The high school basketball landscape is in a good place right now. Several noteworthy seniors (Jyi Dawkins, Dionte Neal, Cam Newman, Kobe Edwards, etc.) are riding off into the sunset in an incredible fashion. The junior class has seen multiple top kids exit the state, but still has a ton of exciting pieces. The sophomore class has the chance to be one of the top groups of the last decade. However, there is a lot of intrigue surrounding North Carolina’s Class of 2029. While there are plenty of notable names throughout the state, Grace Christian quietly has three of the most appealing individuals. This should come as no surprise, as Coach Morris always seems to have a variety of young, intriguing prospects filled with potential. Let’s take a closer look…
Right now, Gradyn West is their top all-around performer. Given his blend of IQ, size, and ability on both ends of the floor, it’s easy to forget that he’s a freshman at times. West is a versatile offensive threat who can score from all levels, create for himself and others, and find opportunities with or without the ball in his hands. At 6-foot-3, he already possesses an impressive level of polish and general understanding of how to impact the game on both ends of the floor. West is currently an advanced offensive threat for his age. However, he also stands out as a quality rebounder and defender who can guard multiple positions as needed. West is already really talented, so it’ll be fascinating to follow his continued development going forward.
In a similar vein, Eli Nelson is already very comfortable producing at the varsity level. Perhaps it’s because he already gave the Eagles quality minutes as an eighth-grader, but he hasn’t skipped a beat. Nelson is a smart, steady guard who can dictate the offense or apply scoring pressure in various ways. He’s a lethal shooting threat with deep range and nice off-ball instincts. That being said, Nelson also does a nice job of attacking closeouts, setting up others, and scoring inside the arc on floaters and pull-ups. He provides a scrappy, high-energy defensive presence and secures rebounds well for his size/position. Although he’s already a meaningful varsity contributor, expect Nelson to continue trending upward.
Rounding out this group, Gideon Anum truly has as much upside as anyone on the roster. He’s a long, fluid athlete with incredible physical tools and enticing flashes of two-way ability. Anum already knows how to impact the game through his motor and physicality as a defender and rebounder. Offensively, he excels in transition or getting downhill and attacking the basket, but is more than capable of knocking down jumpers along the perimeter. He displays natural instincts on both ends of the floor. Anum is still just truly beginning to harness his long-term abilities, but certainly has the potential to be a high-level prospect.