By: Wake Hoops
With the 2025 class wrapping up, we turn to a 2024 class that has a ton of talent for all levels of college basketball. In this article, we breakdown the players that are just outside looking in and have all the tools to move up in our rankings.
You can find the full list of honorable mentions here (part 1) and here (part 2).
5’11” Caleb Hardy (Wakefield)
Hardy is a guard with a solid frame who shoots it at a high clip. His mechanics are smooth and repeatable, and the flow of energy is very smooth. He doesn’t rely on his legs for power in his shot, allowing for even more consistency. He mainly acts as a shooter but he’s capable as a driver and creator. He’s crafty off the bounce and showed some flashes of scoring inside the arc this summer. He’ll be Wakefield’s second highest returning scorer and their best shooter so it should be no surprise to see Hardy get the green light this year. We’ll be watching closely to see the strides he makes as a passer this winter. It’s an area that he should see some growth in after showing flashes over the past 12 months.
6’ Chris Harris (Wakefield)
Harris is one of the biggest stock risers of the summer, emerging as a serious threat to make an all-conference team this winter. He’s a quick guard that can score and create at a solid level. He plays with a steady and reliable presence on the ball, switching up speeds and handling pressure well. He’s a strong finisher that absorbs contact and has a variety of layups and floaters he can get to. He’s an improved shooter since last high school season with more comfort and confidence in a variety of situations. Look for Harris to be a breakout producer for a deep Wakefield team this year.
6’2” Arnav Shah (Leesville Road)
Shah is a knockdown shooter with wiry length and an expanding game. His role last season with the Pride was as a spot up threat but he showed this summer that he’s more than capable of taking on more responsibility. He’s effective taking 1-2 dribble pull ups and knows how to use his shooting gravity to create space for his off the dribble game. He has a solid feel and makes good connective passes. His length allows him to create more havoc on the defensive end than a lot of his positional counterparts. He slides his feet quick and gets into passing lanes at a good rate. He’ll have an increased role for Leesville Road, so look for him to have more opportunities to play with the ball in his hands and show an expanded game.
6’2” Nathan Purvis (Thales Apex)
Purvis is a solid all-around guard that plays with a lot of confidence. He defends his position and has a good feel for anticipating rotations. He shoots the ball at an extremely high clip, connecting on 41% of his 386 attempts over his first three years at Thales. Given his positional size and shooting ability, Purvis has an obvious floor that should appeal to a variety of college coaches. He’s a surprisingly good rebounder for his position and it’s a trait that should help separate him from the pack later down the recruiting timeline. Purvis is heading into a senior season where he’ll be relied upon to contribute more than he ever has before. He’s leading a Thales Apex roster that’s revamped and that should be their best in recent memory.
6’4” Ibukun Adewumi (Knightdale)
Adewumi recently transferred from Rolesville to Knightdale and will only add to an already deep rotation. He’s a strong, solid forward that rebounds at a high rate and fits in well offensively. He can finish through contact and has good hands in the post. He sets strong screens and as his intensity increases, he should only improve as a roller. He’s a solid defender that can do a bit of everything. He can fit well with a lot of schemes as he’s big enough to bang down low and agile enough to handle wing responsibilities. He has shown glimpses of shooting projection and it’s a part of his game that could really benefit his recruitment should it come around this season.