NCHSAA 2A Top 10 Returners: Blocks

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Take a look at the Top 10 returners in blocks in the NCHSAA 2A with another season of HS hoops on the horizon!</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>There's no better time to sign up for PrepHoopsNC! Get 30% OFF payment on your first billing cycle with offer code: JAYANDERSON30, sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/subscribe">TODAY</a>!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>All stats are based on those posted on MaxPreps and social media! If stats haven't been posted, please feel free to reach out:&nbsp;jerran.anderson@gmail.com.</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">T-10) [player_tooltip player_id='2523137' first='Avery' last='Bigelow'] | 6'3 Forward/Center | Morehead High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bigelow is a new face on the PH radar to get to know in the NCHSAA 2A ranks out of Morehead High in the 2025 class. He plays a lot bigger than his listed height of 6-foot-3 as he checks in at a tie for 10th alongside [player_tooltip player_id='1225619' first='Brennen' last='Oldham'] (Jordan-Matthews) with 2.0 blocks per game a season ago. He's shown he can hold his own in the painted area for the Panthers, recording at least one block in all but three of his 26 appearances as a junior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">T-10) [player_tooltip player_id='1225619' first='Brennen' last='Oldham'] | 6'6 Forward/Center | Jordan-Matthews High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oldham is a familiar face on the PH platform as he makes his return in the NCHSAA 2A ranks in a tie with [player_tooltip player_id='2523137' first='Avery' last='Bigelow'] (Morehead) for 10th in blocks from a season ago with 2.0. He put up a season-high seven blocks back on Jan. 12 along with 25 points and 20 rebounds in a win over Seaforth. He made quite the impression as a new face in the Jets rotation as he showed he could alter shots and put together double-doubles (9).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">8) [player_tooltip player_id='1280985' first='Chaise' last='Smith'] | 6'2 Guard | Washington High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is one of the few backcourt presences on the list but it speaks to his pedigree for finding the ball on the defensive end, especially as a shot-blocker in the NCHSAA 2A ranks. He checks in at No. 8 among top returners in blocks per game from a year ago with 2.1. He recorded at least one block in all but one game from a season ago for the Pam Pack. He's a HM prospect in the 2026 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">T-7) [player_tooltip player_id='2523120' first='Darrell' last='Williams'] | 6'6 Forward | Community School of Davidson</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams is an emerging name to get to know in NCHSAA 2A at Community School of Davidson in the 2025 class. He checks in at a tie for seventh as a top returner in blocks per contest (2.2) following his junior year. He's shown he can use his length at 6-foot-6 to alter shots, pushing out to a season-high seven blocks back on Nov. 30 against Legion Collegiate. He's a name to add to the radar heading into 2024-25. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">T-7) [player_tooltip player_id='2523134' first='Josiah' last='Billings'] | 6'7 Forward/Center | Fairmont High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Billings is a sizeable name to know on the shot-blocking front in NCHSAA 2A action out of Fairmont High. He utilizes his length well at 6-foot-7 to alter shots and returns in a tie with [player_tooltip player_id='2523120' first='Darrell' last='Williams'] (Community School of Davidson) with 2.2 blocks per contest in 2023-24. Seven blocks was his season-high mark as a junior and a number to match as he looks to go out with a bang in his senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5) [player_tooltip player_id='2449236' first='Tyshaun' last='Goldston'] | 6'4 Guard/Wing | Randleman High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goldston is a rising senior prospect out of Randleman High to get to know given his pedigree for rebounding the ball and altering shots. He's a top returner in blocks per game in NCHSAA 2A after producing 2.3 blocks per contest this past year. He put together a number of multi-block games this past season including five game with five blocks or more. He's shown he can do a lot more than score the ball when he's on the hardwood, especially as a defensive menace around the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">4) [player_tooltip player_id='2523139' first='Jarryn' last='Payne'] | 6'4 Wing/Forward | Washington High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Payne is an athletic wing/forward to know in NCHSAA 2A with the Washington High Pam Pack. He burst onto the scene this past season for the PamPack with his ability to play above the rim on both ends of the floor. He returns for his junior season after swatting 2.5 shots per game in 2023-24. He's just scratching the surface of what he can do on the wing and in the paint as a defender and rebounder. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">3) [player_tooltip player_id='2466960' first='Justin' last='Bridgers'] | 6'5 Forward | SouthWest Edgecombe</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bridgers is an intriguing forward prospect to know in NCHSAA 2A at SouthWest Edgecombe High. He's a rising 2026 prospect who's shown he can fly around and alter shots with purpose as he returns at No. 3 on the list with 2.8 blocks per game a season ago. He swatted five or more shots in five gamed a year ago as a sophomore and has a bright future ahead of him as his game continues to develop on both ends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2) [player_tooltip player_id='2093879' first='Landen' last='Lyerly'] | 6'6 Power Forward | Lincolnton High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lyerly is quite the presence to know in the Lincolnton High frontcourt given his penchant for rebounding and blocking shots in NCHSAA 2A. He checks in at second among top returners in blocks per game from a season ago after racking up 3.1 blocks per contest as a junior. He put together a triple-double back on Nov. 28 with 10 blocks, 16 rebounds and 15 points against Stuart Cramer High. He's a bruiser in the painted area to know. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1) [player_tooltip player_id='2093887' first='Landon' last='Vaughan'] | 6'9 Forward/Center | Bandys High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vaughan is already a top returner on the rebounding front in the NCHSAA and the top returner in blocks to know heading into 2024-25. He returns after posting 3.6 blocks per game for Bandys High in his junior year. He swatted a season-high nine blocks against Maiden in a near triple-double finish back on Jan. 12. He's a name for DII and DIII programs in the region to get eyes on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->