NCISAA 2A Preseason Power Rankings
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1. The Burlington School Key Returners – Zion Walker Zion Walker 6'2" | PG The Burlington School | 2024 State NC , Ty Outlaw, Kaden Hammond Kaden Hammond 6'8" | PF The Burlington School | 2025 State NC , Cam…
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Continue Reading1. The Burlington School
Key Returners – Zion Walker Zion Walker 6'2" | PG The Burlington School | 2024 State NC , Ty Outlaw, Kaden Hammond Kaden Hammond 6'8" | PF The Burlington School | 2025 State NC , Cam Flippen Cam Flippen 6'2" | PG The Burlington School | 2025 State NC , Jordan Durham Jordan Durham 6'3" | CG The Burlington School | 2024 State NC
Newcomers – Devin Sims Devin Sims 6'5" | SF The Burlington School | 2025 State NC (Hillside), Sam Quebedeaux Sam Quebedeaux 6'0" | PG TBS | 2026 State NC (Epiphany), Matija Moravcevic Matija Moravcevic 6'4" | PG The Burlington School | 2025 State NC (Prolific Prep), King Gibson King Gibson 6'4" | CG The Burlington School | 2027 State NC (Freshman)
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. Zion Walker Zion Walker 6'2" | PG The Burlington School | 2024 State NC is one of the top guards in the state, the interior duo of Ty Outlaw and Kaden Hammond Kaden Hammond 6'8" | PF The Burlington School | 2025 State NC will return to terrorize frontcourts, and their stable of wings have expanded. King Gibson King Gibson 6'4" | CG The Burlington School | 2027 State NC 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.
2. Greenfield
Key Returners – Kobe Edwards, Nikolas Edwards Nikolas Edwards 6'3" | SF Greenfield | 2024 NC , Matt Kirby Matt Kirby 5'11" | PG Greenfield | 2024 State NC
Newcomers – Gabe Marquis Gabe Marquis 6'1" | CG Greenfield | 2024 State NC (Raleigh Christian), Tyler Barnes Tyler Barnes 6'3" | CG Greenfield | 2024 State NC (Rocky Mount)
Greenfield wins and loses in terms of the offseason, with the departure of Hampton Evans Hampton Evans 6'5" | PF Farmville Central | 2024 State NC 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. Kobe 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.
3. Fayetteville Academy
Key Returners – Xavier Johnson Xavier Johnson 6'5" | PG Fayetteville Academy | 2024 State NC , Jossiah Johnson Jossiah Johnson 6'6" | PF Freedom Christian Academy | 2025 NC , Derrick Green Derrick Green 6'10" | C Fayetteville Acadamy | 2024 State NC , Christopher Walker Christopher Walker 6'8" | PF Mount Zion | 2025 State NC
Newcomers – Isaac Tatum Isaac Tatum 6'0" | PG Fayetteville Academy | 2025 State NC (Rolesville)
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. Derrick Green Derrick Green 6'10" | C Fayetteville Acadamy | 2024 State NC is almost unguardable when he takes space deep in the post, and Isaac Tatum Isaac Tatum 6'0" | PG Fayetteville Academy | 2025 State NC 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.
4. Caldwell Academy
Key Returners – Jaylen Cross Jaylen Cross 6'4" | SG Caldwell Academy | 2025 State #168 Nation NC , James Swindell III James Swindell III 6'3" | SF Caldwell Academy | 2024 State NC , Neal Swindell Neal Swindell 6'4" | SG Caldwell Academy | 2026 State NC , Ayden Johnson Ayden Johnson 5'10" | PG Caldwell Academy | 2026 State NC
Newcomers – Ahmed Jawo (SW Guilford)
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. Jaylen Cross Jaylen Cross 6'4" | SG Caldwell Academy | 2025 State #168 Nation NC has shown he’s a HM prospect in the class of 2025, and Ayden Johnson Ayden Johnson 5'10" | PG Caldwell Academy | 2026 State NC 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.
5. Wayne Country Day
Key Returners – Carlos Vasquez Carlos Vasquez 6'5" | CG Wayne Country Day | 2024 NC , Kayleb Coles Kayleb Coles 6'6" | PF Wayne Country Day | 2024 State NC , Jai Williams Jai Williams 6'3" | SG Wayne Country Day | 2024 State NC
Newcomers – Jaelen Solomon Jaelen Solomon 6'5" | PF Wayne Country Day | 2025 State NC (Rosewood)
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. Carlos Vasquez Carlos Vasquez 6'5" | CG Wayne Country Day | 2024 NC and Kayleb Coles Kayleb Coles 6'6" | PF Wayne Country Day | 2024 State NC 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.
6. Trinity Christian
Key Returners – Linwood Rowe Linwood Rowe 6'6" | SF Trinity Christian School | 2024 State NC , Justin Caldwell Justin Caldwell 6'9" | PF Trinity Christian | 2026 State NC , Mike Ross Jr., Devaughn Brown Devaughn Brown 6'2" | PG Trinity Christian | 2025 State NC
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. Devaughn Brown Devaughn Brown 6'2" | PG Trinity Christian | 2025 State NC has been electrifying for this group over the course of the fall league the group participated in, and Justin Caldwell Justin Caldwell 6'9" | PF Trinity Christian | 2026 State NC continues to operate as a smooth, skilled post presence. Linwood Rowe Linwood Rowe 6'6" | SF Trinity Christian School | 2024 State NC 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.