2025 Lauren Jacobs (Aja Wilson Elite): This was my first time watching Jacobs, but I'm a huge fan of her game after what I saw this weekend, and think she is going to be a bigger name in South Carolina. Helping her team to a state title, she was locked in and really showcased her overall game and impact. When talking about her game, she quickly grabs your attention with her playmaking ability; she did a great job in creating for herself, penetrating and making plays in the paint, and really showed how crafty she is with the ball in her hands. But she also did a great job in other areas such as playmaking for others, playing scrappy defense, and simply filling up the stat sheet. Start learning her name if you haven't, as she really impressed me in a big way this weekend.
2026 Charlotte Tune (Team Mack): Talk about a player that is rising up the ranks here in North Carolina for the Class of 2026. Tune plays and brings that veteran-type play, which is incredible to watch for someone who is just a freshman. Tune is excellent with the ball in her hands, displaying strong court awareness, the ability to break tough defenses, and bringing that team-first mentality in setting up her teammates. But that doesn't mean she wasn't able to create for herself, as she time after time was able to get paint touch and showed touch, as well as range in her game. A rising prospect here in North Carolina to watch out for more.
2024 Hattie Sloyan (Lady Gaters): Sloyan was a player that caught my eye consistently throughout the event; she is tough, she battles, she plays hard, and really stepped up for her team in key situations. Sloyan was a consistent threat on the court, and really mixed it up on the court. Whether she was making plays off the dribble, knocking down shots from a variety of areas, showcasing her ability to finish through contact and in the paint, or battling/ competing in a variety of other areas, Sloyan was simply making plays in a variety of ways.
2028 Areona McKoy (Carolina Rockets): One of the first players that caught my eye at the event was 2028 Areona McKoy. If that last name sound familiar with that program, she is the young sister of 2026 Antonio McKoy and 2025 Dashaun McKoy. Areona has a great feel for the game for her age; she was strong and demanded the ball in her hands, thrived out in transition and in the open floor, and did a great job in creating opportunities for herself. McKoy plays with a ton of composure, plays with tremendous energy, and really showcased her offensive capability. McKoy has a lot to her game that stands out quickly, and as she continues to develop, she could be a big-time talent to watch out for here in North Carolina.
2027 Tianah Hopper (Carolina Raptors): Hopper was a young prospect that I was able to view beforehand at another event, and when the Raptors were back in action, she certainly was a prospect I wanted to check out more with her game. For a prospect at her age, Hopper is such a smooth operating player that can be used in a variety of ways. She plays at a tremendous pace, makes excellent decisions, reads and sees the floor very well, and really can make her impact felt in a variety of ways. Whether it was scoring around the basket or stepping out, her ability to be strong on the boards, be another ball-handler on the court, or her versatile feel on the court, Hopper really showcases her ability to be a problem on the floor. Watch out for her more in the coming years.
