With high school basketball beginning to tip off around the area this week and next, let's take a moment to look ahead at some of the top matchups the Triad area will have to offer this season. This season has the chance to be one of the most wide open in recent memory with so many teams having the chance to compete for conference championships besides the traditional favorites. Like always, the Triad has a plethora of prospects to follow from seniors to freshman that will be worth the price of admission and pack the stands. For this list, I primarily chose conference pairings on the public school side that will provide two head-to-head battles. But without further ado, let's take a look at part 1 of my top matchups for the Triad area's 2022-23 season you will not want to miss.
Ragsdale vs Grimsley
Dates: 1/6 at Ragsdale, 2/3 at Grimsley
Starting out with the Metro 4A Co-Conference Champions from last year, this year's games will look a lot different yet still highly competitive. Both teams face a lot of turnover from strong 2022 classes, and will feature a lot of new guys stepping into the light. For Ragsdale, everything starts and ends with 2023 Kobe Parker, one of the premier shooters and playmakers in the area. He's transformed his game in the last year from primarily a spot up marksman to multilevel scorer with touch, control, and a full arsenal of moves to lead a high firepower offense. Rounding out the guys that will bring experience from last year, 2023s Ron Jones and Carl Stephens will be major keys in turning the gears this year. Jones is coming into his own at the point, showing off his shifty creation skills and game management lately, and Stephens will be the main anchor in what will be a small ball guard lineup, working the glass and just being solid on both ends that should lead to natural production. The Tigers have also shown off a well balanced supporting cast of playmaking guards with 2023 Hamid Sesay, and 2024s KJ Burke, Gavyn Williams, and Cam Wise. Now looking at Grimsley, their lead guy will be 2025 Zacch Wiggins, an athletic wing with great utility on offense. He can impact the game in various ways with his length and skillset on both ends and should prove to be a poised leader after a stellar freshman season. Accompanying him is 2023 Nick Elliott, one of the top shooters in the state who's in range once he steps in the gym, 2024 Jaylon Bumpass who will be getting the opportunity to step up this year with his ability to create his own shots and finish, 2024 Alex Taylor who will be solid role contributor that's at his best defending and providing the competitive spark to the game, and 2026 Faizon Brandon who should be an immediate impact inside and one to track going forward whether on the gridiron or hardwood.
Thomasville vs Salisbury
Dates: 12/9 at Thomasville, 1/20 at Salisbury
Moving to another set of Co-Conference Champions from last year, this is a hidden gem of a game if you never make it out to Davidson or Rowan County. For starter, both of their gyms are incredibly difficult to play at with the environment the crowd brings, and both teams play a fast paced 'get up in you' style that takes advantage off all the athleticism on the floor. Thomasville returns their three-headed monster backcourt of 2023s Jahnri Luckey, Jonathan Gladden, and 2024 Bryce McCoy. Although small, Luckey is one of the most irritating pests you'll find on defense and brings a shifty nature to create from point on offense. Gladden will be the top shooter in Davidson County this year, being able to find his rhythm quick and get to his spots off the bounce or spot up. And McCoy is one of those silent killers that does a lot of things well in the natural flow of the game, running the floor, sitting down and defending, and finishing in transition. 2023 Jaylen Henry will also carve himself a solid role in this lineup as one of the lone true posts in the conference. He's patient, sturdy framed to take up space and find proper positioning, and reliably battles every possession. Then looking at Salisbury, they're led by national top 50 2024 Jayden 'Juke' Harris, who provides a show on his own with his savvy skillset and shotmaking ability. There's been a lot of good guards coming through the hornet's nest recently, but he's easily at the top of the list with such a natural feel to the game and a long frame that allows him to do whatever he wants whenever he wants. Built around him will be a lot of tough football guys in 2024s Mike Geter and Deuce Walker, who are both chiseled physically demanding guards who will help control the game, set the tone, and play much bigger than their size through their chippy toughness. Also, look out for 2026 Jonathan Ross to bring a spark off the bench with his lights out shooting ability and well defined composure to compete in the big moments.
TW Andrews vs Walkertown
Dates: 1/17 at Andrews, 2/9 at Walkertown
Interesting dynamics on display for this one between young and old, where Andrews will feature the most senior loaded lineup possibly in the state and Walkertown offers a fresh breath of 2024s and 2025s. I've said it multiple times already about Andrews, but this group has the chance to do something special with a tight knit class of seniors that all blend really well together in their system. Their backcourt runs as deep as anyone, with it starting at the top with the trio of 2023s DJ Jackson, Keyshawn Gunthrop, and 2024 Corey Pate. These guys will be a terror defensively, harassing ball handlers and simply knowing how to play with each other after so many reps that it's just so easy and natural to turn you over and turn the game into a track meet, where they have the wheels and bodies to take full advantage. There's also more than enough IQ handling the ball and reading the defense in 2023s Tyriq Little, Jalen Bennett, John Shearin, and 2025 JD Davis. All these guys have shown to know how to control the pace whether fast or slow and get the looks the offense is meant to. Finally, you have 2023s Chauncey Miller and Kaven Smith, who are the ever unsung heroes in the post that will be as sounds as can be on the glass and finishing, all while playing bigger and giving that energy boost. Now looking at the Wolfpack of Walkertown, there's the dynamic duo of 2024 Jaylen Wilkerson and 2025 Bryce Baker you have to deal with and heavily gameplan for. Wilkerson has shown to be a fluid scorer who routinely makes tough shots look easy and has that level headed composure that allows him to calmly dissect a defense to get the look he wants. Baker, who has the chance to be special and choose his own path between football and basketball, has shown the ability to lock in and take over a game. Whether it's with his outside range, getting to the basket, or starting things on defense, he has the frame and will to compete with anyone and elevate the play of his team, no matter if he's creating looks for others or doing things himself. I also discovered 2025 Jeremiah Davis this fall, and he should prove to be extremely useful off his defense alone, being the spark that doesn't go out and consistently creating transition looks off turning you over.
Reidsville vs Cummings
Dates: 12/22 at Reidsville, 1/5 at Cummings
The first non-conference matchup to look at here will feature some of the top young talent, not just in the Triad area but also in the state. It will be the battle of the dynamic duos in this one with both sets having quality fill-in pieces built around them for the teams to be seen in late February. Starting with Reidsville, the new guys on campus are staking their claim to run the joint for the next four years. 2026s Kendre Harrison and Dionte Neal are two of the top freshman that not just will make and immediate impact, but will be the main leaders on this team as well. Harrison is a grown man in the post that even juniors and seniors will have difficulty dealing with. He knows how to use his body, has the length to finish everything, and overwhelming absurd athleticism to run the floor, terrorize drivers at the rim and block everything, and straight up dominate a game from inside. His counterpart Neal, is as crafty as they come with the ball in his hands, very poised with elite court vision, and has the ability to sneak in passes through the tightest windows. Although he can get going and score it in the bunches himself, he's at his best dictating the action and facilitating to all the moving pieces around him. Cummings on the other hand, runs their game through 2024 Kaden Hammonds and 2025 Johnniyus Sharpe. Hammonds is built sturdy and solid, well grounded with balance that's not going to be knocked off course, and yet light quick feet to make his moves and finish with soft touch inside. The interior post battle between him and Harrison may be the best and most true head-to-head big man matchup in the area. Alongside Hammonds will be Sharpe, who is a savvy playmaker that seems to always be in his groove. He has that swift athleticism and next level gear that can be fully utilized to reap all the benefits on both ends, whether converting strong takes against challengers, making things happen for others off penetration, or simply getting out and running off turnovers to turn the game into a layup line for him and his teammates.