Coaching at the high school level is extremely important. In addition to the on-court schemes, these individuals are vital when establishing a culture. Look at some of the most historically relevant programs in North Carolina, and you’ll see a pattern of lengthy tenures. That being said, it’s arguably more challenging than ever before to find consistent success. The amount of player movement, uninformed decision-makers, and misguided understanding of abilities has led to more negatives than positives. However, the right person can change everything. Today, Charlotte Performance Institute announces the hiring of Damorio Jackson to become the next head coach.
Whether at Cox Mill, The Burlington School, or with various programs in the travel ball scene (Charlotte Hoyas, Team Push, Team Curry East), Coach Jackson has consistently found success on the sidelines. In addition to his achievements in the public and private landscape, he’s helped 22 players reach the next level. So, what does Coach Jackson intend to bring to this program? He stated, “I want to set the tone as a hard-nosed, defensive program with guys who play with a chip on their shoulder. I’d like them to take on the mentality of who I am as a coach and who I was as a player. Planning to build this up to a national power.” The school is only entering its second year of existence, and Coach Jackson embraces the opportunity. When asked how he plans to capitalize on the foundation from year one, Jackson said, “It feels good. I just want to build on what they’ve already started. This year, I want to make a lot of noise. We want to play the best of the best and challenge ourselves. At the end of the year, we want to be the last one standing.”
It’s also worth noting that Charlotte Performance Institute is partnered with Phoenix Montessori. The kids take classes on a campus in Huntersville while being part of a legitimate student body. For college coaches interested in seeing this team as soon as possible, their schedule kicks off in June. Between open gyms (June 3-5), CPI training camp (June 9-12), and Phenom Team Camp (June 13-14), there will be ample opportunity to watch this group.
In terms of roster construction, Jackson will maintain the majority of CPI’s key pieces from last year. Veteran guys like Jordan King and Deontae Pryor will be critical to the success of this group. King is a polished combo guard with vision, creation skills, and the ability to fill it up as a three-level scorer. He’s comfortable running the team or finding opportunities without the ball. Pryor is an intriguing forward prospect with length, mobility, and clear upside remaining on both ends of the floor. Additionally, the young duo of JJ Sati-Grier and Carson Wilson will be entering their sophomore seasons. Sati-Grier is still trending as one of the top prospects in North Carolina’s Class of 2028. He’s a dynamic point guard with natural instincts and playmaking feel. Sati-Grier is a very intelligent, polished player who can lead in several ways. Meanwhile, Wilson will be an x-factor after losing a considerable chunk of his freshman year due to injury. He’s a versatile, well-rounded piece who can operate in various roles and do a little bit of everything. Although the roster will only continue to grow, there’s already a lot for Coach Jackson to utilize on this new-look team.