Group D
Calvary Baptist
Greensboro Day
Hickory High School
Charlotte Catholic
Calvary Baptist Cougars
Winston Salem, NC
Head Coach Joe Rybak
3A NCISAA Piedmont League
8-20 (0-10)
This isn’t your mother’s Calvary Baptist. After an 8-20 season, last year they brought in some new talent. Now the Cougars have size, youth, and skill on their side.
Players to Watch
6’8” Junior Jacob Brown
Brown is a late bloomer, who continues to get better each time out. He carries a long, but slender frame, however, what he can really do is shoot the basketball. Brown has deep and confident range. He also has solid touch and improving footwork in the paint. That pairs nicely with the bulk he is putting on. Brown is one D1 coaches should be watching now.
5’8” Junior Olufemi Boko
Boko is a terror on the defensive end, as he digs in for 94 feet. He is a quick and confident lead guard, as he is able to finish at them rim. His game is predicated on his quickness, which he has in spades.
6’6” Senior Cameron Easter
Easter is a tough and gritty player. He has ball skills on the perimeter, and enjoys sticking his nose into the mix on the boards. A productive guy, who will make shots.
6’6” Freshman Cameron Carroway
Carroway isn’t garnering much fanfare as of yet, but that should soon change. He has a great frame for his age and a high motor for his size. Carroway rebounds well and finishes from 15 feet and in. It’ll be interesting to track him moving forward.
Greensboro Day Bengals
Greensboro, NC
Head Coach Freddie Johnson
3A NCISAA Piedmont League
33-3 (8-2)
Players to Watch
6’7” Junior JP Moorman
Moorman experienced a solid sophomore season as he was a key player in many games for the Bengals. Moorman has a great skill set, with high level vision and ball handling ability. His game is reminiscent of Iowa State’s Georges Niang. However, he has exploded since July ended, this due to his athleticism jumping to another level. Moorman carries 8 offers from the likes of Richmond, College of Charelston, UCF, and others. More will come as his unique skill set is seen.
6’2” Sophomore Will Dillard
Dillard has been on the national radar since the 7th grade. He started on his varsity team, as an 8th grader. He spent his entire 9th grade (and heading into 10th grade) year as a Top 50 ranked player nationally. While being a high IQ guard, the exceedingly explosive lefty carries offers from Wake Forest and Charlotte.
6’1” Junior Jordan Perkins
The show will be his this year, and that is alright. The left handed Perkins has the ball on a string. He uses a slowed down pace, reminiscent of Clemson’s Shelton Mitchell, and doesn’t turn the ball over. Perkins played in some big spots last season, and is ready for his time. He is a D1 prospects and the offers will start rolling in soon.
6’6” Sophomore Johnny Newman
The glue of the team. Newman can do so many things with his length, IQ, and athleticism and fills in so many different roles. Newman, also a lefty, is deadly in the mid range, defends multiple areas on the floor, rebounds well, and pushes the break with control. He has an early offer from Charlotte but look for that list to multiply as the season progresses.
Others to Watch
6’2” Junior Pearce Landry, 6’6” Junior Solomon Smith
Hickory High School
Hickory, North Carolina
Head Coach Andy Poplin
Northwestern 3A/4A League
20-4 (12-2)
Players to Watch
6’ Senior Caron Corpening
There will be no question this year that this is Corpening’s team. Corpening has a lengthy frame and a team demeanor at the point guard. He gets into the lane, and sets up his team mates. Also, when Corpening is locked in, he can be a tough on ball defender.
6’5” Senior Mykel Linebarger
Linebarger is a big strong young man, who plays a bullish type of game. He is also a standout football player, but makes his living around the rim and in the paint.
Charlotte Catholic
Charlotte, NC
Head Coach Mike King
4A South Meck 8 League
18-8 (8-6)
Charlotte Catholic is in a unique position of being a private school, who is playing in the highest classification of North Carolina public school basketball. Not only do they play in that division, but they consistently win against that competition, finishing 3rd in their 8 team league last year. This year, they pick up a Top 50 type freshman big man, who will perfectly compliment their stellar guard play.
Players to Watch
6’8” Freshman BJ Mack
There may be a lot of weight on this young man’s shoulders, but he is talented enough to handle it. Mack has a big long frame, who is still growing. His is very skilled and has the ability to play in the high or low post. Fitting perfectly with this team, Mack’s best attribute may be his passing and vision. Mack carries Power 5 offers from Georgia and Tennessee, look for those type offers to keep rolling in.
5’8” Senior Josh Brodowicz
While Mack is the most talented player, Brodowicz is the leader of the team. Rightfully so, he is the leading returning player in most statistical categories, and it is his senior year. Brodowicz averaged 11 points, shooting 40% from 3 with 3.5 assists and 2 steals per game. Kid is a gamer and a player colleges should be looking at, on the next level.
Others to Watch
6’3” Senior Owen Winters, 6’1” Senior Jack Larkin¸
Storylines to Watch For
Greensboro Day
Fresh off a trip to the Dicks Sporting Goods National Championship, Greensboro Day returns a lot of fire power. While their lost their point guard (Darius Moore to Presbyterian) and post (Peter Agba to Akron), they return a core of young players that are now a year older. Junior JP Moorman and sophomore Will Dillard are national type players, and returning starters. Junior Jordan Perkins will take over the point guard duties and sophomores Jonny Newman and Alex Michel will join with juniors Pearce Landry and Trevon Mayo to create depth. Head Coach Freddie Johnson is a hall of fame type coach and will have his team prepared for every game played.
Calvary Christian Vs Hickory HS
This is a new look Calvary Christian team. They are very talented team, but play in possibly the toughest division in North Carolina. Hickory is coming off a banner year that saw them go 20-4. Also, very talented Hickory will have a few guys who will be out due to football. While other games may have more of a ‘name’ this will be a scrappy match up. Watch for the point guard match up here with Calvary’s Olufemi Boko and Hickory’s Caron Corpening. They will get after it.
BJ Mack
These will be the first high school games for what promises to be a storied prep career for Mack. The 6’8” freshman, already carries multiple Power 5 offers and will look to have that number grow. He is a big body, with very long arms, and a skill set that allows him to play on the low block or the high post. Mack is a national level guy who should spend his high school career climbing up Top 100 lists. He is tracking as one of North Carolina’s (and the nation’s) top players in an all-time type 2019 class.