With so much buzz surrounding the high-profile teams in North Carolina (Combine, Moravian Prep, Winston-Salem Christian, Liberty Heights, etc.), it’s easy to forget about under-the-radar talent like HA Prep Durham. They’ve got a roster full of capable contributors and potential next-level players, but things really seem to start and end with the duo of Joshua Tyler and Nick Green—who should each have college coaches in pursuit.
We saw Tyler countless times with Full Court over the summer, where he could be found leading the charge and setting the tone on both ends of the floor. He’s a reliable shot-creator with excellent perimeter shooting and quality playmaking skills. Tyler can run a team or place emphasis on being a scoring threat, simply based on team need. He makes smart decisions with the ball in his hands, pushes the break at every opportunity, and contains his assignment quite well defensively.
Meanwhile, Green finally seems to have found a place where his game is able to thrive as one of the main cogs. He would’ve been great at Henderson Collegiate, but was forced to relocate due to unforeseen circumstances. While he’s maintained his excellence as a knockdown three-point shooter and overall spot-up threat, Green has clearly made strides as a playmaker and all-around scoring threat. He’s shown an improved willingness to mix up his offensive approach and apply pressure in various ways, whether through one and two-dribble pull-ups or by simply dictating the action with the ball in his hands.
While there are certainly other noteworthy guys on this roster, this pairing has been the lynchpin for this well-oiled machine. Both guys have more than solidified their worthiness as next-level players and should be watched closely by scholarship-holding coaches throughout the remainder of the current season.