It's been stated before, but the high school basketball scene has transformed into something comparable to NBA free agency. On one hand, the kneejerk reaction is to pose an argument for why/how transferring or reclassifying could have a positive effect on said player. The other side of the token typically points to the lack of loyalty, structure, or overall negative effects that could potentially arise. However, the reality is somewhere in the middle. Public school coaches are never going to voluntarily offer up their players for private school programs to poach. There are various examples of players transferring from public schools to other public schools but it's certainly uncommon. Despite being largely painted out as the villains in this comparison, private school coaches are expected to perform a job, which unfortunately requires them to seek out talent from all possible avenues.'
That being said, covering the greater Greensboro area over the last four years has brought a lot of enjoyment. This upcoming season will likely be more unpredictable than ever before, as there will be an extremely unique collection of talent for public and private schools. This series will be ongoing and broken down into numerous parts, so be conscientious of that if your team doesn't appear'
Ben L. Smith
Last Season: 21-8 (Lost in Quarterfinals to Huss)
No matter the situation or context, Coach Derrick Partee is a proven winner that knows how to develop talent and properly utilize it on the court. In all honesty, he's one of very few coaches who could've undergone complete roster turnover within the last two years and quickly return to relevance. Back then, losing Cam Hayes to transfer and a senior class of Jaylen Gainey, Isaiah Bigelow, Jacob Crutchfield, and Jaylin Gamble feels almost equivalent to what is about to occur. Partee is set to graduate Silas Mason, Jordan Williams, Nic McMullen, and Khalid Hinds, which certainly removes an essential majority of the rotation. However, they will still have some appealing building blocks to manage. Kobe George is undoubtedly the future of the program. It took an adjustment period of getting comfortable and gaining confidence, but George looked ready to take the next step and become a leader towards the end of last season. His combination of IQ, size, craftiness, and athleticism will be a difficult foundation for other young guards to match. George shoots the ball very well, attacks the basket regularly, and gets others involved while embracing defense, rebounding, and transition play. Based on his current trajectory, he could be better than other noteworthy players to come from this program. Although there is plenty upside remaining, Juwelz Hargrove is another player that should emerge as a primary option during the upcoming season. He's a long, athletic wing prospect with an incredible arsenal of tools. Hargrove naturally makes things happen on the court but has continued sharpening his overall feel throughout the last year or so. Like Hargrove, Isaiah Moore was a useful contributor throughout the season but will need to be even more productive going forward. He highlighted flashes of an inside-out game on offense while utilizing his length and positioning to make a steady impact on defense and the glass. They've always had a unique way of locating and developing talent over the years. Though it doesn't quite feel as strong as their previous roster, this staff has proven folks wrong time and again, and looks likely to surprise some opponents during the upcoming season.