Raleigh Christian Academy/1 of 1 Academy Recap/Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Raleigh Christian Academy hosted 1 of 1 Academy in an afternoon Saturday matchup of some talented 2024 and 2025 prospects in the state. Here's a look at the game recap and standouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Raleigh Christian Academy Eagles jumped out to a quick lead in the early going, 11-6, with 3 minutes left in the first quarter. 2026 point guard <strong>Jalen Sheppard</strong> showed of his ability to be effective on both ends, forcing steals and getting to the free throw line as it looked like the Eagles would run away with things. RCA led 1 of 1 Prep 22-12 after 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the second quarter, the Eagles offense would sputter as 1 of 1 Prep would claw back into the game. 11 points from 2024 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1760747' first='Sebastian' last='Akins'] led the charge as by halftime, things were all tied up 30-30. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the second half, things picked up a lot more for both sides. While 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1361269' first='LJ' last='Rush'] would find his stroke with two 3-pointers, 2023 wing [player_tooltip player_id='854913' first='Jakel' last='Powell'] heated up as well with three made 3-pointers and 11 points in the quarter. After 3, 1of 1 Prep led 55-53.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the final quarter, 1 of 1 Prep had all of the momentum and it showed as their defense forced turnovers and offense got hot. Akins would get hot once again, pouring in layups and getting to the free throw line as he showed his ability to get to the paint and make things happen in traffic. He finished with a game-high 26 points as 1 of 1 Prep would take home the 80-69 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1760747"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Akins was impressive as a presence on both ends of the floor for 1 of 1 Prep. He showed could control the tempo and get his teammates involved as he finished with 26 points, five rebounds and four assists. He's a 2024 name to get to know with this squad given his ability to attack the paint and finish in traffic.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1361269"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Rush showed off his ability to play the opposite guard spot and was masterful with his defense and ability to finish at the rim. He finished with 10 points and showed he could distribute in the clutch when things got close. He's one of a few 2025 names to keep an eye on with this group.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1226599"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Smith showed off his ability to operate on the interior, especially in the second half with some strong finishes. He even stepped out and knocked down a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter to show his range. As he improves his ability to finish around the rim, look for Smith's name to grow in NC's 2025 class. He also finished with 10 points.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["854913"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Powell paced the offensive attack for RCA with 19 points, knocking down four 3-pointers. He was aggressive in the third quarter but he ran out of gas a bit in the fourth quarter as things got away from them. As he improves his strength/toughness, look for his recruitment to grow.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":1761206,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Jalen Sheppard","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Raleigh Christian Academy","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Sheppard was impressive on both ends of the floor for RCA despite the result. He handled the offense well when it was in his hands and led the way in the first quarter with a big 13 points. He finished with 16 points, including a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. He's an athletic floor general that's slowly finding his way in NC's 2026 class.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1225664"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":1761244,"_player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Copeland showed flashes of his ability to finish around the rim in spurts for RCA. He's finding his confidence around the rim as a strong finisher and even knocked down their first 3-pointer of the game to finish with 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks. He's another 2025 name to keep an eye with RCA given his athleticism, length and rebounding ability.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63ce127dd8326"} /-->