The term “loss aversion” defines the infamous quote “losing feels worse than winning feels good.” We have become so accustomed to the lengthy, seemingly never-ending basketball season and can forget to properly bask in the moments of greatness. The current times have created shorter memories because there is always another “meaningful” game on the horizon. While it would be unfair to say Dionte Neal isn’t appreciated by the masses, it’s unclear if his historic feats are being fully recognized.
Context is particularly important for this discussion. It’s rare to win multiple state championships, especially in the public-school ranks. Although back-to-back winners only happened a handful of times throughout the last few decades, only three schools have managed to three-peat since 2000 (RJ Reynolds, Kinston, Winston-Salem Prep). Neal and Reidsville will have the opportunity to be the fourth. Obviously, there are many more teams who won two and fell short of the third, but the Rams are a special group. Should Neal lead his team to another state title (following the departures of Johnniyus Sharpe, Cam’Ron Jones, and Kristian Scales), it would undoubtedly be his most impressive accomplishment yet.
Rather than projecting forward, we can appreciate everything he’s already done. The 85-1 record is simply ridiculous and speaks for itself. Entering high school as a freshman, suffering defeat once in the state championship game, and then never losing again is plainly absurd. Add in a Peach Jam Championship and a decorated football career, and it feels like Neal deserves to be revered as an incredibly unique talent. The kid simply wins.
Barring something completely unforeseen, Neal will enter the NCHSAA’s top 50 scoring list relatively early next season. Currently at 1872 points, adding a rough estimate of 600 points for next year would make him a top-15 scorer in North Carolina history. It’s unfortunate that assists nor steals are accounted for historically, as Neal would likely challenge those records as well. His career averages of 21.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 10.3 APG, and 5.7 SPG are legitimately insane. However, it’s clear that the production is secondary to him. In a time when so many players are unbothered about what it means to win, Neal is a breath of fresh air. Right now, he holds basketball offers from Hampton, High Point, NC A&T, Charleston, Western Carolina, NC Central, Western Kentucky, ETSU, Bethune Cookman, UNCG, App State, and Stetson. So, is Dionte Neal the most accomplished player in North Carolina?