The 2020-21 high school basketball season has been very unusual compared to the normalcy that we’ve grown accustomed to know. There’s been more player movement, less offers being distributed, and no real light at the end of the tunnel. However, we can focus on some positives instead of emphasizing the grim, negative effects of the one-year shutdown. Take Northern Guilford, for example. The school was founded just over a decade ago, and athletics have always been a point of controversy. It all began with the infamous 2008-09 state championship team, who was deemed ineligible after illegally placing players within the district. Conflict didn’t just arise on the hardwood, as there were a number of allegations taking place within the football program as well. Fast-forward only a few years and all the bad seeds were removed, allowing Northern Guilford to completely rebuild and redefine their culture.
After finding some semblance of success in the six seasons (2012-2019) under Bill Chambers, the program decided to hire from within and anoint Kellen Parrish as head coach (following his interim period). This decision came as a surprise to most, simply because Parrish had been around both basketball programs for quite a while and the athletic department continually pursued outside candidates. That being said, he’s already found impressive success in his one and a half seasons at the helm. Last year, the Nighthawks were largely who we expected them to be: young and inconsistent. They lost multiple winnable games simply due to on-court inexperience, ultimately finishing the season with a middling 16-10 record. Not bad, but certainly not the full potential for Parrish and company.
Fast-forward just twelve months, and the cogs within this roster have truly evolved into a well-oiled machine. Prior to the season, there were three main talking points when discussing the Nighthawks behind closed doors: they should go undefeated across conference play for the second time ever, this should be their best *true* team ever constructed, and Nolan Hodge is on the path to becoming the best player in school history (including the 08-09 roster). In all honesty, each of those objectives seem more and more likely with each passing day. Winning the conference with a perfect record already happened, which allows us to turn to the next question. Is this the best team in Northern Guilford’s short history' The jury is still out, but guys like Hodge, Adonijah Whitley, Manny Elliott, and Jackson Helms will all play college basketball. Add in Owen Griffith, who could be a useful piece for the right program, and this squad has more next-level talent than any group prior. Additionally, let’s take a closer look at the nightly averages from their main fivesome…
6’6 ’22 Nolan Hodge: 21.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.6 APG, and 1.6 SPG with shooting splits of 51/42/71.
6’2 ’22 Manny Elliott: 14.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 1.5 SPG with shooting splits of 46/36/62.
6’4 ’21 Adonijah Whitley: 12.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 1.6 SPG with 53 FG%.
6’0 ’22 Jackson Helms: 11.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.4 APG, and 2.7 SPG.
6’0 ’21 Owen Griffith: 7.9 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 5.6 APG, and 2.3 SPG with 51 FG%.
Pivoting to the final point: is Hodge the best player in program history' While Jonathan Frye (Tulane/Appalachian State), Mike Neal (Appalachian State), and Jacob Lawson (Purdue/Appalachian State) all played at notable Division I programs, none of them really reached their ceiling beyond high school. Andy Pack’s name also deserves a mention, as he was the lone Division I talent to bridge the gap between Hodge and the aforementioned trio. However, the overall trajectory of Hodge is too appealing to ignore. Thinking back at a smart, skinny, maybe 5-foot-11 Hodge from five years ago and monitoring his progression thereafter has been truly unbelievable. Gradually, he developed athleticism and grew in height but remained very skinny. While things began to transition between his freshman and sophomore seasons, his biggest step forward took place within the last calendar year. Hodge has earned three Division I offers thus far (Duquesne, Old Dominion, and North Carolina A&T), but should receive at least a dozen more before it’s all said and done.
We’ve said it before, but there are stretches where this Nighthawks squad genuinely looks like the best team in the state. Not only do they embrace their respective roles but their ability to turn defense into offense is what allows this group to pile on points with relative ease. The game plan instilled from the coaching staff has clearly resonated with the players, as they are playing a championship-level brand of basketball right now. Although the public-school brackets are still being developed, one has to imagine Northern Guilford being one of the top teams in 3A. D’Marco Dunn and Westover will likely return as the favorite, but the Nighthawks have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the state—especially if they are firing on all cylinders.