by: Ethan Reece
2023 Etienne Strothers (Menchville)
Menchville came down to NC and really caught our eyes, hard not to though with the way they play and a guy like Etienne at the helm. He's got a lot of components to piece together an all around floor game where he can score it with swiftness and find the opportunities to gift others buckets. He turns the corner so quickly and can get to any of his spots with savviness that is undeniably evident.
2023 Anthony Clark (Menchville)
The waves of impact left by Anthony were easily the most meaningful of the weekend. He was without a doubt the most physically imposing player that stepped on the court, and while this was a major offensive tool he made his presence felt even more on defense. This is a lockdown defender that forces a staggering amount of steals pressuring the ball and jumping passes, and displays raw athleticism at the rim punching dunks or pinning layups.
2023 Torey Alston (WS Christian)
In terms of future growth, Torey may have the highest ceiling that we don't yet know the height of. He's got layers of potential to unlock with his 6'9 frame, smooth mobility and surprisingly quick handle and shot that is only elevated via his length. He had a lot of good flashes this weekend against good teams and that's why there's so much promise going forward heading into his senior year. College coaches are looking for guys like this everywhere they go.
2023 Ryan MacKinnon (Chapel Hill)
While the other guys on this list scored with some flashiness, Ryan was notable for buying into playing his own game and producing as effectively as he could. He does a bit of everything that led him to a near triple double, and is simply smart in scoring with fakes and fundamentals even when you know they're coming. It's a matter of him just knowing how to play the game and doing it at his pace and there not being a great answer to it, July should bring him interest with the Durham Hurricanes.
2023 Ronald Bridges (Jordan)
Even with the physical defenders I noted above, Ronald may have been the most disruptive of the other team's actions. He lives a second ahead of everyone, matching the ball and knowing exactly where guys were going with it. I'd bet he had close to 10 steals and kept that same aggression up when he got the ball in his hands as an avid nimble driver that finished through contact all game. Look for a big senior year after their 3rd Rd run last season.