Earlier this week, Coach Antonio Lowe announced the incoming transfers of Jaleel Smith and Williams Itumo to their already loaded roster. The duo is set to join a group with guys like Nicholas McLean, Bradley Floyd, Elton James, and newly acquired Elijah Thomas. It’s unclear how many more pieces they’ll add prior to the high school season, but they certainly have no shortage of talent. Let’s take a closer look at their three newest additions…
Arguably the most productive freshman in North Carolina last season, Smith should be an incredibly seamless fit with the Lions. His all-around identity truly allows him to shine alongside any collection of teammates. Smith is a smart, balanced floor general who knows how to apply constant pressure on opposing defenses. He scores with efficiency from all levels and possesses the creation skills to reliably run a team as the main playmaking threat. Smith sees the floor very well as a passer and consistently makes the right play with the ball in his hands. He displays a smooth, confident demeanor and has the game to match. Smith also rebounds very well for his size and forces turnovers at a quality rate defensively. Although he’ll be one of the younger players on the roster, folks should expect Smith to be an immediate-impact player.
Meanwhile, Itumo and Thomas bring a lot of new intrigue as out-of-state prospects. At 6-foot-10, Itumo is a long, explosive athlete with a phenomenal motor and the ability to wreak havoc inside the paint. He’s a quality finisher with a nice blend of touch and footwork. On the other hand, Thomas is a big, strong, versatile guard with the ability to consistently touch the paint and apply scoring pressure from all levels. He’s an athletic finisher with toughness and two-way instincts. The Lions continue to bolster their roster and might legitimately have the deepest team in North Carolina as currently constructed.