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 (Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem) 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…
Reidsville
Last Season: 26-3 (Lost in NCHSAA Quarterfinals to South Granville)
Some of the greatest achievements in life are built through the trying, difficult obstacles and learning how to overcome the hardships. Nearly one year ago, the basketball community lost one of its most beloved members in Curtis Pass. After a fairly long and successful playing career, he was named the coach of Reidsville High School and immediately became someone who sought to restore glory to his alma mater. His famous 'Trust the Process' phrase was more than about sports but rather how we learn to approach life. Despite the devastating tragedy, Pass' legacy will forever remain cemented within North Carolina. Furthermore, his son and right-hand man, Breon, never lost sight of what holds significance in the bigger scheme of things. Once it was time to return to the hardwood, Pass was arguably better than ever and continued to prove himself among the top two-sport athletes in the state. The Reidsville Rams added Auldon Edwards, which was a major difference-maker, but also saw numerous guys expand their role and increase production across the roster. Unfortunately, they are going to lose Edwards, Kenneth Allen, and Jacob Marshall, who each played key roles on last year's team. Edwards was a strong running mate, offering size, defense, rebounding, versatility, and efficient scoring. Allen also found an effective low-maintenance role with his fairly well-rounded skillset and understanding of the game. Marshall was the blue-collar worker and lone interior presence, which allowed him to constantly stand out as a rebounder and rim-protector. However, Pass is dominant enough to run the show pretty effortlessly. Except nearly doubling his assist total, most of his eye-popping numbers stayed consistent across the board'including the unbelievable scoring efficiency (55/44/78 shooting splits). Although he already holds multiple high-major offers and stands out as one of the top players in North Carolina, it feels like Pass deserves even more recognition. Aside from him, the Rams will retain quality contributors like Stevian Harrison, Carter Wilson, Yoshua Courts, and Levar Strange with many others ready for an opportunity. Though it might seem like a potential grind, Coach Jason Ross was excellent after being thrust into the lead role last season and took the Rams to their best record in the last decade. The Triad will be up for claim and Pass, a decider of his own fate, can never be ruled out to shock the world.
