2023 Noah Van Bibber (Concord Academy): Bibber can really be a critical piece for his team because when he is clicking and stretching the defense with his shot-making ability, Concord Academy has plenty of weapons to be effective. He did that today, finding the open spots in the defense, rising up, and knocking key shots with his jumper. When he is on along with everyone else, this team is incredibly difficult to slow down.
2024 JJ Moore (Concord Academy): Moore has been a player we have talked about countless times, and a lot of it has been with his scoring power as a guard. We know that about his game, but today, he was showing more of his ability to be a true point guard and facilitator, reading the floor and using his quickness to create and find his teammates for easy baskets.
2023 Derin Saran (Asheville School): Really don’t know what else could be said about Saran’s play to start the season. He is clearly showing why he is regarded as one of the top point guards in the region and should be rising up the ranks for so many programs. Saran’s ability to impact the game is impressive, filling up the stat line, being a true playmaker and floor general, seeing the floor and playing at a terrific pace, and showing that he can be a true scoring threat all over the court. Such an impressively high IQ guard that should only continue to stellar play this season.
2025 Isaiah Henry (Cannon): Henry continues to make strong progress with his game, really making a bigger impact on both sides of the floor. Not only has he been able to make shots from the outside but he is really embracing the role of being that aggressive downhill prospect that can take the contact and finish. He is more athletic than some may think, using that and having that same aggressive mindset on the boards and blocking shots.
2024 Langston Boyd (Cox Mill): Good to Boyd on the court again, as he is the clear leader and go-to player for Cox Mill. He showed that early and often, especially in the first half where he was filling it up much like he has in the past, finding ways to penetrate the gaps and get paint touches consistently. Boyd is wired to score and has shown that every time we have seen him play, as he knows how to finish over defenders and be physical inside the arc.
2023 Bryce Cash (Carmel Christian): Cash was feeling today and playing at a high level in helping lead his team. The unsigned senior continues to have a strong start to the season, this time really showcasing his ability to be an offensive threat. He shot the ball well with confidence, excelled out in transition and finishing at the basket, and making impact plays in a variety of other ways. Production was the name of the game and it is the reason why more schools should be looking his way.
2023 Khamani Wertz (Carmel Christian): I liked what I saw out of Wertz in this game. He was leading the way as a ball-handler, getting the offense going and initiating the offense, but also pushing the pace and getting out in transition. You always have to respect his outside shooting ability but he was assertive on the glass and finding his teammates well.
2024 Isaiah Sanders (HP Christian): Though it was a tough overall day for the team, Sanders had a good showing on the court. He is a quick, shifty guard that creates well for himself and is able to penetrate and kick or find ways to score over defenders. I liked his scrappy play on both ends, while also leading the charge offensively in making plays off the dribble.
2024 Micah Robinson (Oak Hill): Getting a chance to watch him yet again, I can’t help but love his game and his impact. The 6’5 versatile prospect can do and operate from so many levels. He not only is explosive in finishing at the rim, but he can step out and score from multiple levels. He has continued to show each time we have seen him that he produces and fills up stat line, finishing with a double-double, attacking the boards, and simply being all over the court.
2023 Joshua Holloway/ 2024 Zion Pipkin (Oak Hill): Pipkin got the game going with his ability to pet inside, and showcase his playmaking ability. He was able to get to his spots to score but he really impressed with his court vision and awareness, delivering terrific passes to set up his teammates. Holloway was also special, part of the strong backcourt duo. Holloway picked it up scoring the ball more, making plays off the dribble but also hitting his teammates for easy baskets. These two were sensational in this game to lead the team.
2025 Chadlyn Traylor (West Charlotte): Traylor is going to be a big-time guard here in the state of North Carolina. He is an athletic 6’3 guard that shows a nice burst in his game, getting and penetrating the defense, as well as terrific athleticism to finish over defenders and get to the rack. One of the clear leaders for this team and he showed it in this game.
2023 Dallas Gardner (Charlotte Country Day): Gardner helped lead the charge for his team on Day 2, continuing to show what we have seen countless times before. A strong, physical guard that can take contact and finish, get to the basket, and is the clear leader for this team, Gardner was able to take advantage of scoring opportunities. Creating his own, getting out in transition, and finishing strong was the name of the game for him today.
2024 Amare Bethel (Charlotte Country Day): Bethel was the other part of the duo for CCDS that got this team going early and help create a big lead. Bethel plays with a great motor and brings a ton of energy to his team. Yes, he was able to get to the basket and finish at the rim with his athleticism but he also made so many plays all over the floor, filling up the stat sheet.
2024 Gianni Vines (West Cabarrus): Vines is an intriguing senior for this team and gave us flashes of his game. A long guard at 6’3, he was an impact all over the court for his team. Vines was able to finish and make timely plays offensively but he did a nice job in helping out on the boards, using his length to be effective on the defensive end, and find teammates as well.
2023 Trey Minard (West Cabarrus): Minard was the go-to player for West Cabarrus, weaving through the defense, penetrating the defense, making plays off the bounce, and attacking downhill. But he also mixed it up really well with his outside game in the second half, scoring in a variety of ways and really leading the charge offensively with 29 points.