NCISAA 2A Preseason Power Rankings

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. The Burlington School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1098355' first='Zion' last='Walker'], Ty Outlaw, [player_tooltip player_id='1131338' first='Kaden' last='Hammond'], [player_tooltip player_id='1373705' first='Cam' last='Flippen'], [player_tooltip player_id='854889' first='Jordan' last='Durham']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcomers - [player_tooltip player_id='1374129' first='Devin' last='Sims'] (Hillside), [player_tooltip player_id='1580257' first='Sam' last='Quebedeaux'] (Epiphany), [player_tooltip player_id='2144385' first='Matija' last='Moravcevic'] (Prolific Prep), [player_tooltip player_id='2238210' first='King' last='Gibson'] (Freshman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's no surprise to anyone reading this that we see TBS on top of the rankings to start the year, as they return a ton of talent as well as adding plenty of contributors to round off their depth. [player_tooltip player_id='1098355' first='Zion' last='Walker'] is one of the top guards in the state, the interior duo of Ty Outlaw and [player_tooltip player_id='1131338' first='Kaden' last='Hammond'] will return to terrorize frontcourts, and their stable of wings have expanded. [player_tooltip player_id='2238210' first='King' last='Gibson'] may be one of the top 2027s in the country, but with all their guys it still may be hard for him to find minutes. It's hard to find a high school team that has almost its entire roster as college level prospects, but TBS has achieved. They're the odds on favorite to capture another crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Greenfield</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1280938' first='Kobe' last='Edwards'], [player_tooltip player_id='1154636' first='Nikolas' last='Edwards'], [player_tooltip player_id='1277989' first='Matt' last='Kirby']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcomers - [player_tooltip player_id='1330894' first='Gabe' last='Marquis'] (Raleigh Christian), [player_tooltip player_id='1602914' first='Tyler' last='Barnes'] (Rocky Mount)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenfield wins and loses in terms of the offseason, with the departure of [player_tooltip player_id='1076333' first='Hampton' last='Evans'] to Farmville Central, but adding a few impact guard transfers. However, Rob Salter and co. are another well-disciplined and coached team that will continue to find success. [player_tooltip player_id='1280938' first='Kobe' last='Edwards'] is rapidly developing and could be the lead guard of the future for this school. Marquis and Barnes are two guard/wing hybrids that will be successful and contribute valuable minutes, and will be expected to guard bigger players. Frontcourt depth and talent will be an issue, but I see no reason why this team won't make another deep run this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Fayetteville Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1959683' first='Xavier' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1365506' first='Jossiah' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2046230' first='Derrick' last='Green'], [player_tooltip player_id='2165211' first='Christopher' last='Walker']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcomers - [player_tooltip player_id='1156297' first='Isaac' last='Tatum'] (Rolesville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group actually returns everyone but one guy from their squad last year, which means it's on them to internally develop and show why they're a dark horse to capture a title this season. Lots of wings in the stable with the Johnson duo, as well as an improving and maturing Chris Walker. [player_tooltip player_id='2046230' first='Derrick' last='Green'] is almost unguardable when he takes space deep in the post, and [player_tooltip player_id='1156297' first='Isaac' last='Tatum'] is the lead guard this team needed to add somehow. This is another dark horse team that could capture a state championship, and their ceiling is about as high as anyone else's.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Caldwell Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1030026' first='Jaylen' last='Cross'], [player_tooltip player_id='982144' first='James' last='Swindell III'], [player_tooltip player_id='2055665' first='Neal' last='Swindell'], [player_tooltip player_id='1454560' first='Ayden' last='Johnson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcomers - Ahmed Jawo (SW Guilford)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caldwell has a lot of upper level talent that should put them in place to compete for a state title, and their impressive size will do wonders. [player_tooltip player_id='1030026' first='Jaylen' last='Cross'] has shown he's a HM prospect in the class of 2025, and [player_tooltip player_id='1454560' first='Ayden' last='Johnson'] is an undersized yet scrappy ball handler that will show more and more confidence running the offense as the season goes on. What may be an X factor for this group may be the addition of Ahmed Jawo, a thin yet long big man who is still developing rapidly as a forward. He can really rebound and protect the rim with his elite physical tools. These guys have a high ceiling as well, making them candidates to contend this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. Wayne Country Day</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1603895' first='Carlos' last='Vasquez'], [player_tooltip player_id='1120961' first='Kayleb' last='Coles'], [player_tooltip player_id='1062124' first='Jai' last='Williams']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcomers - [player_tooltip player_id='2127718' first='Jaelen' last='Solomon'] (Rosewood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WCDS will be another favorite to emerge as the top team in the eastern half of the state, with a combination of returning talent and addition of some new names. [player_tooltip player_id='1603895' first='Carlos' last='Vasquez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1120961' first='Kayleb' last='Coles'] provide real size and skill at the wing spots, with college coaches beginning to get hot on their tails. Jaelan Solomon joins from public school Rosewood and is a strong, burly presence that will play around the mid-post area well. This group may need a guard to emerge to lead them down the stretch, but the collection of talent they have will surely allow them to win plenty of games and make a deep run in the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">6. Trinity Christian</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='2075116' first='Linwood' last='Rowe'], [player_tooltip player_id='1900239' first='Justin' last='Caldwell'], Mike Ross Jr., [player_tooltip player_id='1220109' first='Devaughn' last='Brown']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not a lot of newcomers to note for this group from what I'm aware of, but still an impressive collection of talent that is spread out amongst positions. [player_tooltip player_id='1220109' first='Devaughn' last='Brown'] has been electrifying for this group over the course of the fall league the group participated in, and [player_tooltip player_id='1900239' first='Justin' last='Caldwell'] continues to operate as a smooth, skilled post presence. [player_tooltip player_id='2075116' first='Linwood' last='Rowe'] is a high flyer that just picked up his first college offer and should see more headed his way after this upcoming year as well. Probably not a group that is quite on the level as some of the higher teams on this list, but has the talent to surprise some schools and maybe win a few games in the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->