By: Sad Sam

Greetings HS hoops junkies from across the ball bouncing piedmont. The banners are flying and bells ringing because The Great One is here to clarify a rather muddy preseason with his annual IMECK 4A preview. The ol cubic zirconia ball (can’t afford real crystal) is primed and ready to crank out the results before they even occur. Last season, an injury and a transfer altered the outcome of the regular season. Who knows if there will be any unexpected curveballs but The Sadster will persevere! To review the 18-19 season, North Meck continued their regular-season dominance but injuries to their starting backcourt derailed their postseason plans and it was fellow IMECK member West Charlotte who ended up as the state runner up. The Vikings are loaded and primed to continue their run but will not go unchallenged. We will now look at how the order of finish will pan out and the reasons why. To the preview!!!…..

Order of finish:

1. North Meck'
2. Vance
3. West Charlotte'
4. Hough
5. Lake Norman'
6. Hopewell
7. Mallard Creek'
8. Mooresville
To the teams!!!!…..

NORTH MECK 

The Vikings were bitten by the injury bug at the end of last season. However, this year’s squad is determined to make up for what was left unfinished last year. These Vikings have stars as well as balance scoring with 6’3 SR SG Tristan Maxwell (Georgia Tech) who is an accomplished scorer as well as a rebounder. Joining him in the other guard spot is 6’0 SR PG Trayden Williams (Robert Morris) who is an extremely crafty player who scores from all three levels. At the other perimeter spot is the 6’1 bombardier SR SG Shammond Artis who not only is a shooter but is also an athletic force as well. Manning the baseline will be 6’6 JR F Chris Ford, a do-it-all player who is a walking double-double, and 6’7 SO C Jeremy Gregory who is a budding star at the post. The Norsemen have bench depth in 6’0 JR PG Tony Waters, 6’1 SO G Jordan Crawford, 6’0 JR G Cam Gates, 6’1 JR G Josh McClary and 6’1 SO F Marcus “Boom” Farley. They will also be getting 6’4 JR F Judah Ravenel back for the 2nd semester to solidify the baseline. The talent is there for another Viking 1st place finish and if they avoid unseen pitfalls, another trip to the regionals…and further.

VANCE 

The Cougars look to be contenders for the IMECK crown and must have consistent play to do so. Western Carolina signee 6’7 SR F Daniel Ransom is the team leader and chairman of the boards and is aided by 6’7 SO C Daniel Sanford, who is slowly developing into a force on the baseline. The back court is very young and will be led by 5’8 SO PG Cory Gaines along with freshmen phenom guards, the 6’1 shifty southpaw Jaylen Curry and 5’9 bomber Trey Green. The Cougars will use a myriad of players off the bench with 6’6 SR F/C Jheison Saunds being the most important piece. The Young Gun back court will have flashes of both good and bad at times this season. Consistency is the key to the Cougars threat to the concerence title and to keep them ahead of……..

WEST CHARLOTTE 

Last season saw the Lions return to the state championship game behind current Florida State Seminole Patrick Williams. This year’s West Charlotte squad will depend upon some young leftovers from last year’s team. It all starts at the point guard spot with 6’1 SO Marcus “Snoop” Magness who must embrace the role of being more of a scorer if the Lions are to be successful. Joining him in the back court will be 6’0 SO Cam Jernigan, brother of the now graduated Cartier Jernigan. The story in the paint begins with 6’6 SO C Josiah Dow, who was another role playing starter last year who needs to increase his contributions. 6’5 SO F Chancellor Morrow should develop into a factor this season as will 6’7 FR C Donovan Raymond. 6″5 SR F Najee McQueen will get extensive minutes and bring hustle to the floor. The Super Sophs probably don’t have enough logs on the fire to challenge for a conference title this year but if they find consistent perimeter shooting could move up and stay ahead of……..

HOUGH

The Huskies and HC Jason Grube were also victims of the injury bug last year as well. 6’9 SR C Beau Maye, who will be this year’s team leader, went down early and drastically affected the season outcome. The effect wasn’t all bad as the young Huskies got baptized by fire and that will benefit them this season. Helping out Maye on the base line will be 6’4 SR F Nathan Chambers, who The Sadster thinks is capable of being an all-conference player. The guard spots are a strong point with the 5’11 SR PG Jackson Bissette handling the rock and returning all-conference 6’4 SO SG Graham Worland doing the rest. Worland is a D1 talent who with the presence of Maye down low should put up higher scoring numbers this year. 6’3 JR G Nick Shyrock will chip in off the pine as will newcomer 6’3 SO F Kevin Stiff. The Dogs will enjoy a state playoff season and could move up if they find some defensive and rebounding consistency but barring any breakdown, they should stay in front of……..

LAKE NORMAN

The Wildcats were bitten by the transfer bug going into last season and lost another in the early going. Enter new HC Grant Hodges to begin a new Laker era. The Cats back court will be manned by 5’10 SR G Clay Hodges, who is the son of Grant. 6’2 SR SG Jack Edmonson is a returning experienced player who will give stability. The forward slots will be filled in by 6’5 SR F Dominique Adams and 6’5 JR F Seth Aeschliman with the 6’4 SO Davis Wagner in the mix as well. The Cats should have perimeter firepower as usual and if 6’8 JR C Jonas Courtney makes it back, it could move the squad up as well as keep ahead of……..

HOPEWELL 

The 2020 version of the Hopewell Titans has some big shoes to fill from graduation as Brice Williams, Alvin Canady and Jalen Jones have moved on. 6’6 SR F Devin McLaughlin leads the team into battle and with him is fellow senior banger 6’3 F Justin McCray. The guard spots are manned by 6’0 JR Thomas Jackson and 6’2 SR Alan Walker along with two bright spots for the future in 6’2 SO Antonio Perkins and 6’2 FR Brandon Smith. The Titans will be better in February than in December and if they can get consistent solid play from 6’7 JR C Tyjae Haynes could move up and stay ahead of……..

MALLARD CREEK 

This 2020 Maverick team has many question marks as they head into conference play this season. Two things that are known are that the leaders will be 5’10 SR G Kalib Baker and 6’5 Amarie Kirby. Back court help will come in the form of the 6’0 SR trio of Adrian Suffren, Jayden Swint and Maxamus Griffin. 6’7 JR F Shawn Wint and 6’4 JR W Austin Johnson must step up and produce if the Mavs have a shot to rise in the standings and stay ahead of……..

MOORESVILLE

The Blue Devils have been short on talent and size recently which usually interprets into being a bottom feeder in this league. However, there is hope at least in the Ville’s pool of guard talent. No seniors will play a prominent role this season and the back court will be played by committee, starting with returners 5’11 JR Glenwood Robinson, 5’8 JR Jordan Grandison and 6’1 JR Aavanth Ezhilan. A trio of promising sophomores will also get substantial minutes in the mostly 4 guard offense, led by 5’10 Dane Stewart, 5’10 K.C. Shaw and 6’1 Christian Young. If Coach Micklow can get positive minutes out of 6’4 JR F Jordan Smith and late coming 6’6 SR C Noah London things might get a little more rosy in Motown.

There you have it folks! The order of finish has already been laid out now all you have to do is go out to the gyms and watch it transpire. The Great One will be returning each Sunday to discuss the latest Furious 5 and evaluate talent all season for his yearly superlatives, including the ever-so-important Hot Dog of the Year award, as well as grades for his Mid-term report cards and final grades. Now get to the games and stay tuned!!!!!

SAD SAM – HS HOOPS GENIUS