NCISAA: 2023-2024 Dark Horse Watchlist

There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment on your first billing cycle with offer code: JESSEGORDON30. Sign up TODAY!    The NCISAA is home to some of the most prominent prospects and programs in North Carolina. The 2022-2023 season ended with four teams crowned as their class state champion. That was in March. And if you know anything about the NCISAA, you know you've got to have a short memory. The 2023-2024 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive yet. Let's meet four programs, one from each class, that are dark horses to take the title.   Ridgecroft School: 1A   The Ridgecroft School, located in Ahoksie, N.C., had a program-best year in 2022-2023. The Rams finished the regular season with a compelling 10-0 conference and 22-1 overall record, a first-round bye, and #5 overall seed in the NCISAA-1A state playoffs. They kept their momentum alive in the second round, cruising past Terra Ceia Christian in a convincing 85-55 team win. Despite the largest victory in program history, The Ram's season took a crossroads in their matchup against the 4-seeded Crossroads Christian. The Colts came out hot and established an early lead before Ridgecroft had time to counter. The Ram's season ended with an 83-57 loss.   While an early exit in the state playoffs was not on the agenda for this program, the Ridgecroft School had one of its most promising seasons yet. And that had a lot to do with class of 2024 combo guard Sawyer Chamblee. At 6'2", Chamblee is a gifted scorer who can take over games on his own terms. He's long and athletic and uses these gifts to enhance his ability to score. He's crafty in the lane, a knock-down shooter from every range imaginable, and is a nuisance to guard off the ball. Chamblee's junior season averages were impressive with 16.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 1.3 spg. Despite priding himself as a go-to bucket-getter, Chamblee is versatile and can fill in different roles when his number is called. He's an underrated rebounder, committed defender, and vocal leader. Chamblee is a guy who has not yet crept his way into the class of 2024 official rankings, but that is bound to change. Expect Chamblee to have a standout senior year and get himself and his team back to the top in 2023-2024.   Trinity Academy: 2A   Trinity Academy in Raleigh, N.C., is one of the most acclaimed basketball programs in the region. The longevity of success this program has had sets them apart. And last season was no exception. The Tigers earned their way into the NCISAA-2A state playoffs as the #5 overall seed, finishing the regular season with a record of 22-5. Trinity began playoff competition with a commanding 75-54 win over Burlington Christian Academy in the third round. The Tiger's dream of keeping their postseason alive was squashed with a 72-55 defeat to Gaston Day School.   With an embarrassingly uncompetitive loss that ended what was previously seen as a successful season, Trinity Academy will be back in business in 2023-2024. There are a couple of key guys on this roster that will make this happen. One of them is 6'9" power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1343866' first='Clash' last='Peters']. While Peters' game has earned the recognition of a couple of middle-tier programs, the offers will continue to roll. Peters is a force to be reckoned with in the high post and the block. His mere height and size alone give him a serious advantage over defenders. Peters has exceptional footwork underneath the rim, is patient with the ball, and takes high-quality shots. He's mastered the low post with pure strength and grit at the forefront of his craft. He's the type of big who maximizes every possession. He's an underrated shooter who has proved that he can knock down clutch shots away from the basket. Peters provides a disruptive defensive presence that can be game-changing. He does a solid job of staying disciplined to avoid giving out fouls. He's a tough, stand-up kind of defender who battles on the boards each time a shot goes up. With a Trinity Academy team with high expectations next season, expect [player_tooltip player_id='1343866' first='Clash' last='Peters'] to be that dude for the Tigers in 2023-2024.   Asheville School: 3A   There are two dominant programs in Asheville, Christ School, and Asheville School. These two teams battle twice a year, every year, in the most anticipated high school hoops matchup in the Smoky Mountains. A win over the Greenies in 2022-2023 single hand-idly made this season a success for the Blues. Putting aside the well-deserved defeat of those other guys a couple of miles down the road, the Blues had quite an impressive year. The Asheville School finished the regular season with a record of 19-6 and earned a double-bye as the #4 overall seed in the NCISSA-3A state playoffs. The Blues edged past Calvary Day School in a thrilling 73-69 win in the third round. A win against Calvary meant traveling to Concord to take on the #1-seeded Concord Academy Eagles. To their credit, the Blues played them tight. A lot tighter than many expected. At the end of the day, the offensive firepower of Concord Academy sparked a late-game run that put them over the top. The Asheville School fell 74-64 in their toughest matchup of the season.   A 10-point loss to a 30-win team in the state semifinals isn't a bad way to go out. And you can bet the Asheville School Blues will carry the momentum of last season into 2023-2024 with class of 2024 stretch-forward [player_tooltip player_id='1426738' first='Ryan' last='Soulis'] leading the charge. Soulis is one of the most talented stretch-four prospects in the state. He's a presence that can not be missed on both ends of the floor. He plays a physical brand of basketball that is elevated by his height and strength in the paint. He's a consistent mid-range shooter which adds a level of versatility to his game that is too much to handle for defenders. He's a strong finisher at the rim. Great footwork down low. Uses his body well to get to the basket. The Asheville School is looking to win a state championship in 2023-2024, and for them to do that, [player_tooltip player_id='1426738' first='Ryan' last='Soulis'] has got to be their go-to guy on both ends of the floor.   Ravenscroft School: 4A   As long as long-time icon head coach Kevin Billerman's seat is first on the bench at Ravenscroft, the Ravens will be serious title contenders. Despite an end-of-year slump that pushed the Ravens to the #6 overall seed in the NCISAA-4A state playoffs, this team showed resilience, grit, and fought their way into the semifinals. Ravenscroft handled in-conference rival Durham Academy in the second round and came up on top in a surprise win over the #3-seeded Cannon School in the third. The Ravens traveled to Asheville to take on the #2-seeded Christ School Greenies in the semifinals in arguably the most competitive games in all of North Carolina's high school hoops. A couple of unquestionable calls and the Greenies' home-court advantage gave them the edge. Ravenscroft fell 52-50 in Asheville. The Christ School won the state championship a few days later.   If you know anything about head coach Kevin Billerman and the Ravenscroft program, you know they have already set their sights on getting back to where they were in 2023-2024. While next season's roster will not be as talented and deep, coach Billerman will find the right schemes and the right guys to get this team where it needs to be. Thankfully for the Ravens, class of 2024 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1030027' first='Alex' last='Olander'] will be back for his senior year. And that's huge. One of the most gifted on-ball defenders I've seen all year. At 6'4”, 215 lbs, his presence on the defensive end is what sets him apart. He's got strength, he's got speed, and he can channel these pieces of his game into orchestrating big-time plays on both ends of the floor. Can lock down 1-5 while staying out of foul trouble. Strong offensive rebounder that accounts for a ton of second-chance buckets. Grabs defensive boards with a purpose, and can get out in transition and to the rim. Takes pride in taking charge's and diving for loose balls. He's the type of overall competitor you want leading your ball club. Expect [player_tooltip player_id='1030027' first='Alex' last='Olander'] and Ravenscroft to be right back in the mix in 2023-2024.

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