NCHSAA 1A Playoff Preview: A Look at the Top 5 Seeds

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">PrepHoops takes a look at the top seeds across the East and West regions in the NCHSAA 1A State Playoff picture!</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>USE CODE</em><strong><em>&nbsp;anderson30</em></strong><em>&nbsp;for 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION!</em><a href="http://www.prephoops.com/subscribe/?coupon=anderson30">&nbsp;Subscribe</a>&nbsp;today!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">East - Top 5 Seeds</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1) <strong>Washington County (18-3)</strong> - The Panthers look to finish another strong season with a state championship after unseating Bertie in the regular-season conference championship chair. [player_tooltip player_id='2311776' first='Brandon' last='Carter'] Jr. can score in bunches while [player_tooltip player_id='2044110' first='Christian' last='Phelps'] has been a double-double machine on the interior and quite the clean-up man. Keep an eye out for Zyquan Sanders as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2)<strong> Southern Wake Academy (22-4)</strong> - The Lions look to set their focus on a NCHSAA State Title after falling short to eventual champion Wilson Prep last year. They're a balanced group who've been battle-tested early with some tough out-of-conference foes. Unsigned seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1262468' first='Ira' last='Wilson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2123684' first='Se' last='Surmons'] are two early names to watch for them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3)<strong> Lakewood (21-1)</strong> - The Leopards have won 21 games since dropping their season-opener back on Dec. 12. They've shined the brighter with Cameron Williams and [player_tooltip player_id='2743619' first='Xavier' last='Hall'] leading the way for them this season. Hall is a 6-foot-9 massive presence on the floor with averages of 16.3 points, 13.7 rebounds and 6.5 blocks per game. He'll look to turn heads on the state playoff stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4) <strong>Voyager Academy (19-5)</strong> - The Vikings are peaking at the right time led by Carlos Green, [player_tooltip player_id='2639605' first='Manny' last='Pullium'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2607596' first='McKinley' last='Hemsley']. They'll look to handle business on Tuesday when they host Pender (6-12) and put the rest of the region on notice. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5) <strong>Wake Prep (22-4)</strong> - Josh Bracey and Shawn Amadike have the Guardians playing well as they look to contend for a state title. Bracey is averaging 15.3 points per game while Amadike is averaging 11.9 points per contest. They'll open things up against Excelsior Classical Academy (12-12) on Tuesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">West - Top 5 Seeds</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1) <strong>Bishop McGuinness (24-2)</strong> - a well-coached group who's always in the conversation for a state title thanks to head coach Josh Thompson and what he's built. They've won 17 games in a row coming in and face Alleghany (12-13) on Tuesday night to open up the first round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2) <strong>South Stokes (24-2)</strong> - they'll open up the first round against Elkin (11-15) with an 18-game winning streak on the table. The Sauras are led by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2319817' first='Brady' last='Clark'], who's playing some of his best basketball and fellow junior BJ Gray and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2319816' first='Korrin' last='N'Diaye'] are playing strong as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3) <strong>Queens Grant (23-7)</strong> - easily a dark horse contender on paper given their size-advantage with [player_tooltip player_id='2194636' first='Chase' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2268798' first='Cannon' last='DeBerry'] on the interior and their talented cast of 2028 prospects. A lot of eyes will be on the Stallions to perform well under head coach Joe Badgett. Unsigned senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2306038' first='Ian' last='Howard'] is one to watch as well. He comes in averaging 12.8 points per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4) <strong>Mountain Heritage (22-2)</strong> - another team in the 1A West ranks riding their own winning streak, they've won 14 games in a row coming in led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2039196' first='Jace' last='Loven'] and Maxton Gilley. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2762331' first='Brayden' last='Deyton'] has come on strong at the right time for them as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5)<strong> Corvian Community (19-7)</strong> - Last year's runner-up in 1A is the fifth seed coming in though [player_tooltip player_id='2149164' first='RJ' last='Moore'] is playing some of his best basketball coming in. Add in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2374722' first='Malachi' last='McCutcheon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2374724' first='Doug' last='Quarles III'] who are also back from last year's squad and it's easy to see why they're a dark horse contender in this year's field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->