NCISAA 3A Preseason Power Rankings
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1. Gaston Christian Key Returners – Cameron Newman Cameron Newman 5'11" | PG Gaston Christian | 2026 State NC , Joe Rhyne Joe Rhyne 6'3" | SG Gaston Christian | 2024 State NC , Makoi Mabor Makoi Mabor 6'11" |…
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Continue Reading1. Gaston Christian
Key Returners – Cameron Newman Cameron Newman 5'11" | PG Gaston Christian | 2026 State NC , Joe Rhyne Joe Rhyne 6'3" | SG Gaston Christian | 2024 State NC , Makoi Mabor Makoi Mabor 6'11" | C Gaston Christian | 2024 State NC , Douglas Adiok
Newcomers – Brett Freeman Brett Freeman 6'4" | PG Ardrey Kell | 2025 State NC (Carmel Christian)
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. Cameron Newman Cameron Newman 5'11" | PG Gaston Christian | 2026 State NC is rapidly developing into a Division 1 floor general despite his smaller stature, and Joe Rhyne Joe Rhyne 6'3" | SG Gaston Christian | 2024 State NC will go somewhere where he can continue to torch the nets from deep. Brett Freeman Brett Freeman 6'4" | PG Ardrey Kell | 2025 State NC 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 Makoi Mabor Makoi Mabor 6'11" | C Gaston Christian | 2024 State NC , the 6’10 rangy forward who may end up being a MM/HM prospect when all is said and done.
2. Concord Academy
Key Returners – Jake Benham Jake Benham 6'2" | SG Concord Academy | 2025 State NC , Gray Madeira
Newcomers – Sean Birmingham Sean Birmingham 6'8" | CG Concord Academy | 2024 State #215 Nation NC (Cannon/Carmel Christian), Alek Kornacki (Poland), Icare Bakadisula Icare Bakadisula 6'8" | PF Concord Academy | 2025 NC (Lutheran East (OH)), James Mineland (Freshman)
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.
3. Greensboro Day
Key Returners – Addison Newkirk Addison Newkirk 6'6" | SF Greensboro Day | 2025 State NC , William Otto William Otto 6'4" | CG Greensboro Day | 2024 State NC , Jagger Emerson Jagger Emerson 6'6" | CG Greensboro Day | 2027 State NC , Jaden Palmore Jaden Palmore 6'2" | PG Greensboro Day | 2025 NC , Kohi Strickland Kohi Strickland 6'5" | SF Greensboro Day | 2026 State NC
Newcomers – N/A
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 Addison Newkirk Addison Newkirk 6'6" | SF Greensboro Day | 2025 State NC got better, and Kohi Strickland Kohi Strickland 6'5" | SF Greensboro Day | 2026 State NC is young, rapidly improving and had some good performances in the live periods with GDS this summer. Jaden Palmore Jaden Palmore 6'2" | PG Greensboro Day | 2025 NC is back and could make a jump as a supporting guard, and Jagger Emerson Jagger Emerson 6'6" | CG Greensboro Day | 2027 State NC 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.
4. High Point Christian
Key Returners – Jaiquan Clay Jaiquan Clay 6'5" | SF High Point Christian | 2026 State NC , Isaiah Sanders Isaiah Sanders 5'11" | PG High Point Christian | 2024 State NC , Elijah Cathcart Elijah Cathcart 6'4" | SG High Point Christian Academy | 2024 State NC
Newcomers – Whit Denny Whit Denny 6'7" | PF High Point Christian Academy | 2025 State NC (Ledford), Max van Weerdhuizen (Oak Grove), Adam Grier Adam Grier 6'4" | SF High Point Christian | 2027 State NC (Freshman)
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 Adam Grier Adam Grier 6'4" | SF High Point Christian | 2027 State NC 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 Whit Denny Whit Denny 6'7" | PF High Point Christian Academy | 2025 State NC , 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.
5. Asheville School
Key Returners – Cedric Kenan Cedric Kenan 6'2" | PG Asheville School | 2025 State NC , Brady Donlon
Newcomers – Miki Cacic
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. Cedric Kenan Cedric Kenan 6'2" | PG Asheville School | 2025 State NC 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.
6. Calvary Day School
Key Returners – Dane Cassada Dane Cassada 6'3" | CG Calvary Day School | 2026 State NC , Owen Calvert Owen Calvert 6'1" | CG Calvary Day School | 2026 State NC , Asher Tolbert
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. Dane Cassada Dane Cassada 6'3" | CG Calvary Day School | 2026 State NC 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.