NCISAA: Top 10 Power Rankings, First Edition

<h5>The high school basketball season is underway in the state of North Carolina. Take a look at the early top squads to keep an eye on in the 1st Edition of the NCISAA Top 10 Power Rankings.</h5> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5>10) Westminster Catawba Christian (6-3)</h5> <p>The Westminster Catawba Christian Indians have reeled off four-straight wins including two to take home the Buckets Brands title in the Charlotte Hoops Challenge this past weekend. They're a talented squad that plays together led by [player_tooltip player_id="1008902" first="MJ" last="Collins"] (Virginia Tech), unsigned senior [player_tooltip player_id="1036935" first="Richard" last="Black III"] and juniors Nyckolas Clarke, [player_tooltip player_id="1327620" first="Derek" last="Bradley"] and Jalen Booker. They're a squad that plays well when they're forcing turnovers and making plays for each other on the offensive end. Black is quite the pace-maker while producing 13.0 ppg, 6.0 apg, 5.5 rpg and 2.0 spg. Collins is a two-way presence that forces steals and knocks down tough shots on the perimeter and in the paint. Booker is the enforcer in the paint while Clarke wreaks havoc in the paint on both ends and Clarke shows off his ability to get to the rim off the bounce. Look for this squad to make a run by season's end with all the pieces they've got. They defeated Northside Christian 58-53 on Tuesday night and face Concord Academy at home on Friday.</p> <h5>9) Cannon School (3-3)</h5> <p>It's not the first time the Cannon School Cougars have gotten out the gates with a few ugly losses. Last season, after two-straight losses over Christmas Break, they went 15-1 to close out the season including a victory over Carmel Christian in the NCISAA 4A State Championship game. This season, Northside Christian, South Meck and Ardrey Kell are their early eye-openers. [player_tooltip player_id="848077" first="Karon" last="Boyd"] is a double-double product every night and is quite the versatile presence with his ability to defend the paint and perimeter. [player_tooltip player_id="577868" first="DJ" last="Nix"] has been battling a shooting slump, but he'll certainly work out of it. Don't be surprised if they reel off some wins to climb up the ranks over the next few weeks.</p> <h5>8) Forsyth Country Day School (5-0)</h5> <p>Forsyth Country Day School has quietly put together a 4-0 record with their recent victory over Salem Baptist Christian this past Tuesday. [player_tooltip player_id="1273278" first="Sterling" last="Charles Jr"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1198835" first="Brandon" last="Morgan"] have emerged as late-blooming senior prospects to keep eyes on for them with his ability to knock down shots. They've also got sophomores [player_tooltip player_id="997745" first="Iverson" last="King"] and [player_tooltip player_id="854910" first="Draven" last="Pilson"] as well as junior [player_tooltip player_id="854891" first="Enzo" last="Geremski"] that are developing into quite the prospects in their respective classes. They got a big win on Tuesday night over Charlotte Christian 64-55 to turn a few heads in the process. Morgan hit a big 3-pointer with 1:58 left in last night's game to show off what he can do as a creator off the ball. They'll look to stay unbeaten with Asheville Christian on Friday and Moravian Prep on Saturday.</p> <h5>7) Charlotte Latin School (5-0)</h5> <p>Charlotte Latin School is an impressive group with some veterans and underclassmen to keep an eye on. They're unbeaten through their first five games with [player_tooltip player_id="1336317" first="Brandon" last="Lavitt"] (Susquehanna) and [player_tooltip player_id="854915" first="Sean" last="Rose"] as two names to keep an eye on with this squad as their primary leaders. Lavitt is a strong-framed forward that plays with a ton of energy. Rose is a versatile inside-out threat that's put on some strength over the past months and continues to show his growth as a scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker. Unsigned senior Daniel Haughton and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1219884" first="Ned" last="Hull"] are two other names to keep an eye on with them. Haughton is a defender and has the ability to create his own shot. Hull is a playmaker with quite the clip as a sharpshooter as well.</p> <h5>6) Wayne Country Day School (7-1)</h5> <p>Wayne Country Day finds themselves in the Top 10 at No. 6 with just one loss under their belt through their first eight games.  2023s [player_tooltip player_id="1113673" first="Jordan" last="Cooper"] and [player_tooltip player_id="848089" first="Collin" last="Tanner"] have emerged as quite the dynamic duo in the Wayne Country Day backcourt. Cooper posted 12 points, six rebounds and five assists while Tanner finished with his third double-double of the season with 29 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Trinity Christian School. They're the junior leaders along with [player_tooltip player_id="848086" first="Nayshin" last="Waller"] while sophomores [player_tooltip player_id="1120961" first="Kayleb" last="Coles"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1338306" first="Carlos" last="Vasquez"] are a few young names to know in their rotation. Coles and Vasquez are two frontcourt prospects that can hold their own down low. Coles is snagging 7.4 rpg while Vasquez is grabbing 8.3 rpg. They're a young squad to keep an eye on in the ranks.  </p> <h5>5) Covenant Day School (5-1)</h5> <p>Covenant Day School is quite the squad led by their junior guard duo of [player_tooltip player_id="854882" first="Marcus" last="Brown"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1338309" first="Jahmir" last="Brown"] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1180893" first="DJ" last="Boyce"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1338305" first="Michael" last="Marcus Jr"]. All four players are averaging double-figures in scoring and [player_tooltip player_id="854882" first="Marcus" last="Brown"] is averaging 6.5 rpg. They've won five straight games and counting since dropping their opening game against Carmel Christian. Unsigned big man [player_tooltip player_id="1022040" first="Iffy" last="Ufochukwu"] remains a presence on the interior, producing 10.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 3.0 bpg. Sophomore big man [player_tooltip player_id="1338305" first="Michael" last="Marcus Jr"]. is an emerging name to know that can play inside and out as well. He's posting 12.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 1.2 apg in 2021-22. They'll face Carolina International on Wednesday night then Cardinal Gibbons on Friday and GRACE Christian on Saturday.</p> <h5>4) Greenfield School (5-0)</h5> <p>Greenfield School is off to an unbeaten start through their first five games with wins over Cape Fear Academy and Glenn High already. They're led by [player_tooltip player_id="848068" first="Aaron" last="Murphy"] (Queens), [player_tooltip player_id="1076333" first="Hampton" last="Evans"], [player_tooltip player_id="1277988" first="Micah" last="Sherrod"], [player_tooltip player_id="1156048" first="Kyshon" last="Atkinson"], [player_tooltip player_id="1277989" first="Matt" last="Kirby"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1145483" first="CJ" last="Alston"]. They're a deeper group than they were a year ago and so far, it's shown as they've averaging 77.2 ppg through their first five victories of 2021-22. They get after it as a group on both ends of the floor and should contend for the NCISAA 1A crown. They'll look to remain unbeaten with Living Water Christian on the schedule this Friday then Garner High on Saturday.</p> <h5>3) Carmel Christian (7-0)</h5> <p>Carmel Christian is another NCISAA squad at the 4A level looking to make their presence felt once again in 2021-22. They come in at third in the first edition of power rankings led by [player_tooltip player_id="1008879" first="Cade" last="Tyson"] (Belmont) and unsigned seniors [player_tooltip player_id="932138" first="Logan" last="Threatt"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1274301" first="Nyles" last="Howard"]. They're unbeaten through seven games with wins over a few squads in the ranks. Tyson is pouring in 25.1 ppg along with 6.1 rpg and 2.0 spg. Threatt has shown he can run the show at the point guard spot while averaging 13.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.1 apg and 2.0 apg. Howard has been the energy guy for them while producing 10.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg and 1.0 spg. They're a veteran group that should continue to remain at the top of the power rankings after making a run to last year's NCISAA 4A State Title game. They've got Rabun Gap this Saturday in a home non-conference game.</p> <h5>2) Greensboro Day School (8-0)</h5> <p>Greensboro Day School has started off the season strong with an unbeaten 8-0 record with a victory over Oak Hill Academy and South Mecklenburg High under their belt already. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="577847" first="Nikolas" last="Graves"] (Charlotte), [player_tooltip player_id="848080" first="Michael" last="Zanoni"] (Mercer), [player_tooltip player_id="577840" first="Jackson" last="Noble"] (Navy) have built quite the chemistry over the past few seasons, as have their junior duo of [player_tooltip player_id="577888" first="Jaydon" last="Young"] and [player_tooltip player_id="577876" first="Julius" last="Reese Jr"]. as they look to make a run to the NCISAA 4A State Title. CJ Collins is starting to emerge as a prospect worth getting eyes on as well. Coming up on the schedule: they'll face Caldwell Academy on Tuesday then they'll face Cannon School on Friday</p> <h5>1) The Burlington School (6-1)</h5> <p>The Burlington School kicks things off at the top spot in the first edition of NCISAA Top 10 Power Rankings. They do have a loss under their belt, but it came against Southern California Academy in the Holiday Hoopsgiving Tournament in Atlanta, Georgia. [player_tooltip player_id="577871" first="Avion" last="Pinner"] is playing strong as a presence on both ends of the floor while the trio of [player_tooltip player_id="577836" first="Kheni" last="Briggs"] (Charleston Southern), [player_tooltip player_id="854890" first="Kobe" last="George"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1098355" first="Zion" last="Walker"] are each doing their part to get their squad back to the NCISAA 2A State title game. [player_tooltip player_id="1226595" first="Shane" last="Peterson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1217074" first="Michael" last="Nwoko"] are two other prospects to keep an eye on as well. This week they'll face Mount Zion Christian (12/3) then Concord Academy (12/4) at the Tyler Lewis Hoop Fest @ Forsyth Country Day School.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5><strong>Teams to Keep an Eye On:</strong></h5> <p><em><strong>United Faith Christian Academy (5-2)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Christ School (3-2)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Burlington Christian Academy (4-0)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Gaston Day (4-1)</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Charlotte Country Day School (4-2)</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>