The WingMan Report: Checkin the Pulse in the 3A Ranks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While a lot has been said about Northwood High in the 3A East, there's still some competition when it comes to teams to keep an eye on heading into conference play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Central Cabarrus (15-0)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It wouldn't shock me to see Central Cabarrus High in the state finals this season. They've dominated every opponent put in front of them so far in 2022-23. [player_tooltip player_id='1218085' first='Jaiden' last='Thompson'] leads the way for them with 19.3 ppg while the prospect flying under the radar has been 6-foot-5 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1743939' first='Desmond' last='Kent Jr']. He's an athletic forward that's posting 12.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 2.1 bpg in his junior season and proven to be an even bigger spark in their rotation this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Hickory High (13-1)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hickory High is riding a nine-game winning streak and is currently 4-0 in conference action following an 81-36 victory over West Iredell. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1743967' first='Jay' last='Powell'] (12.8 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1743968' first='Jamien' last='Little'] (12.4 ppg) and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1743964' first='John' last='Holbrook'] have been a force to be reckoned with out West in 3A action. They're a sizeable group of prospects to keep eyes on with Powell at 6-foot-3, Little at 6-foot-2 and Holbrook at 6-foot-8. They're a trio to get eyes on in the state of North Carolina.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Westover High (10-3)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westover High out of Fayetteville is a squad to keep an eye on as they're off to a 4-1 start in conference action. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1076361' first='Ari' last='Fulton'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1743971' first='Malechi' last='Allen']</strong> have the Wolverines playing at a high level so far at the midway point of the season. Fulton is posting 15.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg and 1.7 spg. He's starting to become a force on the hardwood and as he looks to do so defensively, look for his stock to grow. Allen has emerged from under the radar this season as he produces 10.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 1.5 apg through the first half of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Franklinton Rams (13-2)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Franklinton High is coming off a strong conference victory over Southern Nash this past Tuesday. Their senior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1722116' first='Mikel' last='Alston'] and Parrish Rushing have been a tough inside-out combination to stop so far in 2022-23. Alston leads the teams with 18.3 ppg while Rushing has been the man on the boards, averaging 7.9 rpg to go along with 10.4 ppg. They're a squad to keep eyes on at 13-2 so far and 3-1 in conference action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->