NCISAA Games of the Week – Week 1
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High school basketball is officially back this week in the Hoop State, with independent and non-football playing public schools beginning games. With plenty of impressive private schools teams getting off to quick starts, we’ll be interested in catching a few…
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Continue ReadingHigh school basketball is officially back this week in the Hoop State, with independent and non-football playing public schools beginning games. With plenty of impressive private schools teams getting off to quick starts, we’ll be interested in catching a few of these games during the week. Check out who’s playing and who’s going to star below.
Grace Christian @ Greensboro Day
Greensboro Day opens up a new season with a new look team against a plucky Grace Christian squad that is looking to make some noise this year. For the Eagles, all eyes are on Michael Phillips Michael Phillips 6'4" | SG Grace Christian | 2026 State NC II as he begins a “prove-it” season after an impressive summer. He’s got elite two-way potential in his future, and still acts a smooth shotmaker in the here and now, and Quasim Oden Quasim Oden 6'1" | PG GRACE Christian | 2024 State NC will be able to guard opposing guards with aggression and great instincts on the ball. These guys have both the depth and defensive talent to disrupt Greensboro Day, but the Bengals will be well prepared.
Coach Johnson and GDS will rely on lots of new production this year, but their best holdover in William Otto William Otto 6'4" | CG Greensboro Day | 2024 State NC will be essential to their chances, as the kind of high IQ, steady guard with plus positional size that coaches love. Addison Newkirk Addison Newkirk 6'6" | SF Greensboro Day | 2025 State NC will be a secondary scorer and asked to be a leader and steady wing presence heading into his junior season, and Kohi Strickland Kohi Strickland 6'5" | SF Greensboro Day | 2026 State NC is an athletic wing who will ply his trade mostly on the defensive end this upcoming season with length and vertical pop.
This is going to be an intriguing clash between two 3A contenders this season, and I’ll be interested to see whether the hype out of Wake County surrounding Grace Christian is real. I like GDS to play their brand of basketball well for all 32 minutes and take home the win in the end.
Southern Wake Academy @ Cary Academy
Cary Academy will start their first season being TISAC favorites in over a decade by taking on revamped 1A powerhouse Southern Wake Academy Wednesday evening, and it’s a stern test for the Chargers. Coach Quintin Austin has reloaded this group with plenty of incoming transfers, with one of the most impressive being Chris Crudup Chris Crudup 6'3" | PG Southern Wake Academy | 2024 State NC . He’s been a three level scorer for years, but is continuing to show off improved playmaking chops and may be able to take ball handling duties this season. Alex Rechetnikov Alex Rechetnikov 6'4" | SG Southern Wake Academy | 2024 State NC is one of the best shooters in the 919 area code and can shoot it from all over as well. Jalen Sheppard Jalen Sheppard 6'2" | CG Southern Wake Academy | 2026 State NC and Se Surmons Se Surmons 6'0" | CG Southern Wake Academy | 2025 NC will be able to guard the ball all 94 feet and make plays with the ball in their hands as well.
For Cary Academy, their advantage will come through Wyatt DeGraaf Wyatt DeGraaf 6'10" | C Cary Academy | 2024 State NC , one of the most intriguing post prospects in the state. He has the potential to be a terror around the rim at the D1 level, but is still developing in skill and touch due to multiple injuries suffered in the last two years. McCoy Williams McCoy Williams 6'2" | PG Cary Academy | 2026 State NC is in line to pick up the scoring load and be a viable two way threat for the Chargers, and Aidan Rousseau Aidan Rousseau 6'6" | SF Cary Academy | 2026 State NC can stretch the floor as a space-creating forward. I’d be surprised if this group doesn’t finish top two in the TISAC.
Wednesday night will be a tough test for the Chargers, but I believe they have enough talent and will have a home court advantage to start the year, giving them the win at home.
Davidson Day @ Cannon
Cannon is one of the favorites for a 4A state title, but will have to contend with a new look Davidson Day team that should make much more noise this season than last. Cannon’s dynamic duo of Austin Swartz Austin Swartz 6'5" | SG Cannon | 2024 State #40 Nation NC and Isaiah Henry Isaiah Henry 6'5" | CG Cannon School | 2025 State #162 Nation NC will lead the group this year, with Swartz as a wing bucket-getter from the perimeter and Henry as as a combo guard who can really put pressure on the rim. Jaylen Claggett Jaylen Claggett 6'3" | CG Cannon School | 2025 State NC will also shine as a scorer and playmaker at the point guard spot, and Max Murash is a thin big who is good around the rim with his touch and provide some rebounding and rim protection as well. Coach Che Roth will have his guys ready to play, and the home atmosphere should give them an added boost.
Davidson Day is almost an entirely new this year, led by Isaiah Denis Isaiah Denis 6'5" | SF Davidson Day | 2025 State NC , the incredibly athletic sharpshooting point guard that will handle the rock for them this year. Mercer commit Mason Smith Mason Smith 6'7" | PF Davidson Day | 2024 State NC will continue to show off his extreme shooting skills in a 6’7 frame. Levon Jacobs Levon Jacobs 6'9" | C Davidson Day | 2025 State NC is a transfer in that plays hard and is switchable at 6’9. William Stevens William Stevens 6'10" | C Davidson Day | 2026 State NC is a 2026, 6’10 big who plays with his back to the basket and shows off good passing and post chops every time the ball goes into him, and Brady Kester Brady Kester 6'8" | PF Davidson Day | 2024 State NC will rotate minutes with these other two bigs and should be headed for the D2/D3 level next year. This will be a well-coached, dangerous group for many opponents this year, but I believe they come up just short against Cannon Friday night.