Phenom Hoops traveled to Huntersville, North Carolina to cover the opening day of public high school open gym/workouts. For Head Coach, Duane Lewis, the future is now and he has another absolutely loaded roster, including Duke commit Isaiah Evan. Last season, North Mecklenburg finished with a 29-3 overall record and a 11-1 conference record, before losing in the NCHSAA 4A Western Regional final to Myers Park, eventual state champion. Again, North Mecklenburg is poised for another title run with a star-studded returning class and newcomer Chadlyn Traylor.
6’7 ’24 Isaiah Evans
Playing in front of future Duke assistant coach, Chris Carrawell, Evans was absolutely spectacular and put on a scoring exhibition that was beyond special. Whether it was knocking down long-range 3-pointers over defenders or posting up on the low block, Evans simply has an advanced offensive skill set that proves he’s one of the premier players in the country. Last season, Evans averaged 25 PPG, including a 62-point outburst against conference rival Chambers, and may just be the most difficult player in the country to defend. Evans plays with tremendous confidence and while he’s been touted as a “tough shot maker,” he has worked hard on his shooting mechanics and now has a quick, yet smooth shooting touch. In addition, Evans is an underrated passer, especially in the open court. While Evans has a slender and lengthy frame, Evans is just the one player who can carry a team to a state championship.
6’3 ’24 Trey Maxwell
The younger brother of former North Mecklenburg star, Tristian Maxwell, Trey averaged 16 PPG last season. Trey brings another outstanding perimeter shooter for Coach Duane Lewis. There’s great team chemistry that exists between Evans and Maxwell and the two complement each other nicely. They will be the 1-2 scoring punch for this talented team. In addition, Maxwell is getting interest from Big South and Northeast schools.
6’3 ’26 Ashton Pierce
Pierce is in line to become the next North Mecklenburg star. Last season as a freshman, Pierce averaged 10 PPG, made All-District, and received offers from Wake Forest, Mississippi State, VCU, and ODU. Pierce is a national-level prospect and currently ranked no. 7 in our Phenom Hoops NC 2026 rankings. While Pierce sports tremendous offensive skills, we were equally impressed with his ability to guard. He has become a complete two-way player and watch for his stock to rise nationally over the course of the season.
Top Newcomer
6’3 ’25 Chadlyn Traylor
It’s no secret Traylor is regarded as one of the top lead guards in the state for his class. Traylor has always been a rock-solid point guard who has the ability to control pace and tempo and could be the one player that pushes North Mecklenburg over the top. Playing in front of ECU coaches, Traylor at one time went 11-13 from the floor, scoring from all three levels on the floor. He’s the consummate point guard and his addition will be a welcome bonus.
Best of the Rest
6’1 ’25 Carson Evans: Evans is a tough-minded defensive combo guard with a high GPA. He knows and understands his role and is fundamentally sound. Evans will make the right play time after time and will also play within his framework of the game.
5’11 ’25 Greg Murray: Murray is a high IQ point guard. He’s an excellent defender, leader, and facilitator and could get scholarship entrance from D2 & D3 level schools.
6’4 ’26 Exzavier Young: Young is tough and gritty, and plays with maximum energy and effort. He brings a “blue collar” work ethic and will surprise you with his natural rebounding instincts.
Outlook
It’s no secret North Mecklenburg will be in the title hunt for the NCHSAA 4A championship. They bring a high-octane offense and feature one of the nation’s best and premier scorers in the country in Isaiah Evans. This is a team that has multiple weapons and could easily be ranked nationally and their trip to the City of Palms will be a great test for Coach Duane Lewis and his team. If today was any indication, North Mecklenburg will be a difficult team to guard.
Challenge
While North Mecklenburg does not have a true post player, Coach Lewis has the ability to utilize Evans in the post offensively, which will be a nightmare for most teams. In addition, North Mecklenburg will rely heavily on perimeter jumpers, which is their strength. They have the athleticism and quickness defensively, not to mention enough firepower to overcome a poor shooting night.