N.C. Stock Risers Ready For A Standout Summer
In this article:
With a couple of months under our belt since the end of the North Carolina high school basketball season, now is the perfect time to preview who and what is in store for the 2023-2024 season. Let’s take a look…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWith a couple of months under our belt since the end of the North Carolina high school basketball season, now is the perfect time to preview who and what is in store for the 2023-2024 season. Let’s take a look at a few N.C. stock risers who are ready to elevate their game this summer.
Owen Pedersen Owen Pedersen 6’4″ | SG Enloe | 2024 State NC , known as “Big O” within the Enloe huddle, is one of the most underrated bigs I’ve seen all season. What stands out the second you see Pedersen take the floor is his dog mentality. The kid gets after it. And this is something you can expect him to channel into his summer workouts. At 6’4″, 190 lbs, he uses his frame to his advantage in almost every facet of his game. Combine that with a quick first step, and that’s the kind of aggressive style of play you’ll see. Attacks the basket with purpose. Uses his body to draw contact while staying poised off the jump. Gets to the line routinely and has shown he can knock down big-time free throws in the clutch. He’s a warrior on the defensive side of the ball. Real vocal in the half-court on and off ball screens. One of the best communicators I’ve seen all season. Big O has shown that he knows how to lead this Enloe squad and expect him to take that responsibility to heart in his last year playing under head coach Emanuel Chapman.
Highlights
Staying with Enloe for a second, another guy who you can expect to take a big leap from year 3 to year 4 is Gift Moses Gift Moses 6’6″ | SF Enloe | 2024 State NC . Gift is coming off a junior season that saw an increase in just about every statistic of his game. At 6’6″, he has a strong presence under the basket and is one of the most fierce rebounders in the CAP 6 conference. His ability to grab defensive boards and turn them into easy buckets off the break is what really sets his game apart. With the team’s two leading scorers Fisayo Adebimpe Fisayo Adebimpe 6’2″ | PG Enloe | 2023 State NC and Ethan Montague Ethan Montague 6’4″ | CG Enloe | 2023 State NC leaving the program, expect Gift to look to the basket even more in his senior season. Has the ability to make big-time finishes at the rim on a consistent basis. Shoots well from mid-range. Unselfish with the ball. Expecting him to take time and work to fill out his body in the gym this summer. If 2022-2023 was any indication of the trajectory Gift Moses Gift Moses 6’6″ | SF Enloe | 2024 State NC is on, expect 2023-2024 to be all Gift, all day.
Coming off a heartbreak 52-50 semifinal loss to the Christ School in the NCISAA state playoffs, expect Alex Olander Alex Olander 6’4″ | SF Millbrook | 2024 State NC and Ravenscroft to be right back in the mix of things next season. Olander proved he is one the most versatile guys in the class of 2024 with a stellar junior year. He is one of the most athletic players in transition I’ve seen. He finds little cracks in the basket and explodes to the rim without hesitation. He has shown the capability to knock down big-time shots from behind the arc. On defense, he can use his frame to match up with and lock down 1-5. Great defensive rebounder. Fights through screens with toughness. With senior scoring leaders Dakota Gordon Dakota Gordon 6’1″ | CG Ravenscroft | 2023 State NC and Harrison Poole Harrison Poole 6’5″ | SG Ravenscroft | 2023 State NC leaving the program, expect Olander to take on more of a scoring role next season. Really excited to see what this guy can do running it back one more time with head coach Kevin Billerman and an always-disciplined Ravenscroft team.
Jackson Rein Jackson Rein 6'6" | SF Ravenscroft | 2024 State NC
Jackson Rein Jackson Rein 6'6" | SF Ravenscroft | 2024 State NC
Jackson Rein Jackson Rein 6’6″ | SF Ravenscroft | 2024 State NC had a breakout junior year with Ravenscroft this past season. Starting at the 5 for the Ravens, Rein proved himself on the boards and behind the arc averaging 12.5 rebounds and shooting 44.4% from three. The 2022-2023 season saw Rein evolve as a legit scoring threat. He can attack the glass, pull up from mid-range, and can take it a couple of steps back and knock down the deep ball when called upon. With much of the Raven’s offensive firepower out the door, expect Rein to take deep ball responsibilities and shoot an even higher percentage. Rein is a tough, seasoned player with a lot of varsity experience. As the go-to bucket-getter for this new-look Ravenscroft roster, expect Rein to have an instant impact on the offensive end of the floor all season.
Jordan Durham Jordan Durham 6’3″ | CG The Burlington School | 2024 State NC is the type of guy who gets after it every possession. On the offensive end of the floor, he can really shoot it from three. Does not hesitate to pull up from anywhere within his range. Plays great off ball screens. Makes highly contested, big-time shots when it matters most. Really strong kid. Fearless when in pursuit of the rim. Gets to the line a ton and is consistent. Excellent in a pick and roll. On defense, his size allows him to guard 1-4. Has an active presence in the passing lane. Gets a ton of steals that account for easy fast break buckets. Aggressive rebounder for a guard. With a highly anticipated junior year that eventually came up short in the playoffs, expect Durham to get this Burlington School squad right back in the thick of it