In many cases, it helps to know where you’ve been in order to best see where we are going.

The North Carolina Top 80 has become the premier event within its state. Started in 2014, the first year after Dave Telep's Carolina Challenge stopped as Telep took a job with the San Antonio Spurs, Phenom Hoops jumped right in and carried the torch.

Through the years, the success of gathering the state's very best players and putting them under one roof has been a huge hit for all to see. The event even spread to South Carolina, Indiana, and Virginia. With the 7th Annual NC Top 80 looking to take place this Sunday, at Greensboro Day, we wanted to take a look at the past attendees

Drafted
2017
9th Dennis Smith Jr (NC Top 80, 2014 & 2015)
14th Bam Adebayo (NC Top 80, 2015)

2018
4th Jaren Jackson Jr (Indiana Top 80, 2016)

2019
2nd Ja Morant (SC Top 80, 2015 & 2016)
7th Coby White (NC Top 80, 2016 2017 & 2018)
22nd Grant Williams (NC Top 80 2014 & 2015)
29th Keldon Johnson (VA Top 80, 2015)
31st Nicolas Claxton (SC Top 80, 2016)
55th Kyle Guy (Indiana Top 80, 2016)

Others on NBA Rosters
Kyran Bowman (NC Top 80, 2016)
Chris Clemons (NC Top 80, 2015)
Jalen Lecque (NC Top 80 2017)
Rayjon Tucker (NC Top 80, 2014)

McDonald's All Americans/Jordan Brand All-Stars
2020
Dayron Sharpe (NC Top 80, 2016)
Jaden Springer (NC Top 80, 2017 & 2018)
Isaiah Todd (Va Top 80, 2017 & 2018)
Mark Williams (VA Top 80, 2017)

2019
Armando Bacot (VA Top 80, 2015)
Wendell Moore (NC Top 80, 2016, 2017)
Oscar Tshibwe (VA Top 80, 2016)
Patrick Williams (NC Top 80, 2016 & 2017)

2018
David McCormack (VA Top 80, 2015)
Keldon Johnson (VA Top 80, 2015)
Coby White (NC Top 80, 2016 2017 & 2018)
Devon Dotson (NC Top 80, 2016 2017 & 2018)

2017
Jaren Jackson Jr (Indiana Top 80, 2016)
Kris Wilkes (Indiana Top 80, 2016 & 2017)
Matt Coleman (VA Top 80, 2015)

2016
Kyle Guy (Indiana Top 80, 2016)
Sacha Killeya Jones (VA Top 80, 2015)
Bam Adebayo (NC Top 80, 2015)

Basketball in the state of North Carolina is in as good of a place as it has been. The depth of talent throughout the freshman (2023), sophomore (2022) and junior (2021) classes is robust.

On Sunday, March 15, this year's class of players will be suiting up at Greensboro Day School. The next crop of McDonald's All Americans and NBA draft picks will be suiting up, to compete under one roof, against one another. This day of basketball for hoops junkies, is like being a kid in a candy store. Media from all over, along with videographers and even coaches line the floors. Fans and other players alike show up to watch. Traditionally, kids leave it on the floor here, we cannot wait to see this year's crop do the same!