The WingMan Report: NCISAA Playoff Primer
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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. 1A Don’t sleep on Cape Fear…
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Continue ReadingThe 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.
1A
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 Zeke Brock Zeke Brock 5'10" | SG Cape Fear Christian Academy | 2024 State NC . 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 Alex Bates Alex Bates 6'5" | SG United Faith Christian Academy | 2023 State NC , unsigned senior Lance Gill Lance Gill 6'3" | CG United Faith Christian Academy | 2023 State NC and junior Evan Morton Evan Morton 6'2" | CG Moravian Prep | 2024 State NC .
2A
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 Jordan Cooper Jordan Cooper 6'1" | CG Wayne Country Day | 2023 State NC and Nayshin Waller Nayshin Waller 6'3" | CG Wayne Country Day | 2023 State NC are names to know as is junior wing Carlos Vazquez Carlos Vazquez 6'5" | SF Wayne Country Day | 2024 State NC 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.
3A
Concord Academy is the top team in the NCISAA 3A Playoff Bracket with a 29-6 record and Avion Pinner Avion Pinner 6'9" | PF Concord Academy | 2023 State NC , JJ Moore JJ Moore 5'9" | PG Quality Education | 2024 NC , Isaiah Tate Isaiah Tate 6'0" | PG Concord Academy | 2023 State NC , Noah Van Bibber Noah Van Bibber 6'4" | SG Concord Academy | 2023 State NC and Peter Asceric Peter Asceric 6'10" | C Concord Academy | 2023 State NC 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 Derin Saran Derin Saran 6'4" | PG Asheville School | 2023 State NC and junior forward Ryan Soulis Ryan Soulis 6'10" | C Asheville School | 2024 NC 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 Jaydon Young Jaydon Young 6'4" | CG Greensboro Day | 2023 State #206 Nation NC and Greensboro Day School loom at No. 2 with a bye until Saturday’s quarterfinal round.
4A
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 Bryce Cash Bryce Cash 6'5" | CG Carmel Christian | 2023 State NC and junior wing Jaeden Mustaf Jaeden Mustaf 6'4" | SG OTE | 2024 #51 Nation GA leading the charge. Rabun Gap could give them some trouble in the semifinals with UNC-Greensboro signee Domas Kauzonas Domas Kauzonas 6'10" | PF Rabun Gap | 2023 State NC on the interior. The team to beat though should be No. 2 Cannon School led by junior guard Austin Swartz Austin Swartz 6'5" | SG Cannon | 2024 State #40 Nation NC . He’s had a breakout season in the backcourt for Cannon School and has led them to a 28-6 record in 2022-23.