
Public School Powers Collide
On Friday, the 919 Showcase will feature one of the top matchups in North Carolina: Jordan versus New Hanover. Currently undefeated (6-0), Jordan will undoubtedly face its toughest opponent of the early season. Julian Lowe has elevated his game to another level, Rivers Knight has picked up where he left off, Bryce Hill provides a polished guard presence, and Derek Ross Jr. effectively runs the team. Add in contributions from several other pieces, and it’s easy to see why they are having such a strong season. On the other side, New Hanover has been a true model of success. Coach Angel consistently wins a lot of games and contends for state championships—and this squad is no different. After returning most of their pieces, the deep, balanced Wildcats can beat opponents in several ways. Rodmik Allen is the clear leader while seniors like Noah Billings, CJ Kornegay, and Zeus Batts all provide meaningful production. Additionally, guys like Kellum Brown, Jazir Wright-McGhee, and Kam Witherspoon each provide quality minutes. These are clearly two of the top programs in the state, especially among public school teams, and should make for an exciting battle.
Will Michael Phillips Continue His Tear?
Grace Christian will certainly have a tough slate this weekend, facing off against Northwood and New Hanover. However, this presents two more opportunities for Michael Phillips to showcase his abilities when the lights are bright. Despite some ups and downs as a group, Phillips has been impressive throughout the season. He’s averaging 22.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, and 1.2 BPG with eight games of 20+ points (including a 51-point outburst). Though he’s already committed to Marquette, there should still be a lot of excitement surrounding Phillips and his cohorts for these upcoming contests.
Garner Faces Big Test
Easily one of the top teams in Durham, Garner enters this weekend with something to prove. Currently sitting at 4-1, they’ll face an undefeated Jordan squad on Saturday. We detailed the Falcons above, but the Trojans also have a slew of noteworthy pieces. They have a highly productive mix of juniors and seniors, including Cam’ren Reyes, Cairo Hines, Geren Holmes, Kingston Beale, Ghab Scott, Darius Whitner, and Keaton Bloms. The complementary balance of their guard play makes this group problematic for seemingly every type of opponent. In their matchup with Jordan, there will be no shortage of talent on either side.
Princeton Commit Leads Cardinal Gibbons
Although the Crusaders had some roster turnover this season, Cash McSweeney hasn’t wavered as their leader and focal point. He’s currently averaging 16.3 PPG, 13.1 RPG, and 3.3 APG while setting the tone on a nightly basis. However, guys like Damon Phillips and Ty Lange have also taken steps forward to provide meaningful production for this group. They’ll be matched up against a noteworthy opponent in Southern Wake Academy—which has a strong core of Seung Surmons, Kobe Plata, Ira Wilson, and Bryan Epperson. There should be a lot of excitement on both sides.
More Names to Monitor
In addition to everything stated above, there are various others worth noting. Northwood’s Cam Fowler is playing at a really high level. The duo of Bennett Corley and Makai Rhodes will lead East Chapel Hill. In addition to multiple freshmen (Makhai Manning, Deuce Geer) for Chapel Hill, Jeremiah McIlwaine has been a standout performer this season. Toledo commit Will James should be poised for an incredible showing capping off the Saturday slate for the event.