NCHSAA 3A 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 3A 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">10) [player_tooltip player_id='2382798' first='Adonai' last='Tyrance'] | 6'8 Center/Forward | High Point Central High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyrance is a prospect who remains high on the PH radar out of High Point Central High in the NCHSAA 3A ranks. He checks in at 10th in top returners from a season ago, according to MaxPreps, with 1.5 blocke per contest. He recorded a block in 16 of their 22 games this past season with the potential to do a lot more out of the 2026 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">9) [player_tooltip player_id='2523051' first='Bamara' last='Kone'] | 6'5 Forward | West Charlotte High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kone is a new face on the PH radar in the NCHSAA 3A West over at West Charlotte with a knack for protecting the rim and blocking shots. He's the ninth top returner in blocks from 2023-24 after registering 1.6 per game for the Lions frontcourt. A trio of 5 block performances across the regular season boosted his overall production. His ability to protect the painted area with purpose should keep him on the court heading into his senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">8) [player_tooltip player_id='2326899' first='Bakari' last='Jordan Watkins'] | 6'5 Forward/Wing | Carrboro High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watkins is a name with a ton of versatility in the 2026 class out of Carrboro High and he's proving himself as such with an appearance as a top returner in blocks from 2023-24 in the NCHSAA 3A East. He racked up 1.7 blocks per game when it was all said and done at the end of his sophomore season, recording a season-high six blocks on two seperate occasions. He's a name for DII and DIII programs in the region to track. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">7) [player_tooltip player_id='2382797' first='Custer' last='Prenger'] | 6'6 Forward | Smoky Mountain High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prenger is another rising name in the 2026 class to get to know in the NCHSAA 3A West out of Smoky Mountain High. He swatted an average of 1.9 shots and returns at No. 7 among stat leaders from a season ago in the 3A ranks. He recorded at least one block in all but four of his 25 appearances from a season ago and remains a double-double machine in the making on the rebounding front. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">6) [player_tooltip player_id='2516241' first='Anthony' last='Jones'] | 6'3 Wing/Forward | Rocky Mount High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones is a budding name to know in the 2025 class out Rocky Mount High in the 252 area given his versatility in the paint. He checks in at No. 6 on the top returners list after producing 2.0 blocks per game this past season for the Gryphons. He remains a presence to keep an eye on heading in his senior year given his all-around production. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5) [player_tooltip player_id='2523053' first='Ronnie' last='Hooker'] | 6'3 Power Forward | Lee County High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hooker is another new face to know in the 2025 class out of Lee County High. He's a sizeable prospect who plays a lot bigger than his listed height of 6-foot-3 as evidenced by his production. He produced 2.6 blocks per game, leading the way for the Yellow Jackets with 60 total blocks. He returns as an all-around presence who anchors the defense with consistency. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">4) [player_tooltip player_id='2523061' first='Josiah' last='Young'] | 6'4 Wing/Forward | West Rowan High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Young is a new name to get to know out of West Rowan High in the NCHSAA 3A West region. He's a strong and versatile prospect at 6-foot-4 who's shown he can fill up the stat sheet with more than just his scoring in the 2026 class. He recorded 2.3 blocks per game as a sophomore this past season with a lot more to prove heading into his junior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">3) [player_tooltip player_id='2523063' first='Jeremy' last='Horton'] | 6'6 Forward | Tuscola High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Horton is another new face to get to know in North Carolina's 2026 class out of Tuscola High. He put up impressive production this past season blocking shots and returns as the third top returner from a year ago with 3.1 blocks per contest. He recorded at least one block in all but one game in 2023-24 including a season-high nine blocks as a sophomore. He's a sizeable name to know given his length at 6-foot-6. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2) [player_tooltip player_id='2523059' first='Jacob' last='Stewart'] | 6'7 Forward/Wing | Smithfield-Selma High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stewart is a rising senior name to get to know at Smithfield-Selma High given his size and ability to alter shots around the rim. He returns at No. 2 in the NCHSAA 3A after putting 3.3 blocks per game in 2023-24. He knows how to fill up the stat sheet with his shot-blocking ability and is due to lead the region once again heading into a new season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1) [player_tooltip player_id='2523068' first='Josiah' last='Pratt'] | 6'5 Wing/Forward | West Mecklenburg High</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pratt is an intriguing name to get to know in North Carolina's 2026 class out of West Mecklenburg High. He's a sizeable prospect at 6-foot-5 with confidence protecting the rim after producing 3.6 blocks per game. He's a name to keep an eye on this season heading into his junior year given his production around the painted area. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->