Anyone who has followed North Carolina high school basketball throughout the last year should know about Nate Brafford and his absolutely absurd averages from last season at Tuscola. He finished with a nightly stat line of 33.9 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.9 SPG, and 2.0 BPG while shooting 53% from the floor, 39% from distance, and 81% from the free-throw line. Not only was he arguably the most productive player in the state but also his dominance came while seeing opposing defenses completely centered on him. The fact that Brafford posted those numbers and still only holds two Division I offers is genuinely astonishing. That notion forces the question to be asked, how many players across North Carolina could actually match his efficiency andtwo-way production'
After the season concluded, Brafford opted to transfer to Rabun Gap and reclassify to 2022, making him even more appealing for college coaches. He will have ample time to get adjusted but should certainly be the focal point of their new-look group. Right now, Brafford's only knock is his weight, or lack thereof. However, it hasn't seemed to affect his actual game and identity as a player. His all-around skillset is what makes him such a problem for opponents, given that he can pass, handle, defend, and score in a variety of different ways. Brafford naturally makes the best available decision and displays a great feel for the game on both ends of the floor. If he adds strength, there's nothing holding him back from being a nationally-regarded player and accumulating ten to twenty offers. Only time will tell, but Brafford seems like the right prospect to bet on for the foreseeable future.
