Last night, unexpected shockwaves were sent through North Carolina public-school basketball as KJ Terry announced his decision to transfer to Southern Durham. Previously at South Granville, he was headed to Crossroads Christian before changing course and joining the Spartans. After finishing as the NCHSAA 3A runner-up last season and graduating Jackson Keith (among other key seniors), the road back to the title would be undeniably challenging. However, the addition of Terry certainly accelerates the process. Let’s take a closer look at what he’ll bring to this group…
Individually, Terry has obvious appeal. He’s a long, fluid athlete with a wiry frame, explosiveness, and a blossoming skillset. Terry’s always been a sharp passer with useful ball skills, but it’s easy to see how his game has grown over the recent months. Not only has he continued to tighten up his handle, but he’s also shown increased confidence as a perimeter shooter–both off the bounce and catch. Although he’s more than capable of initiating the offense or creating for himself and others, Terry doesn’t necessarily need a ton of touches to find scoring opportunities. He’s a great cutter and transition threat who consistently finds chances within the flow of the action. Whether attacking off the bounce or running in the open floor, Terry applies constant pressure at the rim and finishes well through contact. He rebounds his position very well and knows how to immediately push the break in transition. Additionally, he’s a phenomenal defender with the ability to comfortably switch across all positions. Terry has the size, motor, and anticipation to cause constant problems for opponents. That being said, he still has ample time to continue developing.
In terms of Southern Durham’s structure, Terry will play alongside guys like AJ Morman, Jakari Glaspie, MJ Ashley, and various other key pieces. Given their veteran leadership from year to year, it’s almost guaranteed that another handful of prospects will emerge for the Spartans. Expect this group to make a ton of noise on the road to another potential playoff run.