The first annual Hoops and Dreams Showcase was one of the most live events Eastern North Carolina saw last year. This year will have a deeper field. It will have incredible talent and the match ups are off the charts. With 3 teams ranked among the nation’s top programs, 9 players ranked among the nation’s Top 100 prospects and 11 players who have signed to play college basketball … Here is why We’re Hype About the 2nd Annual Hoops and Dreams Showcase …
Must Watch Storylines
The Unsigned Seniors are Showing Out
As the college programs recruiting boards are shifting after signing day, just in time to have unsigned senior’s play open eyes. Many low major programs wait until after signing day to even get going on filling up their class. That said, now is the time for unsigned seniors to be playing out of their mind.
Hoops and Dreams Showcase will feature numerous unsigned seniors who are playing out of their minds. Keep a look on these players as they are playing for a purpose and that creates incredibly exciting basketball
6’ John Michael Wright
Fayetteville Academy
Wright started the season off with a cool 31 point output. He is incredibly quick downhill and has crazy pop to his explosion. Watching him get what he wants, when he wants and where he wants is exciting. Seeing him go for 30 each time out brings a crowd to its feet.
6’3” Caleb Burgess
Moravian Prep
Burgess because put his name in the national conversation when he took Oak Hill into overtime at the Carmel Christian Tip-Off Classic. He scored the ball whenever he wanted, he is tough minded and athletic. He scores the ball well in the mid-range and is an absolute killer. He came into the season with an NC A&T offer, watch for more to come.
6’8” Josh Hall
Moravian Prep
Hall is playing the best basketball he ever has right now. He has great length and ball skills for a player of his size. He is a knock down shooter with deep range and a quick release. He is able to get to his spots off one and two dribbles and he is a very fluid, if not explosive athlete. He carries about 15 offers with Marshall at the top, he has high majors in to see him regularly now.
6’2” Travion McCray
Village Christian
McCray has solidified his reputation as a tough-minded point guard. He is strong, explosive and plays an aggressive style on both ends of the floor. He was awarded conference player of the year last season over the likes of Joey Baker, Audiese Toney, Josh Nickelberry, etc…He’s playing out of his mind right now with offers from the likes of Campbell, USC-Upstate, Radford, Stetson, etc…
6’6” Max Farthing
Word of God
This one is perplexing. He has great positional size and shoots the absolute cover off the ball. He has shot the ball at a high clip for a couple of years now. This past weekend he was game MVP for both games during Phenom’s National Showcase. He knocked down 14 3s between the two games and showed an ability to put it on the floor for one or two dribbles and even post up. He also has a 4.0 GPA as a student. As we mentioned, his no offers is perplexing.
Other Unsigned Seniors: Raishaun Brown (ACA), Riley Adams (CFCA), Marcus Metcalf (WCD), Jalen Walker Crawford (ACA), Daniel Lobach (Moravian)
Josh Nickelberry Vs. Isaiah Todd
7:30 PM Saturday (November 24)
We circled this matchup because these are two of the best players in the state of North Carolina and are sure to be two of the finalists for Gatorade state Player of the Year. Both players are off to torrid starts to the season putting up crazy numbers.
Through three games, 5-star 2020 prospect Isaiah Todd is averaging 24 points. The Top 10 prospect by ESPN is also chipping in 15 rebounds and 8 blocks per game. He is a truly dominating force at 6’10” with the ability to play inside and out all the while protecting the front of the rim at a high level.
Nickelberry has played one more game to this point and put up ridiculous numbers never the less. He is averaging 32.5 points per game while shooting 46% from the field and 62% (13-21) from 3. Nickelberry is an elite scorer, it is that simple. He gets buckets, at any level both off the bounce or the catch.
Without a doubt, this game will be must watch TV. Two of the nation’s elite players, who are battling for state player of the year honors will be going head to head, with video cameras, coaches and media front and center. You should be too.
Moravian Prep is on Fire
Is there a more talked about team in North Carolina than Moravian Prep right now? They are coming out and playing with an absolute chip on their shoulder and creating a large fan base on their way to doing so. They have a very popular roster of players that many have yet to see, but need to get out immediately and watch, cause they are fun!
They are led by their point guard, 6’3” unsigned senior Caleb Burgess. The strong and athletic lead guard plays a fearless style of ball, with the ability to get his body into you and create space to pull up from anywhere on the floor. 6’8” unsigned senior Josh Hall, a Durham native, is another name many are talking about. Rightfully so, the skilled forward brought 15 offers into the season and has a ton of college watching his pure stroke and good athleticism.
Moravian’s front court is tough as well. Led by 6’10” junior Javarzia Belton. The mountain of a man went toe to toe against 2019 5-star Kofi Cockburn and outplayed him. 6’8” junior Omarion Jay came in second place in the Carmel Christian Tip Off dunk contest, big and strong he produces at a high clip. Also, 6’8” unsigned senior Daniel Lobach is playing a great role for them with his ability to stretch the floor and rebound.
All in all, this team is playing incredible basketball. In the Hoops and Dreams Showcase they will certainly have their hands full. They will play against two nationally ranked opponents with Potter’s House out of Florida and First Love Christian out of Pennsylvania.
Defending 4A State Champion Independence High School
If you got a chance to get out and watch this team last year, they were one of the best coached and hardest playing teams we saw all of last season. Well they lose starting guard Jomarius Burton (who is now starting at Wichita State) and return everyone else. However, they bring in two more game changers to make this team just as dangerous as last year, which is why they are ranked among the Top 50 teams in the country by the #FAB50 powered by Ball is Life.
They are led by 3 college commitments. 6’6” Murray State signee Matt Smith, 6’2” Queens University signee AJ MCKee and 6’7” Western Carolina signee Tyler Harris. What separates these three is they are tenacious and unbelievably switchable on defense.
When you add in the steady hand of 6’1” senior point guard Raja Bell who is stone cold with taking care of the ball, making shots and putting the ball in the right spots. Also, add in 6’7” sophomore Omarion Bodrick who is a long and bouncy shot blocking expert.
This team will get after you for the full court. They will try to dunk everything on your head and they are accustomed to winning, coming off a 32-1 year and possibly having a better team this year. They won their first game of the season by 30 over a 4A opponent with multiple D1 signees. Head Coach Preston Davis is a rising star and don’t forget, they are ranked among the nation’s Top 50.
