The WingMan Report: NCISAA Playoff Primer

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The NCISAA State Playoffs get started on Tuesday as the Wingman Report gives a brief look at what to expect this week and beyond in the first of many previews of the 2023 playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>1A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don't sleep on Cape Fear Christian Academy. They'll be on the road at Lawrence Academy on Thursday night but they could very well find themselves in the quarterfinals against Northside Christian Academy with an upset. They're led by one of the top scorers in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='854881' first='Zeke' last='Brock']. United Faith Christian Academy is the team to beat at the No. 1 seed so it wouldn't be a total surprise to find them in the finals. They're led by Fordham commit [player_tooltip player_id='1204932' first='Alex' last='Bates'], unsigned senior [player_tooltip player_id='1315501' first='Lance' last='Gill'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1241705' first='Evan' last='Morton'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Burlington School took home the top seed in the NCISAA 2A Playoff Bracket but No. 2 seed Wayne Country Day School lurks on the other side and they've been playing good basketball lately. They've won seven games in a row including two wins over No. 3 seed Greenfield School heading into the postseason. Unsigned seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1113673' first='Jordan' last='Cooper'] and [player_tooltip player_id='848086' first='Nayshin' last='Waller'] are names to know as is junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1338306' first='Carlos' last='Vazquez'] with their group. No. 5 seed Gaston Day School is in prime position to make a deep run, right in the middle of the bracket with a bye until the third round on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>3A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Concord Academy is the top team in the NCISAA 3A Playoff Bracket with a 29-6 record and [player_tooltip player_id='577871' first='Avion' last='Pinner'], [player_tooltip player_id='1008884' first='JJ' last='Moore'], [player_tooltip player_id='947095' first='Isaiah' last='Tate'], [player_tooltip player_id='956789' first='Noah' last='Van Bibber'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1641137' first='Peter' last='Asceric'] in tow. The road won't be easy for them with a potential matchup against No. 4 seed Asheville School looming in the semifinals. Unsigned senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1220895' first='Derin' last='Saran'] and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1426738' first='Ryan' last='Soulis'] have been playing well heading into the postseason. No. 3 seed Gaston Christian School has the potential to make a deep run, they've been a pleasant surprise in the NCISAA ranks. Virginia Tech commit [player_tooltip player_id='577888' first='Jaydon' last='Young'] and Greensboro Day School loom at No. 2 with a bye until Saturday's quarterfinal round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>4A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carmel Christian won the NCISAA 4A Playoffs in 2021-22 and they return as the top seed in this year's playoffs with unsigned senior [player_tooltip player_id='854884' first='Bryce' last='Cash'] and junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1127312' first='Jaeden' last='Mustaf'] leading the charge. Rabun Gap could give them some trouble in the semifinals with UNC-Greensboro signee [player_tooltip player_id='1792265' first='Domas' last='Kauzonas'] on the interior. The team to beat though should be No. 2 Cannon School led by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1030010' first='Austin' last='Swartz']. He's had a breakout season in the backcourt for Cannon School and has led them to a 28-6 record in 2022-23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->