NCHSAA 3A Top 10 Returners: Assists

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Take a look at the Top 10 returners in assists in the NCHSAA 3A ranks as another season of HS hoops approaches.</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: jerran.anderson@gmail.com.</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">10) [player_tooltip player_id='1220130' first='Damien' last='Gary'] | 6'0 Guard | Cape Fear High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gary is an underrated name to know both on the hardwood and on the football field over at Cape Fear High. For his part on the hardwood, he's a do-it-all guard who's shown he can score and distribute with consistency. He racked up 4.7 assists per game this past year and looks to do a whole lot more heading into his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">9) [player_tooltip player_id='2320793' first='Nasir' last='Newkirk'] | 6'2 Guard/Wing | Dudley High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newkirk is a prospect to get to know in the Greensboro area out of Dudley High given his penchant for playmaking for others. He checks in as the No.9 top returner in the NCHSAA 3A ranks after distributing 4.9 assists per game this past season for the Panthers. He's an unselfish backcourt presence to watch this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">T-8) [player_tooltip player_id='1361282' first='Jermaine' last='Cunningham'] | 6'3 Guard | Swansboro High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cunningham is a prospect who continues to shine on the PH radar on the NCHSAA 3A stage out of Swansboro High. He's developed tremendously as quite the combo guard as he checks in at eighth in assists per game returners at 5.0 assists per contest. He's slowly emerging as a name for DII programs to get to know heading into his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><br>T-8) [player_tooltip player_id='1672422' first='Jamie' last='Dance'] | 6'1 Guard | Currituck County High </h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dance is a budding name to get to know in the 2026 class out of Currituck County High. He's a two-way menace on the floor with a penchant for dishing out a high number of assists. He checks in in a tie for eighth after averaging 5.0 assists per game this past season. He's an emerging DII/DIII prospect to get to know in the 252 area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">6) [player_tooltip player_id='2521029' first='Eli' last='Tysinger'] | 6'0 Guard | Central Davidson High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tysinger is a rising 2025 prospect to get to know out of Central Davidson High given his ability to make plays for others. He distributed 5.2 assists per game this past season as they went 25-3 and 10-0 in the Mid-Piedmont Conference. He'll look to pick up where he left off this past year to close out his high school career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5) [player_tooltip player_id='2521032' first='Josiah' last='Dorsette'] | 5'9 Point Guard | Durham School of the Arts</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dorsette is a rising name to get to know in the 2027 class out of Durham School of the Arts especially as a playmaker. He dished out 5.4 assists per game in his debut on the varsity stage this past season. He's got a bright future ahead of him in the NCHSAA 3A ranks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><br>4) [player_tooltip player_id='1832546' first='Ja'vier' last='Tinnin'] | 5'11 Point Guard | Eastern Alamance High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tinnin is an underrated prospect in the 2025 class out of Eastern Alamance High to get to know given his ability to make plays for others. He distributed 5.7 assists per contest this past season in the Eagles backcourt as their unsung leader. He's a budding name for DIII and JUCO programs to get eyes on this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">3) [player_tooltip player_id='1744976' first='Kellen' last='Karr'] | 6'6 Guard/Wing | North Lincoln High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Karr is an emerging name to know in the NCHSAA 3A ranks out of North Lincoln High who's a triple-double producer in the making given his ability to score, distribute and rebound. He checks in at No. 3 in top returners in assists after averaging 5.9 assists per contest in 2023-24. He's one for DI and DII programs to watch in the Western Foothills Conference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2) [player_tooltip player_id='2521031' first='Jaden' last='Hilliard'] | 5'11 Guard | Croatan High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hilliard is an unsigned senior name to get to know in the NCHSAA 3A out of Croatan High after his production in the playmaking department. He dished out 6.0 assists per game to lead the offensive attack this past season. He's a prospect in the 2025 class to watch given his pedigree for playmaking. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1) [player_tooltip player_id='2375831' first='Dalton' last='Johnson'] | 6'0 Point Guard | Rockingnham County High </h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson returns as the top assist man in the NCHSAA 3A out of Rockingham County High. He's a returner to know in both scoring and assists in the 2025 class after dishing out 7.0 assists per game in 2023-24. He's got a bright future ahead of him as an unsigned senior to know. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->