The WingMan Report: New Faces in New Places (Part 2)
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The WingMan Report returns as we take a look at Part 2 of the New Faces in New Places across the state of North Carolina. Impact transfers with a lot to prove heading into the 2023-24 season. There’s no better…
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Continue ReadingThe WingMan Report returns as we take a look at Part 2 of the New Faces in New Places across the state of North Carolina. Impact transfers with a lot to prove heading into the 2023-24 season.
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Alex Rechetnikov Alex Rechetnikov 6'4" | SG Southern Wake Academy | 2024 State NC – Southern Wake Academy (Neuse Christian Academy)
Rechetnikov is an underrated guard prospect with a lot to prove as he joins the Southern Wake Academy rotation in 2023-24. He’s a steady shooting presence who’s been tucked away at Neuse Christian Academy the past few seasons but should really turn heads with his ability to operate on both ends as an unsigned senior prospect this season.
Sean Birmingham Sean Birmingham 6'8" | CG Concord Academy | 2024 State #215 Nation NC – Concord Academy (Cannon School)
Birmingham is an emerging 2024 prospect to get to know in NC’s 2024 class as he looks to close out his high school career with Concord Academy in the NCISAA. He’s an underrated shooter on the wing with nice length who can finish around the rim. He’ll move from one top program to another as he looks to replace their offensive departures from a season ago.
Jalen Sheppard Jalen Sheppard 6'2" | CG Southern Wake Academy | 2026 State NC – Southern Wake Academy (Raleigh Christian Academy)
Sheppard is another name moving into the Southern Wake Academy rotation after getting his feet wet on the varsity stage with Raleigh Christian Academy in 2022-23. He’s an athletic combo guard prospect who’s starting to find his way as a two-way presence with his length, speed and athleticism on the floor. He’s a name due to grow in NC’s 2026 class with SWA.
Evan Dean Evan Dean 6'6" | SG Millbrook | 2025 State NC – Trinity Academy Raleigh (NC Good Better Best Academy)
Dean is a 2025 prospect who’s climbed up the radar over the past few months in the state. He’s a versatile presence who should really boost the profile of Trinity Academy Raleigh with Parker Bye Parker Bye 6'3" | SG Trinity Academy | 2025 State NC , another 2025 prospect, also in the rotation. He’s got the ability to stretch the floor with his ability to knock down shots on the perimeter. As he shows off his ability defensively, look for his name to grow in the class.
Mason Smith Mason Smith 6'7" | PF Davidson Day | 2024 State NC – Davidson Day School (Hough High)
Smith is another new face in the Davidson Day School rotation who should emerge as a name to know after starring in the Hough High rotation in 2022-23. He produced 10.4 PPG and 6.5 RPG on 39 percent shooting from deep as he looks to emerge as a presence on the wing in the NCISAA ranks in the 2025 class.
Kaleb Spencer Kaleb Spencer 6'9" | PF First Flight | 2024 State NC – First Flight High (Manteo High)
Spencer is a 2024 prospect who had a productive grassroots cycle with Garner Road Basketball Club on the Select scene. He’s a relentless forward presence who should flourish in the First Flight high-scoring attack in 2023-24 with his ability to be a presence on both ends of the floor in a variety of ways.
CJ Kornegay CJ Kornegay 6'5" | SF New Hanover | 2025 State NC – New Hanover High (Hoggard High)
Kornegay is an athletic presence with some versatility in his skillset at 6-foot-5 ready to display as a new face to know. He’ll look to bolster the frontcourt attack for New Hanover High after producing for Hoggard on the varsity stage this past season. He put up 8.6 PPG and 4.5 RPG as a sophomore for them in 2022-23.
Chance Gladden Chance Gladden 6'4" | CG Ravenscroft | 2025 State NC – Ravenscroft School (Cary Academy)
Gladden makes the short move from Cary Academy to Ravenscroft School in the NCISAA looking to lead the way for what should be a talented group. They’ll return Alex Olander Alex Olander 6'4" | SF Millbrook | 2024 State NC and Jackson Rein Jackson Rein 6'6" | SF Ravenscroft | 2024 State NC in the frontcourt as Gladden will look to lead with his exploits in the backcourt. He led the way for Cary Academy as a sophomore with 19.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.9 APG and 2.2 SPG on 47 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent shooting from deep.
Tayshawn Adams Tayshawn Adams 5'10" | CG Southeast Raleigh | 2027 NC – Southeast Raleigh High (Word of God)
Adams moves from Word of God into the NCHSAA ranks for Southeast Raleigh High. He’ll have an opportunity to be quite the pierce for them off the bench on the varsity stage with some veteran guards ahead of him to learn from in the SE Raleigh rotation. Look for his name to grow in the 2027 class soon enough!
Jordan James Jordan James 6'3" | SF Farmville Central | 2026 State NC – Farmville Central High (South Central High)
James is an impressive prospect already in the 2026 class given his skillset. He’s an active 6-foot-3 presence who can operate on the wing and on the interior with his strong frame. He should give Farmville Central High another edge on the rebounding and finishing front this season and for years to come.
Darrion Ellis Darrion Ellis 6'5" | SF Word of God | 2026 State NC – Word Of God Christian Academy (Northampton County)
Ellis is an athletic forward prospect moving from Northampton County High to the OTE stage with Word of God. He’s developed quite nicely as a rim-runner and finisher in the painted area after averaging 10.2 PPG and 2.0 RPG as a sophomore on the NCHSAA stage.
William Stevens William Stevens 6'10" | C Davidson Day | 2026 State NC – Davidson Day School (Community School of Davidson)
Stevens is another 2026 name to get to know as he joins the Davidson Day School rotation as a new face. He’s a sizeable prospect at 6-foot-7 who’s shown he can operate around the painted area on both ends of the floor after producing 5.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG and 1.8 BPG in his debut season on the varsity stage at Community School of Davidson.