2023 In Review – NCISAA 4A Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally we reach the end of the private school year in review series, as today focuses on the biggest schools from the 4A class. With some top teams that will battle it out in some absolute titanic clashes, as well as some impressive individual talent in less heralded teams, it's a class that will be fun to keep an eye on. Read below for more on the 4A division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cannon School Going Through a Gauntlet</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cannon doesn't boast the shiny record other top teams have, as they are 12-5, but no one can say they have not played a grueling schedule. In state they have only lost to Davidson Day and 4A title contenders Lake Norman, but have also played the top two players in the national 2024 class in the City of Palms tournament last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1030010' first='Austin' last='Swartz'] continues to be as efficient of a scorer as ever, making plays against top defenders in the mid-range and beyond the arc. [player_tooltip player_id='1226605' first='Isaiah' last='Henry'] has also been powerfully attacking the basket and mid-range area of the floor, and continues to solidify why he's a D1 prospect on the wing. [player_tooltip player_id='1105008' first='Jaylen' last='Claggett'] has remained consistent on the offensive end, while [player_tooltip player_id='2290394' first='Lincoln' last='Vinson'] has become a freshman to know among this group. [player_tooltip player_id='1277055' first='Tyler' last='Martin'] has also been super solid at the PG spot as a distributor and facilitator, with his commitment to Denison being a huge pickup for them. With the John Wall Invitational being their next big test, they'll be able to prove why they should continue to be a state title contender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Our Top Three Teams Remain the Same</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside of Cannon, our other top teams hailed from the Charlotte area. Christ School and Providence Day are still the two teams most likely to take the trophy home in March, with both groups boasting a diverse collection of talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christ School has quite a group this year coming off a state championship, but the Greenies ran into two losses at the Lemon Street Classic in Marietta this past week, putting their record at 11-3 on the season. Zymicah Wilkins is a certified HM player, a strong forward who has continued to bully opponents in the interior as well as expand his range offensively so far this year. Their backcourt is also extremely talented, with 2 D1 commits ([player_tooltip player_id='865287' first='Jamari' last='Briggs'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1076360' first='Bryson' last='Cokley']) and a potential third in [player_tooltip player_id='951365' first='Keenan' last='Wilkins'], a smaller floor general who is confident and pushes with pace with the ball in his hands. Guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1239543' first='Madden' last='Collins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1496977' first='Lleyton' last='Thomas-Johnson'] are also impact guards who just sometimes don't see the floor as much with such a deep and talented group. They head to the John Wall Invitational as well this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Providence Day is also deep and talented, and it isn't a one man show as a leading scorer. [player_tooltip player_id='1336430' first='Nick' last='Hailey'] is a smooth 2 guard with 3 level scoring chops and big time burst, but [player_tooltip player_id='1487712' first='Trajan' last='Thompson'] would also say he's in the conversation due to his massive length and ability to attack in transition. [player_tooltip player_id='1276940' first='Jonah' last='Lawrence'] transferred from public school this year, but he's an accomplished scorer, reaching 1,000 points already in his junior year. [player_tooltip player_id='1454557' first='Julian' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1487713' first='Osvaldo' last='Haynes II'] are names that the Chargers have in the frontcourt, both with size and some offensive skill to keep teams guessing. With a 10-4 record so far, the Chargers are ready to keep rolling into a mid-January matchup with Cannon that will be a great litmus test for the two schools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other Names to Monitor</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carmel Christian has played a grueling schedule so far, but dynamic duo [player_tooltip player_id='1730959' first='Kameron' last='Taylor'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1226598' first='Bryce' last='Slay'] have been going off. Taylor is averaging 24.7 PPG while Slay is averaging 17.7 PPG, both dynamic scorers that do varied things on offense... Charlotte Country Day is off to a much better start than expected with the departure of multiple impact seniors. [player_tooltip player_id='1029968' first='Amare' last='Bethel'] has been the engine that makes them go, scoring 30+ points multiple times and confounding defenses nightly... A trio of Triangle teams will be in contention for both the TISAC title as well as a deep run in the state tournament. Cary Academy boasts freshman dynamo [player_tooltip player_id='2148143' first='Preston' last='Moore'] along with Brown commit [player_tooltip player_id='1076331' first='Wyatt' last='DeGraaf'], Aiden Rosseau, and [player_tooltip player_id='2055527' first='McCoy' last='Williams']. Ravenscroft is led by former Charger [player_tooltip player_id='1665791' first='Chance' last='Gladden'], who has NESCAC commit [player_tooltip player_id='2290092' first='Jackson' last='Rein'] on the floor with him as well. Durham Academy has the least star power out of the three, but [player_tooltip player_id='2467420' first='Joshua' last='Dorsette'] and Amare Burrus are both names to monitor, along with one of our top performers last week [player_tooltip player_id='2351002' first='PJ' last='Jeffries'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->