2024 Terry Walls Holiday Invitational Preview

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Northwood Temple enters the game with a record of 12-4 and riding a three-game winning streak as they look to avenge an 89-66 loss to Wayne Country Day in last year's NCISAA State Playoffs. The Eagles have ridden their trio of Kenny Vera Kenny Vera 6'3" | PG/CG Northwood Temple Academy | 2025 State NC , Elijah Kindle Elijah Kindle 6'0" | SG/CG Northwood Temple Academy | 2025 State NC and Winston Waite Winston Waite 6'0" | SG Northwood Temple Academy | 2026 State NC for much of the season. Josiah Harris is another unsigned senior prospect to keep an eye on for them as well. They'll look to slow down a Wayne Country Day squad riding a win streak of their own.

The Chargers enter Friday's matchup with a 14-3 record, winning seven straight games coming in. Camden Tyler Camden Tyler 5'11" | PG Wayne Country Day | 2026 State NC comes into the game averaging a team-high 7.3 assists per game while Marcel Freeman Marcel Freeman 6'0" | CG Wayne Country Day | 2026 State NC (18.0 ppg), Jeremiah Mercer Jeremiah Mercer 6'3" | SG Wayne Country Day | 2027 State NC (12.4 ppg) and Jaelen Solomon Jaelen Solomon 6'5" | PF Wayne Country Day | 2025 State NC (11.9 ppg) are their double-figure scorers on the season. They've been a load to handle for opposing teams and it's shown as they've won all their last seven games by at least 10 points. They'll look to keep things going against Northwood Temple in the Terry Walls Holiday Invitational.

Harrells Christian has won nine of their last 10 games coming into their meeting with Freedom Christian Academy. They're hard to stop with Antonio McKoy Antonio McKoy 6'5" | SF Harrells Christian Academy | 2026 State NC , DaShaun McKoy DaShaun McKoy 6'3" | CG Harrells Christian Academy | 2026 State NC and Amir Moore Amir Moore 6'8" | C Harrells Christian Academy | 2027 State NC as sizeable options for them. The trio finished with 59 of the team's 68 points in their overtime victory over Washington High in their last victory. They've proven to be a formidable trio of options on the wing and in the painted area for the Crusaders to rely on as evidenced by their 14-2 record. They'll look to keep things going against a talented Freedom Christian backcourt.

Freedom Christian is seemingly peaking at the right time with the second half of the season approaching. They've won four games in a row heading into their meeting against the Crusaders. They've been an explosive offense in the past two wins, posting 100+ points in their last two victories. Karsten Swinney Karsten Swinney 5'9" | PG Freedom Christian Academy | 2026 State NC put up 41 points with Bryce West Bryce West 6'3" | SG Freedom Christian Academy | 2027 State NC right behind him with 29 points of his own. Swinney had 11 assists and West had seven assists, seven steals and six rebounds as well. They're a dynamic backcourt pairing that's been proven tough to stop in 2024-25. Harrells Christian will look to slow them down with their versatile bunch.

Christian Ananaba Christian Ananaba 6'5" | SF Southeast Raleigh | 2025 State NC vs. Charlie Thomas Charlie Thomas 6'6" | PF Eastern Wayne | 2026 State NC and Michael Bailey Michael Bailey 6'1" | PG/CG Eastern Wayne | 2025 State NC vs. Ethan Reid Ethan Reid 6'3" | CG Southeast Raleigh | 2025 State NC should be an exciting battle of prospects for the 919 and Wayne County areas in the 5:30 PM game. Both teams matchup interestingly well given their balanced backcourts and versatility on the wing with their athleticism and scoring prowess on that front. The Bulldogs have won three games in a row coming in Ananaba and Reid have proven they're ready to lead with their squad at 5-2 on the year. Ananaba will look to attack off the bounce and Reid should offset things with his ability to knock down shots off the bounce.

Charlie Thomas Charlie Thomas 6'6" | PF Eastern Wayne | 2026 State NC and Michael Bailey Michael Bailey 6'1" | PG/CG Eastern Wayne | 2025 State NC are just a few names to know for Eastern Wayne on the other side of things. The Warriors come into the game with an 8-2 record with their only loss to an NCISAA squad. Young big man Levi Evans has shown his growth this season in getting spot minutes and given his length, he could pose as a huge advantage in this one. He's another name to keep an eye on on a talented roster filled with other talented senior guards as well.

Gaven Proctor and Tyjujuan Johnson are the leading name for Wayne Prep with Proctor averaging 17.1 points and Johnson averaging 12.3 points per game. They're two names who've shown they can get hot in a hurry, especially on the WJG Sports stage. Zach Golden is another unsigned senior name to know as he's putting up 8.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Expect a spirited performance from the Generals. After all, they are 11-4 on the season.

The Cougars (4-6) will close things out in the final game on Friday night. Nyrese Williams and Maurice Tyler lead the way for them with 14.6 points and 14.1 points per game on the season. Tyler has been a presence on the rebounding and shot-blocking front and given Wayne Prep's lack of size, he could see another big performance in the painted area on the horizon. They'll look to hold homecourt against a scrappy Wayne Prep squad.

All games will be played at Goldsboro High School