NCHSAA 2A: The Contender Series, 2nd Edition

<h5>With the second half of the high school basketball season set to kick off this week, here’s a look at the 2nd edition of The Contender Series for the NCHSAA 2A level.</h5> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5>Farmville Central High (9-2)</h5> <p>Farmville Central High has won the last three 2A state crowns so it would be crazy to leave them out of The Contender Series. They’re off to a 3-0 start with [player_tooltip player_id="854917" first="Jah" last="Short"] (20.0 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="854911" first="Jayden" last="Pitt"] (12.3 ppg) leading the attack. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="577839" first="Derrick" last="Cox"] (11.7 ppg) is another contributor to keep eyes on in the rotation. 2024 prospect [player_tooltip player_id="1076368" first="Alex" last="Moye"] is finding his stride as well in the paint. They’re their usual defensive-minded bunch that likes to get out and wreak havoc on the defensive side of the ball. </p> <h5>Hendersonville High (13-1)</h5> <p>Hendersonville High is a one-loss squad with room to prove themselves as a 2A contender. They’ve won five games in a row since falling by a point to R-S Central back on Dec. 17. 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="945080" first="Dwight" last="Canady"] and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="951365" first="Keenan" last="Wilkins"] are proving to be a solid backcourt duo once again as Canady is posting 26.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 3.6 apg while Wilkins is averaging 24.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 4.0 apg. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id="1360306" first="Malachi" last="Simpson"] is coming along as well in the wing and frontcourt, putting up 10.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1360308" first="CJ" last="Landrum"] is averaging 7.1 ppg and 8.6 rpg as well as a presence on the interior. They’re a young but unselfish bunch with a winning mentality that should be a contender to win the 2A crown when the playoffs arrive.</p> <h5>Robinson High (10-2)</h5> <p>Robinson High has won five straight games since losing by three points to Mallard Creek back on Dec. 7 and they’re off to a 2-0 start in conference play. 2023 prospect [player_tooltip player_id="1360301" first="Daevin" last="Hobbs"] leads the way for them while 2022 guard Jaylan Jackson, and 2023s Jermaine Gray and Zi’Kei Wheeler are three other names to know. Hobbs is a well-known football recruit with some talent on the hardwood as a presence in the paint and attacking the basket. Jackson is a 6-foot-1 floor general averaging 12.8 ppg and Wheeler is a 6-foot-2 guard producing 12.3 ppg while Gray is a 6-foot presence putting up 12.7 ppg. They know how to share the ball and defend and as they have, their profile continues to rise at the 2A level.</p> <h5>R-S Central High (12-2)</h5> <p>R-S Central is off to a 2-0 start in conference action following a 78-34 victory over on the road against Polk County on Tuesday night. Unsigned 6-foot-3 senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1342386" first="Tyrese" last="Miller"] continues to play strong with 18.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 2.0 apg while freshman sensation [player_tooltip player_id="1164550" first="Zymicah" last="Wilkins"] is posting 16.6 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 1.8 bpg right behind him. Unsigned senior guard <strong>Braxton Crocker </strong>is also putting up 13.6 ppg, 3.3 apg and 3.3 rpg in their backcourt. They’re quite the squad this season and already have a win over Hendersonville under the belt. There’s some potential with this group down the road if they can peak at the right time.</p> <h5>Lincoln Charter High (9-4)</h5> <p>The Lincoln Charter Eagles have won two games and counting since losing their fourth game of the season back on Dec. 28 to Richmond County Senior High. Their other three losses (Moravian Prep, Concord Academy and Providence Day) should prepare them for conference action that’s approaching. Unsigned senior Marcus Farley (12.4 ppg) and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1008884" first="JJ" last="Moore"] (18.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) are a few names to keep an eye on while junior Xavier Crawford is another prospect climbing up the radar. Four players in their rotation are averaging double-figures in scoring and three are snagging at least 3.0 rpg. They’re a balanced group that’s learning how to win together. </p>