Now that we’ve reached the point in the high school season when things begin to shift. Despite all the preseason competition, holiday showcases, and subplots throughout, this time is arguably as exciting as any period in the year. Each game has playoff implications. All kinks should be figured out, and teams should be hitting their stride. However, this is also the stretch when young prospects really begin to emerge and separate themselves from their peers. Although the state is filled with intriguing young talent in every area, Quantay James has the tools to be one of the next noteworthy prospects from Eastern North Carolina. Let’s take a closer look…
Right now, Northern Nash is an impressive 16-1 and quietly shaping up as one of the best public-school squads in the state. One cannot talk about the success of this group without mentioning veteran pieces like Cameron Barnes, Kinston Little, Chris Silver, Jamiere Harris, and Jahmarzae Williams. However, the aforementioned James is already proving to be one of the top freshmen in the state, and his production echoes this sentiment. Although we wrote about him extensively before the season, he’s somehow managed to legitimately exceed expectations. He’s currently averaging 15.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.7 SPG, and 0.9 BPG while shooting 54% from the floor. James leads the team in scoring while ranking in the top three in rebounds, steals, and blocks.
It doesn’t take very long to see all the qualities that make James such an impactful player and enticing long-term prospect. At 6-foot-5, he’s a long, fluid athlete with an excellent frame and array of physical tools. He’s a destructive, versatile defender who has the feel, motor, and instincts to constantly wreak havoc on the court. James is a strong rebounder with a quick first and second jump, which regularly leads to second-chance opportunities. Offensively, he’s capable of creating matchup problems for a variety of opponents. James displays the ability to score from all levels. He excels at putting pressure on the rim and finishes well through contact. However, James is also a capable creator and scorer off the bounce. He’s shown flashes of floor-spacing ability, but mainly looks to play to his strengths and get downhill whenever possible. It shouldn’t need to be reiterated, but it feels like James has all the tools to be a potentially special prospect.