Preview: Big South Conference
Here is a preview of the PrepHoopsNC Big South Conference T 1st- Ashbrook High School– Finished 17-13 (9-5 in conference) Lost in 3rd round of NCHSAA playoffs. 2015 state runner-up. Key Returners: Emmanuel Rhyne, Chris Moore, JaQuail Brown, Byron Sanders and Elijah Fife Head Coach Richard Carsner…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingHere is a preview of the PrepHoopsNC Big South Conference
T 1st- Ashbrook High School– Finished 17-13 (9-5 in conference) Lost in 3rd round of NCHSAA playoffs. 2015 state runner-up. Key Returners: Emmanuel Rhyne, Chris Moore, JaQuail Brown, Byron Sanders and Elijah Fife
Head Coach Richard Carsner had this to say about his top players, “It is very difficult to designate top players on a team with so much depth and athleticism. Ashbrook is loaded with offensive weapons and great outside shooters. If this team can continue to improve defensively, I feel they can make another deep run in the 3A state playoffs. Ashbrook was the 3A state runner-up in 2015 (lost to Terry Sanford) and lost in the 3rd round to Hickory last year. Emmanuel Rhyne averaged almost 20 points a game during the last 5 games of the season and is one of the best 3 point shooters in the region. Jaquail Brown averaged 8 rebounds per game last year and is a tremendous offensive rebounder. I expect him to become a double-double machine (points and rebounds) in his junior year. Chris Moore is also a dynamic scorer and very capable shooter. Byron Sanders has had a great off-season and is a good playmaker, great passer and strong defender. Our ’19 class of JaQuan Hemphill , JaQuese Hemphill, Tykel Roseboro and Deaven Lowery is one of the best in school history and is overlooked by too many people who cover prep basketball across the state. Although inexperienced at the varsity level, their progression this year could make Ashbrook dangerous. We are a little undersized and not as long as past teams, but very quick and athletic. Our front court features 6’5, 6’4 and several 6’2 kids. We have key games this year in non-conference play against Hickory, Lincoln Charter, Shelby, Crest, and King’s Mountain. Most of those teams made deep state playoff runs last season. We also face conference rival Huss and solid Lake Norman Charter twice in conference play.”
T 1st- Lake Norman Charter– 22-8 last season and 13-1 to win the Big South conference advancing to the final 8 of the NCHSAA state playoffs. Head Coach Aaron Reeves returns 6-foot-7 senior forward Grayson Hickert (15 ppg, 8 rpg), senior guard Troy Cracknell (14 ppg, 6 rpg) and 6-foot-1 junior guard Connor Reed off last year’s team.
3. Hunter Huss High School– The Huskies finished last season at 14-13 including a 10-4 mark in the Big South conference. Returners off last year’s team include senior guard Cress Worthy who averaged 13 points per game, senior forward Antwanez Barnett who averaged 9 points per game and junior forward Blake Wilson. 6-foot-4 sophomore Marcus Mauney will be a key contributor to the teams success.
4. Forestview High School- 6-foot senior guard Malik Hatten, 6-foot-4 senior guard Logan Stone and 6-foot-4 senior forward Tremayne Booker return for Forestview High School this season. After finishing with only six wins last season, Forestview will try and get back into the playoff picture this season. Sophomore Darion Anderson will be a major help along with the seniors in making it back to the post-season.
5. North Gaston High School- Former Myers Park High School head coach Wes Helper makes his debut with this season with North Gaston High School which finished last season at 9-13 overall and 6-8 in conference. Two returning all-Big South Conference guards Cam Adams, a 6-foot-2 guard and 5-foot-11 guard Tommy McNeil will be the major factors in Helper’s first season. The third returning starter is 6-foot-4 forward Austin Primm
6. Stuart Cramer High School-Return senior all-Big South conference point guard, Corey Stowe who averaged 15 ppg, 4 apg, 3 spg, junior guard Dezure Moulden, senior F Isaiah Foust and senior guard Kobe Sithisaribouth.
7. East Gaston High School-After finishing last season at 11-14 overall and .500 mark in the Big South Conference at 7-7, East Gaston returns all five starters from last year’s squad. Senior center Sam Brown, Sr., senior shooting guard Tyrone Brown, senior small forward Zach Hager, senior forward Justin Gomez and junior point guard Caleb Bridgewater are the returning starters. Coach Eugene Farrar should have some pieces to work with this season.
8. South Point High School– Return four starters off last season’s 6-17 team including all-conference selection Blake Zieske who put up 16 ppg and senior Nick Muse who averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds.