deluca, should be an immediate leader for this team. He’s a skilled forward with feel, versatility, and the ability to shoot the ball at a high level. Deluca’s blend of size and skill will naturally cause matchup problems for opponents—especially those lacking the necessary mobility to toggle between the interior and perimeter. He’s comfortable finishing around the basket or scoring on the block, but also knows how to attack off the dribble or make his presence felt on the offensive glass. Deluca provides a reliable floor-spacing presence and quality effort as a defensive cog. Already holding an offer from Stonehill, he will be a definite target for various college programs throughout the season.
Meanwhile, 6’8 ’26 Tyler Brown has as much long-term upside as anyone on the roster. Not only does he possess an obvious array of tools and appealing attributes, but his presence as an interior piece drastically elevates the Lions’ ceiling. Brown is just beginning to truly harness his abilities yet consistently finds ways to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Whether rebounding, blocking shots or finishing around the basket, he’s capable of outworking opponents with relative ease. At 6-foot-8, Brown is a highly fluid, explosive athlete with terrific length and a low-maintenance identity. As he adds strength and his skillset continues to blossom, expect Brown to become a real priority for college coaches.
In addition to the duo above, the Lions have several intriguing pieces that could make a leap over the next few years. Despite getting solid minutes at his previous school, 6’1 ’26 Judah King has a chance to enjoy a massive junior season. He’s a smart, crafty floor general with excellent balance in his approach to the game. King knows how to create for others, score as needed, and make his presence felt defensively at the point of attack. Between their abundance of guard play and interior size, 6’4 ’26 Jeremiah Franklin will fill a major void on the wing. He possesses a quality array of physical tools with the strength, toughness, and athleticism to impact the game in various ways. Rounding out the roster, 6’2 ’28 Rucker Jamison (son of former NBA All-Star Antawn Jamison) will be a prospect worth monitoring. His genetic makeup speaks for itself, but Coach Jones also speaks highly of the incoming freshman, stating that he “reminds him of Sir Mohammed at the same age.”
The roster has enough talent and coaching to compete with any opponent in North Carolina. However, (as cliché as it sounds) Rome wasn’t built in a day. It took several years of work and development to reach the highest levels of success at Myers Park. That being said, it’s challenging to envision a scenario where this new endeavor doesn’t yield positive results for all parties involved. Expect Coach Taylor, Coach Jones, and Ambassador Christian to make a lot of noise across the foreseeable future.