Right now, the North Carolina basketball landscape is full of excitement. Whether public, private, or independent, it seems like there are noteworthy teams and prospects making noise on a nightly basis. Among those teams is Harrells Christian, which just had a statement win following a challenging stretch entering the new year. Although they might not have the depth of other teams, this group has the pieces to compete with anyone. Let’s take a closer look…
So much of this team’s success is centered around the production of Antonio McKoy. Fresh off a 51-point performance, his per-game averages currently sit at 28.6 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 0.7 BPG while shooting an insane 59% from the floor. The numbers quite clearly speak for themselves. McKoy is having one of the most dominant seasons across the state, yet it doesn’t seem to be receiving the appropriate level of attention. He’s getting downhill legitimately whenever he wants to put nonstop pressure on the rim. McKoy is a long, explosive athlete with a magnet-like attraction to the ball. He wreaks havoc as a defender and outworks opponents on the glass to consistently push transition play. McKoy knows exactly how and when to establish himself as a leader or take over a game.
Meanwhile, Dashaun McKoy shines as a malleable all-around piece with the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways. He’s a rugged, high-motor guard with the IQ, toughness, and physicality to cause problems for opponents on both ends of the floor. McKoy is comfortable initiating the offense and creating for others, but scores the ball at a strong rate when needed. He excels at getting downhill and finishing through contact or above the rim. McKoy sees the floor well when attacking and makes smart decisions with the ball in his hands. He’s a terrific rebounder and suffocating defender with great timing and anticipation. McKoy utilizes his athleticism effectively on both ends of the floor. He’s averaging 16.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, and 1.2 BPG while shooting 52% from the floor. McKoy should have more opportunities from scholarship-level programs.
The lone junior in their core grouping, Amir Moore, is an obvious x-factor for the Crusaders. He knows how to reliably anchor the paint as the only true big man on the roster. Moore is a strong, mobile big man with a steady presence as a defender and rebounder. His offensive game continues to improve, as he primarily looks to score on lobs and drop-offs but can also finish with touch over his left shoulder. Moore does a nice job of providing a low-maintenance identity on both ends of the floor. He screens, battles around the basket, and asserts his presence as needed. Moore is averaging 12.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 1.1 BPG while shooting 57% from the floor. Expect him to continue trending upward over the next twelve months.
Rounding out their main pieces, J’Kaeshi Brunson brings so much value to this group as a smart, unselfish, veteran guard. He consistently looks to set up the offense, organize his teammates, and finds ways to put others in scoring positions. Brunson can score if necessary, but doesn’t look to force the action or operate outside of the team structure. He communicates extremely well and sees the game ahead of his peers. His per-game averages of 4.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, and 1.9 SPG might not pop off the page, but Brunson is very significant to the success of this group.
Guys like Collin Cole, Jeremiah Davis, and Demetrius Jones each provide meaningful minutes for the Crusaders. They each play hard, defend with toughness, and make hustle plays while operating well within the team structure.