The Wingman Report: NCHSAA 3A West Teams to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The NCHSAA 3A West has some talented teams and prospects to keep an eye on in 2022-23. Take a look at some teams to keep an eye on in the NCHSAA 3A West as the final week of the regular season approaches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Central Cabarrus Vikings (22-0)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central Cabarrus High fell short in last year's state playoffs but they're back and unbeaten once again at 22-0 and 12-0 in the South Piedmont Conference led by Catawba commit [player_tooltip player_id='1154633' first='Chase' last='Daniel'] and unsigned senior [player_tooltip player_id='1218085' first='Jaiden' last='Thompson']. Thompson leads the backcourt attack with 19.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.3 spg and 4.0 apg while Daniel is producing 14.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.5 apg and 3.7 spg on arguably the top defensive team in 3A. They're allowing just 50.4 ppg while posting 87.7 ppg as a team. They're a deep group with an underclassman to keep an eye on in [player_tooltip player_id='1743939' first='Desmond' last='Kent Jr']. He's a junior wing that gets after it around the rim, averaging 12.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.1 bpg and 1.0 spg. Lees-McRae signee <strong>Gavin Bullock</strong> has come on strong as well with 11.8 ppg, 2.9 apg and 2.8 rpg on the wing. They close out the regular season at Carson High (2/7) and Northwest Cabarrus (2/10). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Hickory Red Tornadoes (21-1)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hickory High sits atop the Western Foothills Conference at 12-0 led by a young nucleus of junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1743964' first='John' last='Holbrook'] and sophomore guards [player_tooltip player_id='1743968' first='Jamien' last='Little'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1743967' first='Jay' last='Powell'] on the wing. Holbrook has held his own on the interior with 14.2 ppg while Little is producing 14.0 ppg and Powell is posting 12.9 ppg. They've proven to be a tough opponent as they've won 17 games and counting heading into the final week. They've got Foard High (2/7) and Statesville High (2/10) to close out the regular season slate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Southern Guilford Storm (18-4)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southern Guilford is the current leader in the Mid-State Conference at 11-1 and 18-4 on the season. They've got just one loss in conference play to Ben L. Smith heading into a pivotal Tuesday game with Dudley High and High Point Central on Friday night. Jucquarie Love and [player_tooltip player_id='1273255' first='Jamias' last='Ferere'] has been a strong 1-2 combination on the wing and in the backcourt for this squad. They've been virtually unstoppable in leading this squad and can potentially lead them on a deep run in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>South Point Red Raiders (19-3)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Point High has won 7 games in a row and counting heading into the final week of the regular season. They're coming off a big 61-47 victory over Kings Mountain to take over first place in the Big South Conference. Junior guard <strong>Greyson Kines </strong>has led the way for them in the backcourt with 14.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.4 spg and 2.0 apg. Right behind him is senior guard Sean Gore with 9.1 ppg, 5.4 apg, 3.5 spg and 3.1 rpg. 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2844929' first='Dylan' last='Bradley'] </strong>has been a name to emerge in the paint as well, averaging 6.7 ppg and 3.4 rpg in his debut on the varsity scene.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Freedom Patriots (17-4)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freedom High is a team to watch as they've regularly made a run in the state playoffs across the past few seasons. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1378411' first='Amore' last='Connelly'] has his squad playing well in 2022-23 as they're currently 7-1 in the Northwestern Conference. They've won four games in a row and counting heading into the final week of the regular season. They've got Watauga (2/7) and Alexander Central (2/10) left on the slate to finish out the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->