WNC’s Loaded 2019 Class
WNC’s 2019 Class may be the best ever for this region. I have been covering NC high school hoops for almost 10 years and the rising junior class in WNC is among the cream of the crop.
Incoming Christ School junior point guard Jalen Lecque is one of the most athletic guards in the country. He spent the summer playing with Southern Stampede and had a great spring which attracted some of the nation’s top college programs.
He picked up offers from Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Miami and UConn, among others. Kentucky assistant coach Joel Justus recently called head coach Scott Willard to inform him they will be in to watch the super-athletic Lecque this fall.
Big man Brandon Stone also transferred in to Christ School. The 6-foot-11 Stone, has offers from a host of programs including St. Joseph’s, Stony Brook, Penn State, Appalachian State, Canisius, and Duquense among many more. Stone is a skilled big man that can defend, block shots and rebound. He will be a big piece in how far The Greenies will advance this season.
Rising junior Caleb Mills of Asheville Christian Academy recently picked up a offer from George Mason. He also has offers from Lipscomb, Western Carolina, Winthrop, High Point, Appalachian State, and Liberty. He is a big point guard with a long frame. He is able to see over smaller guards and make passes that smaller guards can’t defend. He knows how to score and is a deep shooting threat.
2019 guard Raishaun Brown of Asheville Christian Academy. Brown is a solid combo guard at 6-foot. He can play the 1 or the 2. He has a good handle and can facilitate the offense. He has a strong build in his upper-body and does not get pushed around. Brown is able to get hot from beyond the three-point line like Mills and can rattle a number of baskets off in a row. He is a player with a high IQ and does not make many mistakes.
Enka High School rising junior Jake Smith
had one of the most impressive improvements on both sides of the ball as anyone in the area. He has improved his shotmaking which he was already a threat. He has worked on his athleticism and is finishing plays at the rim. In my eyes, he is a legitimate Division One prospect at the Big South/SoCon level.
Tuscola High School returns one of the top post players in the area with 6-foot-6 Landon Henley, a big with great footwork and post moves. Has nice touch and feel around basket. One of WNC’s top big men who was named all-conference and all-district last season.