NC Grassroots Recap Series – Headlining Stories

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the AAU live period now finished for the summer, it's now a good time to start recapping the grassroots season as a whole. From some outstanding squads, to some serious stock risers, to some new names we need to get eyes on, there's a whole lot to cover. The great news is, with the drop in events, we're going to be starting a new series to discuss Read along for Part 1 in a multi part series, with today's edition covering the top storylines from the grassroots period.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Our PrepHoops </strong><a href="https://events.prephoops.com/e/850/register/north-carolina-top-250-expo"><strong>Top 250 Expo (2024-2026)</strong></a><strong> and </strong><a href="https://events.prephoops.com/e/884/register/carolinas-freshman-showcase"><strong>Freshman Showcase (2027)</strong></a><strong> are LIVE! Both are taking place in Concord in early September. Make sure to sign up using the code <em>VictorHoops2023 </em>for a discount!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>There's&nbsp;no&nbsp;better&nbsp;time&nbsp;to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment on your first billing cycle with offer code: <em>VICTORTAYLOR30</em>, sign up&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prephoops.com%2Fsubscribe&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cvitaylor%40davidson.edu%7C75c17a0f131541251ff408db56237738%7C35d8763cd2b14213b629f5df0af9e3c3%7C1%7C1%7C638198482777534339%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=WLa4xG5C0zJMMgiDNX%2FklbM1lZLd5UKvsEUjLE0sp7Y%3D&amp;reserved=0"><strong>TODAY</strong></a><strong>!&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">BSA Supreme Achieves Perfection</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BSA Supreme did what is seemingly impossible for any AAU program to do over the course of the year; go undefeated in competitive play. This group did just that, going 32-0, including wins against almost every shoe program in North Carolina. While no player even holds a Division 1 offer, the squad played with detail, togetherness, and toughness game in and game out, which triumphed teams with more talent many times. [player_tooltip player_id='1158774' first='Carson' last='Daniel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1154633' first='Chase' last='Daniel'] were the twins that made the engine go, showing off their leadership skills, playmaking, and all-around defensive impact that exceeds their size. Carson is more of the play maker or point guard in my eyes, while Chase is a bit more of a scorer. They also boast one of the state's biggest stock risers of the summer in [player_tooltip player_id='1743939' first='Desmond' last='Kent Jr']., a springy athlete who plays well in the midrange. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other guys play the roles of complementary scorers, but they're very talented in their own rights. [player_tooltip player_id='1591916' first='Tyler' last='Showalter'] is a true 3 level scorer, with great range and a smooth lefty shooting stroke. [player_tooltip player_id='1076364' first='Peter' last='Moye'] does similar things offensively, but has some real physicality and grit that he uses to bully people in the paint. [player_tooltip player_id='1105008' first='Jaylen' last='Claggett'] also shoots the cover off the ball with some solid athleticism and driving skills to boot. [player_tooltip player_id='1154669' first='Liam' last='Gates'] and <strong>Landon Foley </strong>are both worthy of inclusion here too, as they hit big shots and spaced the floor well for their teammates all summer long. [player_tooltip player_id='2048625' first='Jeremiah' last='Howard'] is their incredibly physical, traditional big man that logs valuable minutes in the post, rebounding the ball and protecting the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has a Swiss Army Knife full of weapons, who are all team players and should be super beneficial to a team at the&nbsp;next level. Their perfect run was no accident, and it should bring to light all the talented players that need more attention from the next levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"center","id":2088692,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/image-2.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/image-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2088692" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>BSA Supreme on Sunday after finishing off a perfect travel season. (Phenom Hoops)</em></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Team CP3 15U Brings Home Hardware</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the shoe team world, Team CP3's had a fine showing across their three teams, but their youngest group was the most successful. Behind a very well-rounded team effort, the group won the 15U Peach Jam, defeating City Rocks in the final. [player_tooltip player_id='1281018' first='Jaire' last='Richburg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1680977' first='Ashton' last='Pierce'] were the two leading scorers, with Pierce being a perimeter oriented threat while Richburg dominated down low and in the mid-range. [player_tooltip player_id='1716474' first='Dionte' last='Neal'] was impressive as the teams lead guard, sporting a 3:1 assist/turnover ratio and devastating opponents with his quickness and vision. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, the trapping and pressing the group did gave opponents fits, forcing 55 steals, with many of them coming from [player_tooltip player_id='1281015' first='Cole' last='Cloer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1931127' first='Jaiquan' last='Clay']. Their defensive intensity and athletic gifts (Cloer with insane arm length and Clay with impressive vertical pop) allowed them to be the main terrors in that system. [player_tooltip player_id='1635130' first='Adam' last='Grier'], <strong>Elton Smith</strong>, and [player_tooltip player_id='2055661' first='Kohi' last='Strickland'] were all valuable pieces off the bench as well, soaking up minutes and developing their own games against elite competition. This group had a lot of the top talent in the state from the 2026 class, with all of them sporting D1 offers already. Watching their next steps in high school and travel ball should be fun.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"center","id":2088671,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/image-1.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/image-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2088671" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>CP3 15U posing with their championship memorabilia. (SCNext)</em></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Big Shots Elite 2025 Dominates Their Circuit</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whit Holcombe-Faye has put together two impressive squads for Big Shots Elite out of the Triad Area, but his 2025 group has had some impressive talent on their squad this season. With only five players through most of July, they still finished as the top ranked team on the Big Shots circuit. The Big 3 for them has consisted of [player_tooltip player_id='1105003' first='Darnerian' last='Gibson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1694957' first='Dane' last='Cassada'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1786681' first='Shamarius' last='Peterkin'], all dynamic guards in different ways. Gibson is the smallest of the three, but super dynamic in ball screens and getting to the rim. Defensively he is hard to shake and will pester you all night with active hands. Cassada has legitimate size, reads the floor well, and is a plus shooter. He's a classic floor general that is complete offensively and really physical and gritty to boot. Peterkin may be the most purely athletic, with a lot of bounce and speed which translates from his outstanding football track record. He's getting better as a shooter too, and rebounds really well for a guard. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For most of the year [player_tooltip player_id='1454560' first='Ayden' last='Johnson'] also ran with them, a small playmaking point guard that is a rising sophomore, until he joined CP3 in their quest for a Peach Jam. [player_tooltip player_id='1990408' first='Owen' last='Calvert'], <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2303266' first='Will' last='Koonin']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2454791' first='Amare' last='Robinson']</strong> were a few of the others that made impacts for BSE 16s this summer. This guys were fun to watch out of the Triad, and all should be key players in their high school seasons now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->