Around the State: NCHSAA 2A Neuse Conference 

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The 2A Neuse Conference is shaping up to be a competitive one when the schedule kicks off, Take a look at the early favorites and prospects to watch on a few squads as the Holiday Break approaches.</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><em>There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment on your first billing cycle with offer code: <strong>JAYANDERSON30</strong>, sign up <a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>TODAY</strong></a>!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">North Johnston High (6-1)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Johnston High took a 59-56 loss on the road to South Granville this past Friday but they still saw [player_tooltip player_id='1165176' first='Marcel' last='Freeman'] finish with 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists. It was tough to overcome [player_tooltip player_id='1220114' first='Mason' last='Brown']'s 17 points in that one. The Panthers still have the favorite for Conference Player of the Year in the rotation with Freeman and he's a competitor that's not easy to defeat. Freeman is averaging 23.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.0 APG and 2.7 SPG on 57 percent shooting from the floor and 47 percent shooting from deep. The Panthers will have their work cut out for them with Beddingfield High and Goldsboro High lurking in the 2A Neuse Conference this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Beddingfield High (6-1)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Beddingfield Bruins are making quite the splash already in 2023-24 with a 6-1 record. It's worth noting that Beddingfield High was just 6-17 in 2022-23 but things have changed with 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2299524' first='Jayonta' last='Blanchard'] on the roster. He recently posted 25 points, five assists and three steals in a victory over Fike High. 6-foot-2 sophomore Darrian Jones The Bruins are 6-1 and have won four in a row on the road including a two-point victory over Greene Central High. They'll square off with an 0-5 Nash Central High squad on Wednesday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Goldsboro High (6-2)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cougars got back in the win column with a 66-62 victory over Southern Wayne High after losing two games in a row. They're still trying to find their identity on the floor but [player_tooltip player_id='1076371' first='Amari' last='Latham'] and sophomore Maurice Tyler are starting to find their roles on the wings. 6-foot-2 guard Nyrese Williams is starting to find his way as a perimeter threat as well. They're a well-coached group that finds a way to play well when conference play arrives. They should contend at the top of the Neuse River standings if all goes according to plan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->