If you paid attention to high school basketball in North Carolina last season at all, you would have known how much fun it was to watch Carmel Christian on the court. A team loaded with talent looked almost unstoppable but they came up just short in earning another state championship.
With the likes of Ben Burnham, Glenn Bynum, and a few others now gone, there are a few new names that will be looking to make their mark with the program along with a few key returning players.
When you look at who is returning though, you first have to look at 2022 6’7 Cade Tyson, who really took another step in his game last year but will become an even bigger piece and leader as a senior. Tyson and 2022 6’8 Luke Krawczyk, a mobile big that can operate inside and out, will be two of the focal pieces for the Cougars.
Add in players like 2022 Julian Arias, 2022 Kyle Bean, 2022 Santana Smith, and others, Coach Joe Badgett has plenty of pieces returning that give him a chance to compete for another championship. But Carmel has also officially added 2022 Nyles Howard and 2023 Kaleb Siler, two critical pieces that only elevate the program.
Howard is a 6’4 guard that understands how to initiate and run an offense but also brings a very reliable offense, can knock down shots, and really can showcase his passing skills in getting his teammates involved. Siler, a name that some may have not heard yet but will very quickly, is a true big with size that can carve out space but also has tremendous hands and touch around the rim and on the boards. He will certainly be a force down in the paint for Carmel in the coming years and college coaches can see that, as he recently earned an offer from Hampton.
After a tremendous season last season, it doesn’t seem like Coach Badgett and the Cougars will be slowing down any time soon and will once again be a force in North Carolina.