Continuing to watch storylines for the upcoming season, one topic we have on our mind after watching them at the Hoop State Fall League with Phenom Hoops is the Knights of North Lincoln.
They are coming off a tremendous season last year, finishing the season with a 22-7 overall record and 13-4 in conference play before falling to Hickory in the playoffs. But now, this is a team that looks to return plenty of talent from last season and they have looked hungry in the offseason. At the Hoop State Fall League, the Knights have been impressive in showing what they are capable of and it as to be noted that this is a team that has a chance to make that deep run.
When you talk about their roster, you have to start with the top two players in 2025 Kellen Karr and 2025 Ty Sanders, Karr heading to Coastal Carolina for baseball but certainly has proven himself on the court, and Karr is an underrated guard here in the state of North Carolina. Karr is a tough matchup on the court at 6’6, with his ability to create and facilitate, create off the deck, score at the rim, and knock down shots; he can do a little bit of everything and is coming off a season in which he averaged 17.3ppg, 9.4rpg, and 5.9apg. Karr has clearly elevated his game to another level, and he looks focused on having a big season with not only his ability to knock down shots from the perimeter but adding more to his overall offensive game. He is coming off a season in which he average 15.0ppg, but could eclipse those numbers in his senior season. And then you have others like 2026 Ben Heavner, 2025 Caleb Kidd, and 2027 Ty Chandler, all looking to step up even more this season for their team.
They have gone against some tough competition in the Phenom Hoops Fall League and have won some impressive games, so we are eager to see if they can continue that momentum into the season. Could the be a dark horse come playoff time? Possibly.