It’s been stated before, but the high school basketball scene has transformed into something comparable to NBA free agency. On one hand, the kneejerk reaction is to pose an argument for why/how transferring or reclassifying could have a positive effect on said player. The other side of the token typically points to the lack of loyalty, structure, or overall negative effects that could potentially arise. However, the reality is somewhere in the middle. Public school coaches are never going to voluntarily offer up their players for private school programs to poach. There are various examples of players transferring from public schools to other public schools but it’s certainly uncommon. Despite being largely painted out as the villains in this comparison, private school coaches are expected to perform a job, which unfortunately requires them to seek out talent from all possible avenues.
That being said, covering the greater Greensboro area over the last four years has brought a lot of enjoyment. This upcoming season will likely be more unpredictable than ever before, as there will be an extremely unique collection of talent for public and private schools. This series will be ongoing and broken down into numerous parts, so be conscientious of that if your team doesn’t appear…
Wesleyan Christian
Last Season: 16-11 (Lost in NCISAA Quarterfinals to Cannon)
In terms of star-power, Wesleyan Christian probably leads the Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem area over the last five to ten years. Although there has been some turnover in the recent few seasons, their three current NBA players (Harry Giles, Jaylen Hoard, and Theo Pinson) speak for themselves. Transitioning from Keith Gatlin to CJ Lee was bound to be a tall order, and the Trojans have seen solid success in the two seasons since changing coaches. However, next season already looks likely to be an uphill battle. Even though they’ve retained guys like Isaiah Ray, Aisaiah Phillips, Kade Darr, and Dice Royster, Wesleyan basically lost four of their top six rotation pieces in Kaleb Brooks, Josh Wiggins, Jacob Chrapliwy, and Matt Patterson. It’s not necessarily a negative outlook, just one that requires numerous players to expand their role and take the next step in their respective games. Ray transferred over mid-season but quickly became one of the most reliable and productive players on the team. He’s great with the ball in his hands as a creator, both for himself and others, but also understands how to apply pressure as a cutter and spot-up threat. Ray is a versatile defender with a quality motor and overall nose for the ball, which naturally allows him to affect all facets of the game. Prior to Ray’s transfer, Phillips was probably the most enticing prospect for college coaches. He’s a combo-guard but possesses the ability to thrive from either backcourt position, given his strong balance between playmaking and three-level scoring. Phillips knows how to properly run a team but can also generate consistently clean buckets whenever necessary. Darr was their main shooting threat from last season. Things started out somewhat slow but he seemed to gradually improve with each contest, gaining confidence and embracing his on-court identity. Meanwhile, Royster saw limited playing time but will absolutely need to take a step forward in order to keep this Wesleyan team trending in a positive direction. There are certainly some unknown factors surrounding this team, but they have all the makings of a squad that will continue to surprise folks on a regular basis.