252 HoopState TipOff: Greenfield/Wilson Prep Academy Standouts

<!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Greenfield School hosted Wilson Prep Academy in the primetime matchup of the 252 HoopState TipOff and both teams didn't disappoint as a number of names stood out from both sides. Take a look at the game recap and standouts.</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get&nbsp;30% OFF payment&nbsp;on your first billing cycle with offer code:&nbsp;<strong>JAYANDERSON30</strong>, sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>TODAY</strong></a>!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenfield School opened things with an early bucket before Wilson Prep Academy and their full-court pressure allowed them to open things on a 9-2 run. [player_tooltip player_id='1104960' first='Brandon' last='Anderson'] showed his aggression in attacking the painted area and knocking down shots from the perimeter, opening with an early five points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newcomer [player_tooltip player_id='2232877' first='Ben' last='Ferguson'] made his presence right away when [player_tooltip player_id='1917793' first='Tae' last='Barnes'] went out early in the first quarter with a leg injury. He sparked a run right away with an And-1 opportunity when he got the opportunity. He's a strong-framed guard who showed he could get to the rim off the bounce and finish through contact. In turn, [player_tooltip player_id='2276952' first='Josh' last='Hicks'] placed himself squarely on the radar on the PrepHoops NC radar as he got hot from deep in the early going. He opened with nine points on two made 3-pointers in the first quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Greenfield School, [player_tooltip player_id='1277989' first='Matt' last='Kirby'] was fearless and unstoppable when getting to the rim, but in the early going it looked like Wilson Prep would run away with things. They led 24-17 after one quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the second quarter, the pace picked up in a big way as things went 29-25 on the scoreboard in favor of Greenfield. Kirby led the way with 11 points as he scored in a variety of ways, knocking down shots on the perimeter and getting to the free-throw line at the same time. He's shown tremendous growth as the point guard spot as creating opportunities for himself and others and it showed in their scoring burst. Nik Edwards put together a solid game while battling through foul trouble. He was behind Kirby in the scoring outburst in the second with seven points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson Prep still maintained the lead in the second as Hicks battled with Kirby throughout in a backcourt battle of public vs. private. Hicks would knock down another two 3-pointers in the second and finished with seven points in the quarter. Barnes led the scoring charge in his return as he showed off his ability to finish with creativity around the rim and get to the free-throw line with eight points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the half, Wilson Prep led Greenfield 49-46.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenfield would come out in the third quarter on a surge as [player_tooltip player_id='1602914' first='Tyler' last='Barnes'] and Kirby got things going with their ability to get downhill and create in the paint. They began the quarter on a 9-0 run to make it 55-49 in their favor. A steal and a dunk from Barnes would give them their biggest lead of the night at 64-55 before Wilson Prep would respond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big man David Ellis put together his best scoring quarter of the game with six points down the stretch and [player_tooltip player_id='1772438' first='Leslie' last='Minter Jr'] chipped in with five points. They chipped away at the lead and a 3-pointer at the buzzer from Hicks to end the quarter would give Wilson Prep the lead once again at 68-67.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The back-and-forth battle would continue in the fourth quarter as both teams would use each possession to take the lead. Kirby continued to pour things on for Greenfield while Anderson stepped up for Wilson Prep and Ferguson would close things out with some tough finishes in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things were all tied up at 79 with three minutes left before Wilson Prep would create some separation. They pushed the lead to 84-80 with just under a minute left following a layup from Ferguson. Greenfield would try to keep things close, but in the end, the Tigers prevailed and secured a 94-89 victory over Greenfield to wrap things up for the night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1104960"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Anderson went off for 27 points as he filled up the stat sheet by getting to the free throw line in the final frame. He went 9-for-10 from the FT line to close things out for the Tigers. As he continues to develop as an aggressive scoring guard and improves on his strength, look for his name to grow as an unsigned senior this season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["2276952"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":2277423,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Hicks was a confident threat on the perimeter, finding ways to put pressure on the opponent with his ability to shoot the basketball. He knocked down five 3-pointers and finished with 20 points to pace the backcourt. He's grown tremendously at the off-guard role and has supreme confidence shooting the 3-ball. Another unsigned senior name to know with Wilson Prep.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1277989"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Kirby led all scorers on the floor with 31 points as he showed off his ability to get by defenders and get to the painted area with his strength. He's an intriguing unsigned senior name to know given his pedigree for scoring tough-nosed buckets. He's a consistent lead guard that DII and DIII programs need to get eyes on.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["2232877"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":2277443,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Ferguson was an instant spark off the bench for WPA as he showed off his ability to take on contact and finish through contact consistently. He was a confident presence when the ball came his way as he finished with 17 points to round out WPA's scoring attack. He'll be another new face to watch with this group as an unsigned senior.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1220103"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Big man [player_tooltip player_id='1220103' first='David' last='Ellis II'] did his part to anchor the defense and rebound the ball as he finished with a double-double before fouling out with a few minutes to go in regulation. He's playing a much calmer brand of basketball while maintaining his ability to finish above the rim and alter shots.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1739830"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Edwards impressed with his ability to battle on the interior and generate stops with his length/athleticism in the paint. He battled through foul trouble before fouling out in regulation but still managed to generate 11 points on the offensive end.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1602914"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Barnes was another key cog for Greenfield's defense as he showed he could blow up plays with his strength and ability to force turnovers. He finished with 13 points while showing he could make an impact as a high-level defender and rebounder.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6559bbeaa1f7f"} /-->