On Tuesday night, Phenom Hoops traveled to Central Cabarrus as they hosted cross-town rival Concord. Central Cabarrus entered the game with a record of 16-0 on the season. Although they may lack size, they make up with it with their uptempo style and aggressive on-ball defense. Concord entered the game with a 13-2 record, with their only losses coming the first game of the season to Robinson and to Central Cabarrus earlier in December.

Central Cabarrus was able to jump out to an early lead with their full court pressure, forcing turnovers and converting on the other end. However, Concord was able to stay within striking distance in the first half with their activity on the offensive glass. They attacked the boards and created second chance opportunities.

In the second half, Central Cabarrus was able to really pull away and finish with a 90-65 victory behind the play of ’23 Jaiden Thompson, ’23 Gavin Bullock, ’24 Carson Daniel and ’24 Chase Daniel.

Central Cabarrus 90
Jaiden Thompson – 23 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 steals
Gavin Bullock – 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 3 steals
Carson Daniel – 13 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 7 steals
Jay’kwon Diaz-Cruz – 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Chase Daniel – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 3 steals
Adriel Miller – 8 points, 4 assists, 1 steal
Elijah Ford – 3 points, 1 steal
Micah Murray – 3 points, 3 rebounds
Correll Johnson – 2 points, 1 steal
Emerson Baker – 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist

Concord 65
James Smith – 14 points, 8 rebounds
Brayden Blue – 12 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Johnakin Franklin – 11 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal
Justin Garland – 9 points, 6 rebounds
Kayin Thompson – 5 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Jerell Reddick – 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Jeremiah Howard – 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block
Kobe Watts-Williams – 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Chris Arellano-Gonzalez – 2 points, 1 rebound
Aiden Aldridge – 1 point


6’0 2023 Jaiden Thompson (Central Cabarrus)
The junior point guard played an extremely efficient game. He has a tremendous feel and IQ for the game, knowing when to create for others and when to look for his own shot. He led the way with a game-high 23 points, but all of them came within the flow of the offense. Nothing was forced. Thompson has tremendous change of pace and the ability to create space, get to his spots and knock down the jumper from multiple levels. Thompson currently holds an offer from Western Carolina.

5’11 2024 Carson Daniel (Central Cabarrus)
Carson Daniel set the tone from the opening tip with his pressure on the defensive end. He continued this pressure all game long, finishing with 7 steals, and forcing several other turnovers. Carson also had a game-high of 6 assists. He is extremely unselfish and looks to make the extra pass. After the game, Carson picked up his first college scholarship offer from Catawba.

6’2 2023 Gavin Bullock (Central Cabarrus)
Gavin Bullock is the X-Factor for this Central Cabarrus squad. Bullock started the game with 10 points in the first quarter, knocking down two three-pointers. He finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 3 steals. Bullock is a relentless competitor who makes plays on both ends of the floor. What really stands out is his versatility on the defensive end. He is willing and able to guard any position, often times having to defend opposing post players despite his size. On the offensive end, he is a serious threat from behind the arc and showcased that last night.

6’0 2024 Chase Daniel (Central Cabarrus)
Once again, Chase Daniel was all over the court and impacted the game in a variety of ways. Offensively, he got into the paint and found ways to score towards the basket. On the defensive end, he made it difficult for opponents to easily get where they wanted. Chase earned his first scholarship offer from Catawba as well after the game.

6’1 2023 James Smith (Concord)
James Smith led the Spiders in scoring with 14 points and added 8 rebounds. He provided a tough, strong presence finishing downhill at the rim for Concord. He attacked the glass hard and created several second chance scoring opportunities for himself and his team.

6’3 2023 Brayden Blue (Concord)
Brayden Blue had a double-double and game-high in the rebounding department, finishing with 12 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Blue has really continued to play with more confidence after each viewing. His length and activity really stood out. He was active on the defensive end, altering shots and forcing turnovers. On the offensive end, he finished strong at the basket, and attacked the offensive glass hard on every shot.