2026 Nick Arnold (Lake Norman)
Arnold was off the charts in making a statement on Friday night, leading the way at halftime with 21 points and finishing with 27 points to lead the way. Arnold continues to flourish as a tough, gritty point guard that makes high IQ plays but also flourishes in his ability to be an offensive weapon. Arnold attacked well out in transition, finishing strong at the basket, getting downhill consistently, but also finding teammates extremely well. That doesn’t mention his impact defensively, racking up five steals in the win.
2025 Jamie Lawson (Pine Lake Prep)
Lawson may have had the performance of the night, as he was exceptional all over the court. His motor and work ethic was incredible, as he was relentless in finding ways to score the basketball. He created really well off the bounce and was able to consistently get into the lane, finishing over defenders and through contact. But his ability to mix it up from inside and out, get inside the defense, move without the ball, and consistently score the basketball was impressive as he finished with 38 points on Day 1.
2027 LJ Smith (Lincolnton)
Coming in already as one of the top prospects in the state, Smith showed why he is one of the most gifted scorers in the country. He, at times, makes it look so easy in his ability to score the ball inside and out, being a lethal shooter from behind the arc, having a smooth feel in creating space and getting to his spots, and having good size as a guard to get downhill and finish over defenders. He can fill it up in a hurry, as he finished with 36 points for his team.
2026 Cameron Newman (Gaston Christian)
You can’t underestimate the impact that Newman has on his team; has been the clear leader for his team all year long and embraces what defenses give him. Without him on the court, one can see that there is a different feeling for the team. He is a leader and coach on the floor, he is a point guard that you want to have the ball in his hands, and he sees the floor well. Newman was strong in weaving and creating with the ball, getting to the rim, finishing with touch, and scoring in a variety of ways. But his impact in making plays for others, running the offense, and being active defensively was just as impressive on Day 1.
2025 Daniel Guandolo (Carmel Christian)
Guandolo had a big showing for his team, stepping up in a variety of ways when his team needed him and hitting some big shots. Early on, he was hitting some big threes from the corner and a variety of other areas, and he continued that into the second half as well. He was effective with his opportunities to lead the charge for his team when they needed him, ultimately finishing with 17 points.