NCHSAA Top Performers – Week 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With another loaded week of NCHSAA matchups on tap last week, we saw plenty of great performances, both on the tournament stage and in individual regular season games. Read below for a half dozen top performers from last week's action, from 2027s to 2024s and everyone in between.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2132905"],"_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":"Hicks paced his group this weekend as they went 1-1 at the Leroy Holden Invitational, scoring 16 against a strong North Meck group and then going for 33 in the consolation game on Saturday. He knows how to get to his spots and is not afraid of shooting the deep ball, connecting at over a 50% clip so far on the young season. Has showed some playmaking ability on the floor, but is in score-first mode with East Meck. Solid defender that guards his yard when asked to as well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1864068"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"McNeil was dynamite in the Phenom Hoops u0026amp; Dreams tournament this weekend, leading his team to two victories. He averaged a 28 point, 14 rebound stat line, and also chalked up 7 blocks over the course of the weekend. He's still the dynamic shot maker and taker that everyone knows, and is continuing to be a presence on the defensive end this year. His height and athleticism make it easy to do it against high schoolers, but I'm liking the added intensity and pride he's taking on that end.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1076371"],"_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":"Latham was a key cog in Goldsboro's 2-0 weekend, highlighted with a 29 point, 5 rebound, 6 steal performance against St. Paul's on Friday night. He's an athletic wing/forward combo that has a super high motor and plays with intensity inside. He has showed more and more range on his jumper in the last few months, and we saw that on display on Friday. Really has an ability to get disruption in passing lanes and in gaps too, while still being a quality rebounder.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1225441"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Driver has been the leading guy for Laney so far as they're 2-0 on the young season, and he's averaging a double double. He had 13 points and 15 rebounds against Swansboro, then followed it up with 16 points to lead his teams scorers against Jordan. He's a powerful slasher that's really looking to attack the paint and either get layups or draw fouls. While he has some work to do on his jumper both from the perimeter and the free throw line, opponents find it hard to stop him inside already.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1707110"],"_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":"Williams was the catalyst at the point guard spot for Farmville Central's big time win over Wilson Prep on Tuesday, showing off a 20-8-8 stat line while knocking down 3 threes. He's continuing to be the smooth lefty he's shown himself to be, with a capable inside and out game. His playmaking ability is what has improved the most, as he really doesn't have trouble moving the ball and finding the open man when he has talent around him. He's just such a solid player that should continue to pop up on coaches radars.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1280889"],"_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":"Smith showed why he should be one of the top freshmen when the new rankings come out next year, as he opened his high school career with a massive 43 point performance in a close win. He's an offensive dynamo, with a shifty first step and ability to fill it up at multiple levels. His rim attacking ability is impressive for his age, and causes teams to really focus on him once he gets going downhill. He's a big kid already and that length and size should translate to a polished defensive player, but it still needs some work. However, his offensive ability will take him a long way for now, as evidenced last week.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6564e5881e3ad"} /-->