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 (Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem) 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…
Mount Tabor
Last Season: 25-4 (Lost in NCHSAA Third Round to Smith)
There’s really no need for a dramatic introduction for a program as successful and well-known as Mount Tabor, especially under the coaching of Andy Muse. Regardless of roster composition, Muse seems to always find a path to dominating. Just in the last fifteen years, Muse never finished with a losing record and only saw two seasons with double-digit losses. Sure, their talent pool is impressive but not so unbelievable that a public school in Winston-Salem should have this amount of prolonged success. Muse and staff have built an absolute dynasty in their time at the program and show no signs of turning back anytime soon. Last season, the Spartans were largely led by a senior trio of Jakob Moore, Shaylen Woodberry, and Jordan Hunter. Add in Davis Blackwell and this group is slated to lose a lot of production. However, they should have enough pieces in place to continue being among the top teams in the Triad. Assuming all of their non-seniors will remain in the program, there should be very little drop-off in overall success. Gunner Walters is arguably the most exciting returning piece, given what he’s shown as a floor general over the last calendar year. He’s a smart, crafty, electric point guard with flair, natural feel as a playmaker, and the ability to score pretty effectively from all areas on the floor. Replacing the interior presence of Moore will be difficult, but Fulp looked quite useful during his opportunities last season. Though somewhat undersized, he always finds a way to contribute with his motor, strength, and willingness to do the dirty work. He finishes well around the basket and maximizes his low-maintenance role on both sides of the ball. Alongside Fulp, Kevonni Campbell is another interior prospect that continues to improve with each new viewing. Beyond the three mentioned, it’ll be fascinating to see which guys rise to the occasion and take a step forward in their progression. If there is one takeaway from seeing the recent history of Muse-led teams, it’s that they never seem to stray too far from success—and this situation should only further that notion.