Beach Ball Classic: Standouts, Part I

<p>The Beach Ball Classic showcased a number of top prospects in the state of North Carolina. Here’s a look at Part I of the standouts from the event. </p> <h5><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="574405" first="AJ" last="Smith"] | 2022 Wing/Forward | Combine Academy</strong></h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="574405" first="AJ" last="Smith"] had a breakout game against iSchool (TX), putting up 31 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the field, 3-of-4 shooting from 3-point range along with seven rebounds and four steals in 26 minutes of work off the bench. He’s a strong two-way guard that likes to get downhill and finish around the rim but also won’t hesitate to find his stroke on the perimeter. Look for him to gain some attention in his recruitment following the Beach Ball Classic. </p> <h5><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="854888" first="Robert" last="Dillingham"] | 2023 Guard | Combine Academy</strong></h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="854888" first="Robert" last="Dillingham"] was a consistent force for Combine Academy in the backcourt as they got some marquee victories over iSchool and the Baltimore Panthers (MD). He knocked down nine total 3-pointers across their three games, averaging 17.0 points and shooting 56.3 percent from behind the arc. If he wasn’t a national name before the event, any coach/scout who caught just a glimpse of his performances should have him on their radar. He’s a high-level scorer on all three levels and does it efficiently.</p> <h5><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="577888" first="Jaydon" last="Young"] | 2023 Guard/Wing | Greensboro Day School</strong></h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="577888" first="Jaydon" last="Young"] opened the weekend with a double-double; 15 points, 11 rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting against Carolina Forest. The Bengals lost back-to-back games by a combined two points at the Beach Ball Classic but Young kept his head up and played strong in both games. He put up 17 points (3-of-5 from 3-point range) and four steals against Milton (GA) and 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting and 2-of-3 shooting from 3-point land along with six rebounds against Oak Ridge (FL). He showed why he was a top prospect in the state of North Carolina against outside competition. </p> <h5><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="574441" first="Jai" last="Smith"] | 2022 Forward | Word of God </strong></h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="574441" first="Jai" last="Smith"] showed off his ability to be a presence on both ends across all three games for Word of God in the Beach Ball Classic. He generated three double-doubles, averaging 19.3 ppg and 12.3 rpg in the event and putting even more schools on notice of his relentless motor and two-way ability. He’s due to land at a high-major program once the dust settles with his recruitment. </p> <h5><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="848060" first="Po’Boigh" last="King"] | 2022 Shooting Guard | Word of God</strong></h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="848060" first="Po’Boigh" last="King"] showed off his shooting stroke to open the Beach Ball Classic, draining six 3-pointers to the tune of 29 points and showing off his ability to create off the bounce and get to the free throw line (9-of-10). He made four more 3-pointers across their next two victories and showed he can do a lot more than just shoot the ball on the perimeter. He finished with 11 points and eight rebounds against Real Salt Lake Academy.</p> <h5><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="577868" first="DJ" last="Nix"] | 2022 Wing/Forward | Cannon School</strong></h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="577868" first="DJ" last="Nix"] closed out the Beach Ball Classic with a bang, putting up 31 points on 8-of-11 shooting from behind the arc. He set a new record for second place in makes with his eight makes to go along with six rebounds and three assists in a 66-61 win over Cape Christian Academy to end things on a high note for Cannon School. Look for Nix’ stock to continue to grow following a strong performance. </p> <h5><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="848069" first="Cinque" last="Lemon"] | 2022 Wing/Guard | Cape Fear Christian Academy</strong></h5> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="848069" first="Cinque" last="Lemon"] was another top performer in the cross-state matchup against Cannon School. He finished the game with 21 points, seven rebounds and two blocks to show off how he uses his athleticism and length to make a difference on both ends of the floor. He continues to show his development on the hardwood under head coach Steve Mims, and is one of a few prospects that stood out from the event. </p>