NCISAA Games of the Week – Week 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With more impressive basketball back this week, we headed to figure out which contests would be our games of the week. While all eyes will be on the George Lynch Invitational this weekend, we turn our focus to some less-highlighted, but still competitive contests full of talent. Read for more info down below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NRCA (1-0) @ Trinity Academy (0-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We open up the column with a local clash between NRCA heading west on 540 to take on Trinity Academy. The Knights are a group with solid depth, but still looking to find their high end talent or their closer to lead them over the course of the season. A couple of exciting freshmen are to note for NRCA, those being [player_tooltip player_id='1608342' first='Caiden' last='Jenkins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2268800' first='Brennan' last='Jefferson']. They should feature nicely on the wings for NRCA, as well as incoming transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2283890' first='Tristan' last='Thompson']. For Trinity, they're going to be a really solid group this year that can compete and win plenty of games in the NCISAA. [player_tooltip player_id='1165160' first='Parker' last='Bye'] is a confident shooting guard who can spray it from deep, and [player_tooltip player_id='2206385' first='Evan' last='Dean'] has transferred in as a long wing that can do damage in transition and around the rim. Where they will really benefit is from CB Aycock transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1076337' first='Kamran' last='Prince'], an extremely physical, downhill scorer that will put pressure on defenses like no one else in his conference. He should help get this group off to a winning start Tuesday evening as Trinity looks to begin a successful season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Providence Day (0-0) @ Victory Christian (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Providence Day has been a consistently excellent program, and they have reloaded this year in what should be an exciting pursuit for a state title. [player_tooltip player_id='1336430' first='Nick' last='Hailey'] is back from injury as he looks to continue dominating as a scorer and facilitator, and [player_tooltip player_id='1487712' first='Trajan' last='Thompson'] gives them excellent length on the outside. East Meck transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1276940' first='Jonah' last='Lawrence'] will also be expected to handle a lot of the scoring load as well, while Jordan Appling heads into his senior year looking to make an impact as a floor general and continue to rack up more offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, let's not count Victory Christian as an easy road win for PD. [player_tooltip player_id='1975441' first='Alius' last='Bowser'] returns for one last ride to lead the show, as a dynamic, physical guard that doesn't let anyone knock him off his spots and gets whatever he wants in the half court. [player_tooltip player_id='2276225' first='Abdulai' last='Kabba Fanta'] is a man among boys, with a 6'11 frame and an ability to sprint the floor that's essential for a collegiate big. They've got legitimate size and strength to be able to compete with PD both in the frontcourt and backcourt, which means they will always be a tough out. I'd venture to say PD wins, but it won't come without a really tough fight from Victory Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Covenant Day (0-0) @ Forsyth Country Day (2-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Covenant Day looks to get its season started on the road against a tough FCDS team, but this is a Covenant Day team that is the best it's been in a long time. [player_tooltip player_id='1410267' first='Chris' last='Rivens'] has looked the part of a Division 1 guard this summer and looks to translate it to the high school game, and Elijah Green also will be a tough, scrappy guard that is coming off an all-conference year. Incoming transfers [player_tooltip player_id='1338305' first='Michael' last='Marcus Jr']. and [player_tooltip player_id='1373707' first='Tyree' last='White'] provide interior physicality and impressive playmaking respectively. They have the makings of a deep, talented group this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For FCDS, this seems to be their year to make the most noise. Presbyterian commit [player_tooltip player_id='997745' first='Iverson' last='King'] and Emory and Henry commit [player_tooltip player_id='854910' first='Draven' last='Pilson'] will be interchangeable as physical, switchable wing/forwards that can really affect the game in transition offense and on defense too. [player_tooltip player_id='1078979' first='Bobby' last='Cannon Jr'] is a long, thin forward that will make noise after his commitment to New Orleans earlier this month. And we can't forget about [player_tooltip player_id='2274248' first='Q' last='Williams'], the point guard who runs the show for them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This ought to be a fierce, competitive battle that goes all 32 minutes, but FCDS should have the most high level talent to get it done in the end. Their size and ability in transition will be very helpful.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->