2024 Rankings: Breakout Watch, Pt II
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The grassroots season starts heating up over the next few weekends. Take a look at Part II of the breakout prospects to watch in the 2024 class. There’s no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment…
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Continue ReadingThe grassroots season starts heating up over the next few weekends. Take a look at Part II of the breakout prospects to watch in the 2024 class.
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Xayden Watson Xayden Watson 5’11” | PG Trinity Christian | 2024 State NC is a strong, lead guard to keep an eye on at Pine Forest High. He’s really improved on his strength/frame and it’s really improved his play on both ends of the floor. He’s a lot more athletic and able to defend the court the full 94 feet to turn turnovers into easy points. He was a key face in the backcourt as a junior, producing 12.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.6 apg and 3.4 spg in 2022-23. He isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty on defense and does well to run the show and control the pace at the floor general spot. He’s an emerging name to keep an eye on with Team Pressure out of the 910 area.
Makel Smith Makel Smith 6’1″ | CG Morehead | 2024 State NC is quite the prolific scoring guard to keep an eye on out of Morehead High. He had himself a very point-filled junior campaign as he led the state in scoring with 34.8 ppg to go along with 6.9 rpg, 2.9 apg and 2.2 spg on 45 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent from 3-point land. He’s a wiry guard that knows how to get to his spots on the floor and make things happen in space. He also does well on the rebounding and playmaking front as well. He’ll be a name to keep an eye on this grassroots cycle with PSB Elite ‘s 17U squad out of the 704 area.
Highlights
Trey Maxwell Trey Maxwell 6’4″ | SG North Mecklenburg | 2024 State NC is a prospect due to soar up the ranks as his role should grow in the North Mecklenburg High backcourt in 2023-24. He’s an electric perimeter threat already that can get hot in a hurry and show off his ability to knock down shots on the perimeter. He’s the son of former Houston Rockets legend Vernon Maxwell and has some of his pedigree as a slasher and scorer with the ball in his hands. He’ll be a name to keep an eye on with B-Maze Elite on the UAA Circuit this season.
John Campbell John Campbell 6’4″ | CG Bishop Mcguinness | 2024 State NC is an underrated name to get to know in the Greensboro area given his size and ability at the guard spot at 6-foot-4. He was a feature name in the Bishop McGuinness backcourt with his ability to make things happen as a cutter in the offense and presence on the glass. He does well to use his energy in a variety of ways to make things happen on the floor. He’ll be a potential name with growth on the recruiting scene with the NC Spartans .
Highlights
Jaylen Sturdivant Jaylen Sturdivant 6’4″ | CG Hoke | 2024 State NC is certainly ranked too low by our own admission, but he’s due to have a busy summer on the recruiting scene as an emerging combo guard prospect out of Hoke High. He’s another 2024 prospect who’s improved his body tremendously since last viewing. He made a clean sweep of the awards at this year’s Fab40 ENC Showcase, taking home the championship, MVP and 3-Point Contest awards when it was all said and done. He’s a prospect that can knock down shots with range off the bounce and make things happen off the bounce in the open floor. He’ll be a name to keep an eye on with Sandhills Machine AAU program so long he keeps showing off his improvement on both ends of the floor.
Highlights
Leon Tye Cain III Leon Tye Cain III 5’10” | PG Green Level | 2024 State NC is a name to get to know out of Green Level High in the 919 area at the point guard spot. He got some experience at the point guard spot with the Gators as they made some noise in the Southwest Athletic Conference in the NCHSAA 4A ranks in 2022-23, producing 11.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.1 apg and 2.0 spg while shooting 36 percent (24-for-66) from 3-point land in his junior campaign. He’s a new face that’s worked his way onto the rankings given his prowess on the perimeter as a shotmaker and playmaker. He’ll be a feature name to watch with Strong Center this grassroots season.