Kings Mountain looks to make deeper run into NCHSAA 3A playoffs
Last season, Kings Mountain loss in the 3rd round of the NCHSAA 3A playoffs to eventual state champion Cox Mill with a 19-10 record. Coach Grayson Pierce is optimistic about the upcoming season. Kings Mountain has a nice blend of veterans and youth and is geared for another run. Coach Pierce returns 6’3 senior point guard Adrian Delph who is committed to Appalachian State and 6’2 junior combo guard Zeke Littlejohn. Kings Mountain is slated to play in the Phenom High School Jamboree Saturday, November 4th.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the impact players for coach Pierce and Kings Mountain.
The Dynamic Duo
6’3 ’18 Adrian Delph (Appalachian State)
Delph is a tough hardnosed player that exceled at the 2017 NC Top 80. In our camp review, we stated, “Adrian is a strong guard that is able to dominate his opponent in all facets of the game, especially when he’s on a roll. Opposing guards struggle to hang with him, as he is a proven three-level scorer that can also take opponents off the dribble and to the rim with ease. On the other end, he’s a relentless defender, able to stay attached to his assignment at all times.” Coach Pierce stated Adrian is a big time two-way player. “He can score from all three levels and uses his ability to get to the paint to score, get the free throw line or make plays for others. He is an elite level athlete and Appalachian State is getting a really good one.”
6’2 ’19 Zeke Littlejohn
Zeke is a high-energy player on both ends of the floor. He is a multi level scorer with a nice touch and ability to get to the rim. At our NC Phenom 150 camp, we stated, “Zeke is a scrappy player who gives maximum effort. His ability to rebound was outstanding and he was able to score however he wanted.” In speaking with Coach Pierce, he stated, “Zeke is one of the best shooters in North Carolina. He can shoot the mess out of it from deep. He has worked on his all around game to become better off the bounce and getting to the rim. He can really score the ball.” Zeke has excellent shooting mechanics and technique and gets tremendous lift on his jump shot.
Best of the Rest
6’2 ’19 Eli Paysour is a high motor kid. Eli plays all out all the time. With Eli, you don’t have to teach effort. He is wired to compete and help the team in every aspect of the game.
6’1 ’21 Kobe Paysour is just a freshman, but coach Pierce is expecting huge things for the youngster. Coach Pierce stated, “Kobe has a chance to be a special player. He is really a good athlete and can get to the rim. The southpaw has a nice outside jump shot.”
6’5 ’18 Isaiah Grier is getting D2 and D3 interest. He is a stretch 4 that has a nice jump shot and can score around the rim.