By; Cooper Hart

Jordan Durham ' '24 Wing ' The Burlington School

Jordan has really bought into his role as a swiss army knife on offense and a high-level point-of-attack defender on defense. His shot selection and decision-making have improved each week that he's been here. His height, length, and athleticism combination make him a versatile defender by default, and with his instincts and timing added on top of that, he is one of the premier point-of-attack (POA) defenders around. I continue to be impressed with his ability to finish plays and make simple reads on the offensive end. He is a handful in transition, and he will continue to improve in that area as he develops as a creator. Jordan will create a lot of buzz around his name as he continues to flourish as a key piece to a talented TBS team.

Sam Martin ' '23 Forward ' Apex HS

Sam has continued to improve as a jump shooter and has reached the point where I now expect him to make at least 1-2 per game. He has sped up his mechanics a lot and his high release point makes it virtually impossible to contest. As his confidence continues to grow, I can only imagine that he will be a legitimate outside threat during his senior season. He has also continued to prove himself as a talented rim finisher. With great touch and footwork inside, Sam can finish through contact and get to the line at a high rate. His recruitment is slowly taking off and I wouldn't be surprised if the scholarship offers start to roll in.

Jakel Powell ' '23 Wing ' Raleigh Christian Academy

Jakel showed off how well he can score today, filling it up in a variety of ways. He has good shot mechanics and hit deep jumpers in bunches in lieu of a 20 PPG average on the day. With his insane POA defender potential and the increased shooting volume and efficiency, Jakel's floor is a high-level 3&D wing. He flashed his volume-scoring abilities today by shooting and getting to the rim with ease, which furthers my belief that his best is yet to come. I'm excited to see what he does with a high number of touches and shots this season at Raleigh Christian.

Cole Cloer ' '26 Wing ' Orange HS

With the two primary creators missing from his team today, Cole adapted to a new role and excelled. As a 6'6' wing with a knockdown shot, he is always going to be effective, no matter the game. But today when he had the ball in his hands more often than usual, he flashed some serious primary creator potential. His handle continues to improve, and he has good vision and IQ as far as reading the second line of defense goes. Very few players can succeed in a primary creator role, explaining why the role is so valuable, but Cole looked confident and comfortable given the added responsibility.

Preston Copeland ' '25 Forward ' Raleigh Christian Academy

Preston has shot up my board of 2025 prospects because of his ability to move and guard at such a young age. Preston has improved week to week throughout the HoopState Fall League, which has come to a head today. He made his presence felt by protecting the rim and being versatile in the roll game, as a scorer, passer, and rebounder. I am a big fan of his potential, as a big with size, hands, and good feet are hard to come by. He is going to have a breakout year with RCA and should be a name to watch closely as we get closer to the season.

Collin Kuhl ' '23 Forward ' Holly Springs HS

Collin showed off his off-the-bounce abilities today, specifically out of the mid-post, where he was a nightmare matchup for opposing bigs. He has significantly improved in his ability to create his own shot and that makes him lethal when catching the ball on the elbow, or when working from the top off reversals. He's savvy when using head fakes and pivots and he can get a shot off without taking excess dribbles and without using up too much time. Also, his jump shot has steadily improved throughout the spring and summer. He has always had good mechanics, but he has sped up his release and he is shooting with a lot more confidence now. I am not sure when the breakthrough to a truly dangerous shooter will happen, but it is coming soon.