North Iredell captures huge win over undefeated West Rowan
In a crucial match up of the top teams in the North Piedmont 3A, North Iredell captured an impressive 81-67 win over undefeated West Rowan. North Iredell entered the contest with a 7-1 record, while West Rowan sported a 9-0 record. North Iredell’s lone loss was to West Rowan earlier in the season.
It was a well-balanced attack by North Iredell. 6’3 junior Jackson Hawkins led the way with a game high 28 points. 5’10 junior John Jackson chipped in 18 points while 6’8 sophomore Beckham Tharpe and 6’4 senior Jayden Turner had 15 and 13 points respectively. For West Rowan, 6’3 freshman Jayden Harris led the way with 16 points while 6’2 senior Jalen Moss and 6’7 senior Zeek Biggers had 15 and 13 points respectively. Now let’s take a closer look at the game’s standout players.
6’3 2022 Jackson Hawkins (North Iredell)
It was a terrific overall performance by the 6’3 “Do it all” guard. Hawkins had a game high 28 points including four 3-pointers. In our Open Gym Report, Phenom’s Tyler Lewis wrote the following. “Jackson is the leader of this team. He leads by example and isn’t scared to lead with his voice. His size and strength will allow him to make an impact on both sizes of the ball. He uses his body really well on drives. He has a great basketball IQ and is able to create plays for himself and others. Also, he is knock down shooter from the perimeter. Jackson is a high academic student athlete and has the second highest GPA in his class.” To put it mildly, Tyler hit the nail on the head with his assessment. Jackson scored from all three levels and we were simply impressed with his competitiveness and overall feel for the game.
5’10 2022 John Jackson (North Iredell)
Jackson finished with 18 points and was a model of consistency in both halves. He is a quick-on-quick point guard and has a really explosive first step. Jackson was terrific getting into the paint and creating scoring opportunities for himself as well as his teammates. Defensively, he has nice anticipation of the passing lanes and is also a solid “on ball” defender.
6’8 2023 Beckham Tharpe
Tharpe finished with a quiet 15 points, all coming from within the framework of the offense. Tyler Lewis stated, “Tharpe has all the tools to be a really good player. The long, athletic forward has great touch around the rim and the ability to step out and knock down perimeter shots. He will be a key piece for North Iredell, and sports an impressive 4.20 GPA.” Tharpe can really enhance his recruitment if he makes a commitment to the weight room by getting physically stronger. He has a nice skill set and his academic standing should make him an attractive collegiate prospect.
6’4 2021 Jayden Turner (North Iredell)
Turner knows and understands his role to perfection. He scores within the framework of the offense and grabs rebounds on both ends of the court. Turner finished with 13 points, but it was his work on the defensive glass that stood out. He has excellent hands and impressed us with his patience on the offensive end of the court. Several times, he got an entry pass on the low block, but was heavily guarded, then proceeded to kick out an outlet pass, only to reset for low post position.
6’3 2024 Jayden Harris (West Rowan)
Only a freshman, Harris impressed us with his poise and maturity. He finished with a team high 16 points including three 3-pointers. Harris has thin hips, excellent length and athleticism, not to mention excellent shooting mechanics and fundamentals. Rarely did he force or try to manufacture his own points, but patiently looking for good scoring opportunities. Harris is definitely one for college coaches to start tracking sooner rather than later.
6’0 2021 Jalen Moss (West Rowan)
Moss is a quick and crafty point guard. He has excellent speed in the open court and excels in using his off hand. He’s as comfortable going left as his right. Moss was extremely crafty around the rim and was effective in getting paint touches. Moss finished with 15 points