NCHSAA: 3A Power Rankings (First Edition)

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Take a look at the first edition of NCHSAA 3A Power Rankings as conference play gets underway across the state of North Carolina.</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":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. Central Cabarrus (13-0)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings are the team to beat in the early edition of NCHSAA 3A Power Rankings as they're the defending state champions and have won 46 straight games with the Daniel twins and recent Lees-McRae commit [player_tooltip player_id='1743939' first='Desmond' last='Kent Jr'] leading the way for them. They should win the South Piedmont Conference this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. Hickory (11-0)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Red Tornadoes are 11-0 and 2-0 in the Western Foothills Conference as the second half of the season approaches. Iziah Littlejohn, [player_tooltip player_id='1743964' first='John' last='Holbrook'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1743968' first='Jamien' last='Little'] have put them on the map in the 3A West picture with their early play. Look for them to play a role as a contender out of the region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. South Central (8-0)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Falcons are still unbeaten on the young season and 2-0 in Big Carolina Conference action heading into the bulk of conference play. Troy Lofin, [player_tooltip player_id='2319843' first='Ean' last='Behm'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2319854' first='Michael' last='Bowens'] are just a few of the names to get to know with this group as they look to make some noise out of the 252 area this season in the NCHSAA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">4. Southern Guilford (13-1)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Storm are 4-0 in the Mid-State Conference following their 60-56 victory over Ben L. Smith on Wednesday. [player_tooltip player_id='2043250' first='Jyi' last='Dawkins'], [player_tooltip player_id='1273254' first='Jucqarie' last='Love'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1273255' first='Jamias' last='Ferere'] are a tough trio to stop and play a good brand of basketball in the NCHSAA 3A West so far this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5. Swansboro (11-1)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Pirates have won 10 games in a row since losing to Laney High. They're an early favorite to take home the 3A Coastal Conference crown as [player_tooltip player_id='1990376' first='Jonah' last='Holt'], [player_tooltip player_id='1990377' first='Tay' last='Tangiora'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1361282' first='Jermaine' last='Cunningham'] are a trio of juniors looking to make noise out of the NCHSAA 3A East. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">6. Ben L. Smith (11-2)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Golden Eagles took their first loss in Mid-State Conference action to Southern Guilford but they're still well on the contenders' list in the NCHSAA 3A West given [player_tooltip player_id='1947989' first='Gage' last='Lattimore'], [player_tooltip player_id='1786703' first='Jaylon' last='Bumpass'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2633043' first='Kenny' last='Miller Jr'] as contributing factors. Look for them to bounce back against High Point Central on Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">7. Westover (7-1)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolverines are 3-0 in the All-American Conference as [player_tooltip player_id='1076361' first='Ari' last='Fulton'] is producing 20.1 PPG, 11.0 RPG and 1.3 BPG as their versatile wing/forward presence. They'll be a tough out coming out of the Fayetteville area in the 3A East.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">8. Ashbrook (10-2)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Greenwave took their first conference loss in Big South action to Crest High and at 2-1, they're on the brink already of seeing their spot get taken if Crest can stay unbeaten. They'll need to shake off their two-game losing streak and get back on track against Forestview on Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">9. Southern Durham (7-3)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spartans are 2-0 in the Northern Lakes Conference with three tough losses to tough squads on their record as they're led by junior phenom [player_tooltip player_id='1225444' first='Jackson' last='Keith']. They'll need to play strong in conference to see good results in terms of playoff seeding this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">10. North Lincoln (10-3)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights are coming off a game where [player_tooltip player_id='1569217' first='Ty' last='Sanders'] went off for a career-high 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the floor. They're starting to put it all together at the right time as they're 2-1 in the Western Foothills Conference. They're a balanced group worth keeping an eye on out of the 704 area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->