As times have changed, the idea of giving huge minutes to a star freshman has become more and more widely accepted. Veteran pieces are very valuable and important, but seniority doesn’t necessarily override talent. Look at Reidsville and the success they’ve had behind the two youngest players on their roster. Following the legacy left by the Breon Pass is a tall task for anyone, but Dionte Neal and Kendre Harrison look prepared to take the state by storm over the course of their respective high school journeys. Both guys have already stood out as two-sport prodigies (not just competing, but rather dominating) on the football field and basketball court despite being only freshmen. Could this be the start of a legitimate dynasty'
It doesn’t take a ton of sports knowledge to see Harrison at his current age and assume he’s a high-level athlete. He’s a big, strong, skilled post player with quality feel and the ability to physically overwhelm opponents on either end of the floor. Harrison possesses touch with either hand and is capable of consistently finishing out of the post or above the rim. At 6-foot-7, he moves extremely well for his size and displays an understanding of how to affect the game with or without the ball in his hands. Harrison can knock down midrange jumpers or even space the floor if necessary, but typically looks to dominate opponents around the basket. He’s currently averaging 22.8 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 3.4 BPG, and 1.6 SPG while shooting 70% from the floor. Across all freshmen, Harrison ranks second in scoring and first in rebounding. Add in the fact that he’s already receiving high-major offers for football, and Harrison has the world in the palm of his hand.
In looking at Neal, he’s probably one of the more unique players to come through North Carolina in recent memory. At 5-foot-9, Neal is an incredibly crafty, athletic, exciting player with the blend of IQ, toughness, and overall polish to dominate in a variety of different ways. He can effortlessly fill it up from all three levels, but also possesses impressive playmaking chops and understands how to set up others on a seemingly nonstop basis. Neal’s blazing first step combined with his tight handle allows him to reliably breakdown opponents, navigate through traffic, and consistently make plays with the ball in his hands. He’s simply an electric player. His nightly numbers resemble that of a video game, as he’s posting averages of 21.2 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 12.0 APG, and 6.4 SPG with insane 59/49/84 shooting splits. Per MaxPreps, Neal is averaging the fourth-most points among freshmen while also ranking first in assists and second in steals across all classes. What he’s doing is truly rare, and that’s without really even mentioning his year on the gridiron (where he led the state in interceptions while adding 730 yards and 10 touchdowns as a receiver). It’s clear that both he and Harrison are part of something special that’s just beginning to unfold.