Player: Dionte Neal
Class: 2026
School: Reidsville
What a year and career it has been for 2026 Dionte Neal here in North Carolina, going down as one of the best athletes the state has ever had to offer. A proven winner on the basketball court and football field, there may never be a player to surpass what Neal has been able to do at Reidsville over the years.
But times continue to be crazy for one of the top unsigned seniors in North Carolina. With recent changes at UNCG, Neal announced that he had reopened his recruitment and things seem to be moving fast.
Before diving into the latest, Neal has been a staple for high school basketball over the years, whether it has been in high school or travel ball. When watching him, his game speaks for itself, as our own Jeff Bendel had this to say about it:
“Although it’s difficult to imagine anyone reading this who hasn’t already seen him at least once, his game matches the otherworldly production. Neal is an extremely smart, quick, balanced point guard who elevates his supporting cast while filling it up in a variety of ways as a scorer. He utilizes his tight handle and blinding quickness to get wherever he wants off the bounce. Neal sees the floor exceptionally well and consistently makes the right play with the ball in his hands. He’s more than comfortable taking what the defense gives him but will take what he wants if necessary. Due to the constant pressure, he puts on defenses, Neal is simply a nightmare for opposing teams to defend. On the other end, he rebounds well for his size and causes a ton of problems for guards at the point of attack. Neal anticipates extremely well to force turnovers and push transition play. Few guys can lead a team like him.”
Now, as we sit today, Neal has racked up NC Player of the Year honors once again, and his recruitment is quickly moving. We caught up with him to ask him about the latest going on, as time is moving fast his way.
Earning NC Gatorade Player of the Year Honors:
“I’m blessed, and I want all the kids that aren’t the biggest, fastest, or strongest to know that you can do anything when you work hard and believe in the man above.”
Recruitment Update:
It was certainly going to be interesting to see what would happen or come Neal’s way once he announced his decommitment from UNCG. It didn’t take long though, as Neal took the short trip to Wake Forest and walked away with an offer from the program.
“It was a blessing for them even to consider offering me, and I’m grateful for it being in the ACC,” Neal told Phenom Hoops. “Obviously, it’s going to be some of the best players in the country being played every game… but I’m still going to weigh all my options.”
In speaking with Neal more, he has other visits coming up as well, which include Wofford, North Carolina A&T, UNCG, and possibly Mount St. Mary’s.
Those five schools, though, have been the ones staying strong with him as of right now and look to clearly be in the mix for one of the top point guards in the region.