Panther Classic: Top Performers

<p>Prep Hoops made it down to Carolina Forest HS for the last 3 games of the day yesterday. The annual featured 8 teams between the Carolinas in attendance. Let’s dive into the action right here on your source for basketball coverage in the Palmetto State. </p> <p><em><strong>Best Performance Today </strong></em></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/3E861E59-082D-4563-9C23-33BBD8E10DA2.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1352721" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/3E861E59-082D-4563-9C23-33BBD8E10DA2-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1240916" first="Thomas" last="McIntosh"] - High Point Christian Academy (High Point, NC) </strong></p> <p>McIntosh was great for the Cougars inside the paint tonight scoring 32 points. The Cougars defeated the host Carolina Forest to win the Panther Classic. Thomas a left-handed forward can step-outside and knockdown shots or finish over his shoulder down low with his soft touch. McIntosh is quite crafty scoring the ball and really took high percentage shots all night long to be effective in the win. Yes, McIntosh is an UNSIGNED SENIOR </p> <p><em><strong>SHOOTERS Were Out Tonight in Carolina Forest</strong></em></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/325287C2-F187-4BAB-996D-21494121A5A5.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1352718" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/325287C2-F187-4BAB-996D-21494121A5A5-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>Savion Metters</strong> (2022) and <strong>Carson Pope </strong>(2023) both made 6 three pointers tonight for the West Brunswick (Shallotte, NC) Trojans in its win over Porter Gaud 75-63. Metters finished with 18 points while Pope dropped 22 points. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/51564C09-0923-47F7-BEA3-CB9D8582740A.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1352703" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/51564C09-0923-47F7-BEA3-CB9D8582740A-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1107732" first="Reid" last="Warden"]</strong> (2023) was able to spot-up on the wing and knockdown shots this evening. Warden an off guard at Oceanside Collegiate is one of 4 junior starters in the line-up for Head Coach Quinton Hollis. Warden finished with 11 points in the win today after connecting on (3) three-pointers. </p> <p><em><strong>UNSIGNED SENIORS </strong></em></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/316B2C75-C0B2-4E0F-A102-4157409E6F9B.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1352709" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/316B2C75-C0B2-4E0F-A102-4157409E6F9B-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="930615" first="Mikah" last="Nelson"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="930633" first="Jonah" last="Nesmith"] </strong>did the best they could to keep the Carolina Forest HS Panthers in the game. Nelson started the game off scoring 14 of the first 16 points for the Panthers. Mikah finished the night with 28 points while connecting on 5 three pointers. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/8E05716C-808F-4E48-8425-CDD881638CB3.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1352699" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/8E05716C-808F-4E48-8425-CDD881638CB3-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Nesmith was able to make shots on the perimeter when he wasn’t looking to stalk the baseline for a dunk. Jonah finished the game with 19 points. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/71E78CEB-F0B7-494A-A736-1658CD1D7CB7.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1352712" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/71E78CEB-F0B7-494A-A736-1658CD1D7CB7-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="930619" first="EJ" last="Huffman"]</strong> just brings a lunch pail to work every night he plays. Huffman a forward for the Conway HS Tigers finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds in a loss to Oceanside Collegiate. EJ just brings a no-nonsense blue-collar attitude to the floor for the Tigers. He plays the game on contact and just brings a solid work ethic to the gym every night. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/9F53A884-3A9B-4C2F-9BB2-14FBA1D9DE37.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1352716" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/9F53A884-3A9B-4C2F-9BB2-14FBA1D9DE37-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1149790" first="Miles" last="Stickney"]</strong> is similar to Huffman at times. Miles plays makes winning plays on just complete effort for the Oceanside Collegiate Landsharks. Miles uses a nice drop-step move along with a soft jump-hook to finish down low. Stickney had 11 points according to my unofficial scoring in the Landsharks win tonight. </p> <p><em><strong>2023 Duos </strong></em></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1107731" first="Malachi" last="Stevens"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1107730" first="Makhi" last="Rivers"] - Oceanside Collegiate (Mount Pleasant)</strong></p> <p>Stevens an All-Tourney selection finished with 14 points tonight. Malachi a rangy forward was active all night long with his play for the Landsharks manufacturing points on both ends of the floor. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/DAED0823-8069-4266-B8B4-7C2B857C574E.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1352701" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/DAED0823-8069-4266-B8B4-7C2B857C574E-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Rivers a point guard was able to set the table for his teammates and handed out a handful of assists out. Makhi was able to penetrate-kick and get into the lane and gaps today for the Landsharks. Rivers looked to be under-control all game long today from out top. </p> <p>The Landsharks could look to make some noise in Class 3A in the Lower State this coming season. </p> <p><em><strong>Freshman Standout</strong></em></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/5AB7E4C4-B3B4-4656-93FE-735BA9C2000D.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1352711" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/12/5AB7E4C4-B3B4-4656-93FE-735BA9C2000D-300x225.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1051824" first="Robert" last="Moore"]</strong> did his best to keep his Porter Gaud Cyclones in the game. Moore was able to score the ball all game long from all 3-levels on the floor. Moore finished with 32 points in a loss to West Brunswick HS. Robert looks to be the future of Cyclones basketball and a name to see up somewhere near the top in the 2025 Palmetto State Class. Stay tune for the that down the road. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>