No. 15 5’8 ’16 William Curasi of Alamance Christian (Greensboro, NC)
Curasi has really tight handles and good court vision. He’s at his best with dribble penetration where he gets into the lane and makes things happen. Curasi does have the ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates and for himself. Coach Edwards stated, “Curasi had little problem getting to the basket.” However the next step in his development is to finish more efficiently. Like more young players, they need to be more vocal on the defensive end of the court. That being said, Curasi has really good quickness and utilizes it well in breaking down the defense.
No. 21 5’9 ’19 Jalen Whitley of Hickory Grove (Charlotte, NC)
Whitley was the perfect teammate and may have been too unselfish at times. He has good fundamentals, excellent basketball IQ, and carries a team first approach every time he steps onto the court. Coach Edwards stated, “Whitley shot the ball really well when he shot it. He was one of the better on ball defenders.” Overall, he had an excellent showing. It may not have all showed up in the box score, but it was his intangibles. He moved well without the ball and more importantly, didn’t mind sharing the ball and getting his teammates involved in the flow of the game. For Whitley, it wasn’t about him, but all about the team!
No. 42 5’11 ’20 Bryce Griffin of Archdale-Trinity (Sophia, NC)
Coach Edwards stated it best, “Griffin didn’t back and showed a toughness throughout the day.” Only a freshman, Griffin didn’t take a lot of shots and played well without the team structure. The next step in his development is to add weight and strength, which will give him more confidence. Griffin had a good attitude and gave effort and positive energy.
No. 46 5’11 ’19 Cole Perry of Carson HS (Salisbury, NC)
Once Perry stepped onto the court and played a few minutes, you could tell he had a great feel and knowledge of the game. He demonstrated a great attitude, high basketball IQ and played team basketball. Coach Edwards stated, “Perry played better every game and made one play after another especially in the half court.” We liked his ability to knock down perimeter shots and was very effective beyond the 3-point line. He has a nice shooting touch and mechanics.
No. 77 6’2 ’17 Dominque Watkins of Reidsville HS (Reidsville, NC)
Watkins showed glimpses of potential throughout the day, but we would have liked to see it more on a consistent basis. . He played well within the team structure and demonstrated solid ball handling and passing skills. We liked his court vision and ability to make the right play. Watkins didn’t’ attempt a lot of shots and preferred the role of passer the majority of the day. The next step in his development is to be a little more aggressive especially in his scoring opportunities.
No. 117 6’2 ’19 Tavon Jackson of EE Smith HS (Fayetteville, NC)
Jackson has the ability to score from multiple levels on the court. He was best at attacking the basket in transition, however did hit an occasional 3-pointer when left open. Coach Edwards stated, “Jackson set solid screens and understood the open spots on the floor. He had one game where he really ran the floor in transition and scored a lot.” While Jackson is not a dominant ball handler, we were impressed with his ability to move well without the ball to get open. Unlike the majority of players, Jackson didn’t have to have the ball in his hands to have scoring opportunities.
NO. 127 6’3 ’17 Luke Bagby of Calvary Baptist (Winston-Salem, NC)
Bagby has excellent fundamentals, high basketball IQ and good understanding of the game. He was a consistent scorer and even stepped out and showcased his 3-point shooting ability. Coach Edwards stated, “Bagby has a good feel for where he needs to be on the floor. He was very vocal on the court and talked a lot and gave encouragement while he was on the bench.” Bagby plays well in a team structure and is very coachable. The next step in his development is to take advantage of running more efficiently in transition and taking advantage of those scoring opportunities.
No. 159 6’3 ’18 Max Spurling of Mitchell HS (Spruce Pine, NC)
Spurling was the team’s top scorer and best offensive players. He scored from multiple levels on the court and averaged 14.3 PPG. He was consistent throughout the three games and proved to be a very effective/efficient perimeter shooter. Coach Edwards stated, “Spurling has a good feel for the game and made one good play after another.” The next step in his development is to improve his lateral quickness and become a stronger on ball defender.
No. 179 6’7 ’19 Caden Najdawi of Cosby HS (Chesterfield, VA)
What’s not to like about a 6’7 sophomore with good size, length, and athleticism that runs the floor extremely well. To be it simply, Najdawi best days are ahead! What you currently see is not the finished product, but the ingredients are definitely there to be an outstanding high school player and beyond. He is still learning the game and knowing exactly what stops on the court he needs to be at, which is only natural for his age/grade. We really like his upside and potential. The next step in his development is to get physically stronger and develop some “go to” moves in the paint along with fine-tuning a nice mid range jumper.