6'3 '22 Julius Reese (Glenn)
It's easy to see the nonstop leadership of Reese, as he epitomizes consistency with this Glenn squad. He's comfortable at working with the ball in his hands or as an off-ball cutter, making him their most reliable and useful option on the offensive end of the floor. Reese is a willing passer and rebounder that knows how to outwork the opposition with his motor on both ends of the floor. He scored the ball in an efficient manner from all three levels throughout this contest and ultimately led his team to a quality win.
6'3 '20 Trey Dezern (Starmount)
Though Starmount narrowly lost this contest, Dezern was quite impressive with his two-way approach and production. He's a wiry wing prospect that showcased the ability to score in a variety of different ways, creating for himself, working off screens, and just about everything in between. Dezern is tougher and scrappier than opponents seem to think, as he does a great job of making plays defensively and maintaining his presence on the glass.
5'11 '20 Stephen Minor (Winston-Salem Prep)
There's an abundance of intriguing prospects on this Winston-Salem Prep roster, but none more steady or dependable than Minor. He operates as the floor general and clear two-way leader of this squad, working to set up others and taking advantage of his phenomenal perimeter jumper whenever possible. Minor is a terrific on-ball defender with IQ, quickness, and the ability to force turnovers with relative ease. He has all the tools to be a great point guard at the next level.
6'5 '20 Devin McLaughlin (Hopewell)
Though his game might not be overly flashy, one could legitimately argue that McLaughlin was the most reliable force for Hopewell. He scored the ball in multiple different ways but displayed great patience and unselfishness on that end of the floor. McLaughlin has quality defensive instincts and simply knows how to position himself for success as a cutter, defender, and two-way rebounder.
6'3 '23 Jaydon Young (Greensboro Day)
Leadership for GDS is evident in various different ways, and Young simply goes out and takes care of business. He's one of the most gifted, polished, mature prospects within his class, able to truly take over and single-handedly carry an efficient offensive whenever needed. Young handles the ball with poise, makes smart decision as a playmaker, can play either guard position, scores however he desires, and makes numerous plays defensively. He has no real weaknesses within his skillset and should continue being among the top freshman guards in the country.
6'3 '22 Sam Cogan (Lincoln Charter)
There's no doubting the talent and ability of Lincoln Charter, and Cogan continues to shine as their tone-setter on both ends of the floor. He's tougher and more athletic than most people tend to think but also stands out with his steady creation and scoring prowess. Cogan has stepped up and maximized his play in an expanded role this season, and was their most reliable all-around force throughout this contest. The southpaw made his presence felt from start to finish.
6'5 '21 Akhiris Holden (Henderson Collegiate)
It's easy to see the appeal with Henderson Collegiate's roster, and Holden has emerged as a piece that can highlight flashes of pure dominance. Few players know how to embrace their identity and skillset as well as him, which is a big part of what makes him so incredibly effective. Holden is a long, wiry, high-motor forward prospect with phenomenal defensive instincts and a true nose for the ball on both ends of the floor. He's also a constant threat for dunks, putbacks, and alley-oops.
5'9 '21 Jalen Hinton (Independence)
Though not one of their primary leaders, Hinton has already built his foundation as a quick-twitch scorer off the bench and this game epitomized his approach. He's slightly undersized but still poses an extremely dangerous threat as a three-point shooter and lightning bolt in transition. Hinton causes havoc with his quickness, particularly on defense, and forces turnovers at a pretty consistent rate.
6'5 '20 Kam Edwards (Liberty Heights)
Few teams in North Carolina can match Liberty Heights' talent, and Edwards is a massive part of their success. He's a fairly well-rounded wing prospect that can play within a role or expand his productivity in the blink of an eye. Edwards makes a major difference with his perimeter shooting but has the ability to fill up the stat sheet in a variety of ways. He rebounds the ball well, makes smart decisions as a creator, and understands how to maximize his presence in transition.
6'0 '20 Shakeel Moore (Moravian Prep)
It should come as no surprise, but the NC State signee has only seemed to get better and better over the last few months. Moore has been tabbed as an elite defensive player for quite a while but is now arguably as reliable on the offensive end. He's quick, strong, athletic, and plays incredibly hard, making him an absolute nightmare for most opponents. Moore is smart, able to create with ease, and continues to shoot the ball at an increasingly high clip from beyond the arc.
