NCHSAA: Early 1A Title Favorites

<!-- wp:heading {"textAlign":"center","level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">With the high school basketball season ramping up over the next few weeks, PrepHoops NC looks at the top title contenders in the 1A NCHSAA ranks set to make waves in 2023-24. </h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment on your first billing cycle with offer code: <strong>JAYANDERSON30</strong>, sign up <a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>TODAY</strong></a>!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wilson Prep Academy Tigers</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year's state champions have a chance to repeat in the NCHSAA 1A ranks with returners Leslie Minter Jr, Brandon Anderson and David Ellis II leading the charge for a strong returning cast. Their talented trio should be dominant once again in the things they do on the hardwood. They've got a few young guards in the stable that should add to their depth this year and make them a top squad once again in 2023-24. 2025 wing Elijah Newsome is another returning name to keep an eye on with them as well given his development over the summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bertie High Falcons</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bertie High was a top squad in the 1A East and went 15-1 in the Four Rivers Conference before making a run in the state playoffs. They fell short by six points to eventual state champ Wilson Prep but they'll be back and should still be a contender in the Four Rivers with Jahkelvin Rascoe, Trevan Holleran and ZyMiere Dempsey all back. Tequan Holley is also an underrated name to get to know with their group. They knocked down 226 3-pointers as a team in 2022-23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bishop McGuinness Villains</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop McGuinness High has developed into quite a name on the hardwood over the past few seasons in the 1A West in Kernersville. Cal Barrett and John Campbell should make quite the 1-2 combination for the Villains as both have seen their recruitment ramp up heading into their senior seasons. They went unbeaten at 13-0 in the Northwest Piedmont Conference before falling by three points to Eastern Randolph High in the state playoffs. They'll return with a few young pieces in Patrick Graves and Nicholas Graves looking to do more damage in 2023-24.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Eastern Randolph Wildcats</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eastern Randolph High was last year's state runner-up in the NCHSAA 1A ranks out of the West. They lost just three games this past season and with Nicah Taylor, Tim Brower and Julian Brooks all back with experience under their belt, look for them to be an even tougher out in 2023-24. William Stalker is an underrated name that should emerge with them as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">South Stokes Sauras</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barry Hairston, Isiah Lash and Ethan Tilley are a senior trio of names to know for their group. They went 12-0 in the Northwest Conference in the 1A West this past season. They're another squad that lost by just three points to a gritty Eastern Randolph squad in 2022-23. They'll look to replicate last year's success with experience returning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->