Point Guards Leading the Way
Although several wings, forwards, and big men warrant attention from the masses, this class is clearly headlined by guard play. Having the best of the best compete in notable matchups certainly made for an entertaining slate of competition. Various names could be mentioned, but the MVP award ultimately came down to AJ Morman, Jaleel Smith, and JJ Sati-Grier. All three were undeniably impressive throughout camp, but Sati-Grier narrowly edged out the others in the end. That being said, these three have their stylistic differences and unique high school situations. Morman will be the primary floor general for a potential title contender in Southern Durham; Smith joins a tough Huss squad with various college-level players; Sati-Grier should be a masterful focal point for Charlotte Performance Institute. There are a lot of other guards worth mentioning (Deuce Geer, Davonta Lindsey, Micah Gunter, Bobby Montgomery, Chacho Womack, Dyson Britt, etc.), so it’ll be interesting to see how these players separate themselves over the foreseeable future.
Size Turning Heads
Despite guard play largely dictating the action, there was a slew of blossoming forwards and interior pieces. Guys like Chase Smith, Brelyn Moses, Andrew Juergens, and BD Donzo were four of the most productive players at camp. Smith proved to be among the most skilled players with size, regularly dominating in the paint, controlling the glass, and altering shots defensively. Moses highlighted a versatile, physically overpowering identity and the ability to consistently cause matchup problems for opponents. Juergens applied constant pressure at the rim, but also stood out through his perimeter shooting, toughness as a rebounder, and ability to defend multiple positions. Lastly, Donzo made his presence felt as a strong, physically overpowering piece that excels at finishing, rebounding, and anchoring the paint defensively. It goes without saying, but each guy should be a massive contributor as a freshman.
Additional Standouts Worth Noting
There are a ton of noteworthy prospects in North Carolina’s Class of 2028 (with several being mentioned in the last two excerpts), as evidenced by the talent at camp. Players like Mekhi Allen, Ayo Awo Sanya, Mason Murphy, and Aiden Dalton each showcased enticing flashes of long-term ability. Given his size, athleticism, and polished scoring prowess, Allen is clearly one of the most appealing prospects in the class. He should be as productive as anyone listed during his freshman campaign. Sanya is someone who always seems to find ways to make his presence felt as a versatile forward. Given the structure of Myers Park, he should be poised for a strong start to his high school journey. Murphy displayed a lot of intriguing qualities and should only continue to progress over the foreseeable future at Eastern Alamance. Rounding out the group, Dalton quietly has the tools to emerge as one of the top players in this class. He’s made clear strides over the last calendar year and should become a real matchup problem for opponents sooner than later.