NCHSAA Games of the Week – Week 0
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With the first day of basketball for public schools with football starting this Friday, we’re in line to see some impressive opening weekend games. Lake Norman @ Pine Lake Prep A big non-conference clash to start the year as 4A…
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Continue ReadingWith the first day of basketball for public schools with football starting this Friday, we’re in line to see some impressive opening weekend games.
Lake Norman @ Pine Lake Prep
A big non-conference clash to start the year as 4A contenders Lake Norman will head down I-77 to take on 2A contenders Pine Lake Prep. The Wildcats are a deep group, led by 6’9 forward Trent Steinour Trent Steinour 6'10" | C Lake Norman | 2025 State #140 Nation NC and 6’5 wing Tre McKinnon Tre McKinnon 6'5" | SF Lake Norman High | 2025 State NC , but also have good talent at the point guard position with Nick Arnold Nick Arnold 5'11" | PG Lake Norman | 2026 State NC and Josh Yates Josh Yates 6'0" | PG Lake Norman | 2025 State NC . They can run hard with a deep group, and they’ll shoot it well in transition with the addition of Santana Lynch Santana Lynch 6'4" | SG Lake Norman | 2024 State NC . Their positional size will cause problems for many opponents, but Pine Lake will be able to match up with them better than most.
For the Pride, Robert Magner Robert Magner 6'6" | SF Pine Lake Prep | 2024 State NC will probably be tasked with guarding Steinour, and Lucas Strickfaden Lucas Strickfaden 6'4" | SG Pine Lake Prep | 2024 NC on McKinnon. Both are physical wing/forward types that have athleticism and strength to guard at multiple spots. Strickfaden is a slasher while Magner is a shot maker and taker on the offensive end, and his performance will determine if the Pride can pull off the upset. Joseph Bruce Joseph Bruce 6'0" | CG Pine Lake Prep | 2025 State NC and Lucas Morgan can also impact the game with their shooting and playmaking abilities, and will need a few outside shots from both.
Overall, Lake Norman is the better team, but Coach Tony Dunbar and the Pride will be ready to go at home to open the year. Expect a close slugfest for all 32 minutes.
Sanderson @ Heritage
Sanderson will face a test on the road at new-look Heritage Friday night, as new head coach Gibson Pyper and the Huskies are ready to bounce back from a difficult year last season.
For Sanderson, it all runs through preseason POY Nathan Fife Nathan Fife 6'0" | PG Sanderson | 2025 State NC this year, a dynamic shooter who is continuing to expand his shot creation ability inside the arc. He may be able to get some more open looks this year due to both his improvement on his own game and the emergence of guys like Patrick Dalton and Gordie Balas. Those two should be able to provide some on ball talent that allows Fife to work as a cutter and off-ball player at times as well.
Heritage returns one of the top players in the NAC, Levi Beckwith Levi Beckwith 6'6" | PF Heritage | 2025 State NC , who is a combo forward that can create his own shots as well as thrive as a screener and cutter off the ball. Defensively he can guard multiple positions and plays harder than many at his size and position. KJ Cox KJ Cox 6'4" | SF Heritage | 2024 State NC will be the other guy in the frontcourt, with impressive do-it-all ability on offense but excels in shooting the ball from deep. Cameron Jones is also a 2026 who is starting to make noise as someone with natural talent and good at the rim finishing/touch. He’s on the verge of breaking out into a really impressive player.
Both these teams still have a ways to go to become elite, but they are two of the biggest potential overachievers in the Triangle area this upcoming season. They could make some noise in their respective conferences regardless of the outcome on Friday.
Dudley @ Mallard Creek
An inter-region clash is the final game on our list as Dudley heads down to Charlotte to take on Mallard Creek. Dudley returns some of the more intriguing and talented guards in the Triad area, as CJ Jones CJ Jones 6'1" | SG Dudley | 2026 State NC is a rapidly developing bucket-getter who shined in grassroots/offseason events over the past few months. Expect him to come in this year as the go-to guy for them. Nasir Newkirk Nasir Newkirk 6'2" | CG Dudley | 2025 State NC is also an athletic freak on the football field that does damage attacking the rim on the basketball court.
For the Mavericks, it’s another year of watching Rassell Young Rassell Young 6'2" | CG Mallard Creek | 2026 State NC and Jalyn Connor Jalyn Connor 5'10" | PG Charlotte Elite Academy | 2025 State NC get better and better. Young is a dynamic combo guard who, while standing at 6’2, is electric at putting pressure on the rim and facilitating for his teammates. Multiple high mjaor schools are in the mix for him. Connor is more of a true marksman, heading towards triple digit 3PM in his junior year and continuing to develop as a scorer. He should be a guy who firmly ends up at the D2/D3 level.
Mallard Creek should have this one under control, as their guard pairing has more experience than Dudley’s. However, don’t be surprised if Dudley either keeps this one close or finds a big game from either Jones or Newkirk, as they have the potential to go off at any given time.