NCISAA 3A Preseason Power Rankings

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Gaston Christian</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1672429' first='Cameron' last='Newman'], [player_tooltip player_id='1809463' first='Joe' last='Rhyne'], [player_tooltip player_id='1809464' first='Gabriel' last='Mabor'], Douglas Adiok</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcomers - [player_tooltip player_id='1508752' first='Brett' last='Freeman'] (Carmel Christian)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's time to give the Eagles their flowers, and with former Duke standout Chris Duhon coaching this group now, the sky is the limit. [player_tooltip player_id='1672429' first='Cameron' last='Newman'] is rapidly developing into a Division 1 floor general despite his smaller stature, and [player_tooltip player_id='1809463' first='Joe' last='Rhyne'] will go somewhere where he can continue to torch the nets from deep. [player_tooltip player_id='1508752' first='Brett' last='Freeman'] will be an impact transfer as a guard/wing from Carmel, and Douglas Adiok is a forward who has gotten better and better each week this summer and is getting D2 offers. But the biggest piece will be [player_tooltip player_id='1809464' first='Gabriel' last='Mabor'], the 6'10 rangy forward who may end up being a MM/HM prospect when all is said and done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Concord Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1297327' first='Jake' last='Benham'], [player_tooltip player_id='2699092' first='Gray' last='Madeira']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcomers - [player_tooltip player_id='1742881' first='Sean' last='Birmingham'] (Cannon/Carmel Christian), [player_tooltip player_id='2441149' first='Alek' last='Kornacki'] (Poland), [player_tooltip player_id='2275324' first='Icare' last='Bakadisula'] (Lutheran East (OH)), James Mineland (Freshman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Concord comes off a heartbreaking state final loss and loses a lot of talent either to transfers or college commitments, but will be reloading with a lot of high level talent. Birmingham is a big, 3 level scoring wing who had a recent commitment to Indiana State, and Kornacki and Bakadisula are impact bigs who should come in to provide real size and rim protection in the front court. Mineland is one of the few freshmen in the state that could impact his team in a big way from day one, but there's still a lot of question marks surrounding this group. However, their returning talent as well as a reputation to gel quickly makes them a repeat contender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Greensboro Day</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1284842' first='Addison' last='Newkirk'], [player_tooltip player_id='854907' first='William' last='Otto'], [player_tooltip player_id='1411216' first='Jagger' last='Emerson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2305899' first='Jaden' last='Palmore'], [player_tooltip player_id='2055661' first='Kohi' last='Strickland']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcomers - N/A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group can never be counted out because of their elite coaching and discipline, but their talent level does take a bit of a drop from where it was last year. Otto is still a consummate floor general and [player_tooltip player_id='1284842' first='Addison' last='Newkirk'] got better, and [player_tooltip player_id='2055661' first='Kohi' last='Strickland'] is young, rapidly improving and had some good performances in the live periods with GDS this summer. [player_tooltip player_id='2305899' first='Jaden' last='Palmore'] is back and could make a jump as a supporting guard, and [player_tooltip player_id='1411216' first='Jagger' last='Emerson'] could feature as a young wing, but this team will need time to find their identity. I think they make a deep run and win a lot of games, but come up short of a state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. High Point Christian</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1931127' first='Jaiquan' last='Clay'], [player_tooltip player_id='1864069' first='Isaiah' last='Sanders'], [player_tooltip player_id='2232851' first='Elijah' last='Cathcart']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcomers - [player_tooltip player_id='2232881' first='Whit' last='Denny'] (Ledford), Max van Weerdhuizen (Oak Grove), [player_tooltip player_id='1635130' first='Adam' last='Grier'] (Freshman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a group that could end up way higher than where we're predicting them now, with a good rotation of guards already existing, some impact transfer coming in, and [player_tooltip player_id='1635130' first='Adam' last='Grier'] being one of the best freshmen in the state. Sanders and Cathcart will form a really solid backcourt, with the sharpshooting van Weerdhuizen coming over to join them. The wings will be held down by Clay and [player_tooltip player_id='2232881' first='Whit' last='Denny'], but Clay will have to keep working on playing as an undersized forward to help them achieve what they want to down low. Definitely a group to monitor, but they have state title upside this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. Asheville School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1306696' first='Cedric' last='Kenan'], Brady Donlon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcomers - Miki Cacic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Asheville sees a lot of turnover headed their way this year with the loss of multiple talented D1 players and a new head coach, but still returns some important pieces. [player_tooltip player_id='1306696' first='Cedric' last='Kenan'] will be a lead guard trusted to run the show, and Donlon is talented, burly, and physical which allows them to play through the inside. Not much is known about their ever-present international crop that they get each year, but Miki Cacic is a name to monitor for them. They should be plucky during the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">6. Calvary Day School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners - [player_tooltip player_id='1694957' first='Dane' last='Cassada'], [player_tooltip player_id='1990408' first='Owen' last='Calvert'], Asher Tolbert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group is unfortunate to not get any new talent that will make a difference for them this upcoming year, but they have some guards in the stable that will make them win a good amount of games. [player_tooltip player_id='1694957' first='Dane' last='Cassada'] continues to lead as a bigger point guard, and Calvert and Tolbert are both shooting threats that can also make plays happen off the bounce. Jordan Richardson is going to have to shore up the inside that is now thin with the departure of Jayden Spillman, but good guard play will always take you far in high school. I like them to be an outside contender and win a couple of games in the state tournament in Feburary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->