NCISAA Playoff Breakout Candidates

With the NCISAA conference tournaments beginning later on this week, there are so many guys on the verge of seeing their stock soar, but are just patiently waiting for that platform to present itself. Everybody in North Carolina knows that the last weekend of the NCISAA playoffs create a special environment for current stars to shine and new ones to emerge. Let's take a look at some guys that can see big bumps in recruitment and the rankings after the NCISAA playoffs.    Moore is an emerging prospect at Greenfield School that possesses a ton of natural gifts and a motor that never stops running. Moore shows so many high level flashes and maintains consistent production which is really impressive for a young player, especially considering the schedule that Greenfield has faced this season. For 24-4 (8-0) Greenfield, Moore is averaging 11.1 Points, 5.1 Rebounds, 3.3 Assists, 1.1 Steals, and 1.7 Blocks per game. He's doing all of that on 54/35/46 splits as well. Moore is above the rim, possesses elite end to end speed, and is showing the ability to knock down outside shots from time to time. As he becomes a more efficient free throw shooter, he'll only be more aggressive and productive. He's a strong downhill right hand driver and is capable of being a secondary playmaker. He's going to be vital for Greenfield as they look to capture the NCISAA 2A title.     Duggins will likely debut as the top player in 2029 in NC and it's only a matter of time before his recruitment takes national stage even though he's only a freshman. Duggins possesses special shooting touch at 6'10" with great two way awareness on the floor. Duggins possesses so much next level appeal at an early stage that it's obvious there is real intent with the way he's been developed up to this point. His ability to flourish amongst other talented players while doing it in a complex + methodical system at such a young age. Greensboro Day is primed and ready for another NCISAA 3A title run, and as they games get more important, expect Duggins role to be elevated to an even greater height.     Nicholson has been noticeably improving as the season has played out for The Burlington School who once again find themselves amongst the contenders for an NCISAA 2A Championship. Nicholson possesses a unique blend of rim protection on the defensive end + vertical AND traditional spacing on the offensive end. The kid blocks shots, catches lobs, and possesses the ability to knock down the open catch and shoot three. As the lights get brighter and the competition gets tougher, only more attention will be drawn to these games. If Nicholson can help TBS go on a title run while showing flashes of his tantalizing skillset, I fully expect him to get even more recruiting momentum heading into that vital 17u travel ball summer. Nicholson is averaging 6.2 Points, 4.8 Rebounds, 0.8 Assists, and 3.5 Blocks per game all on 50/39/63 splits.     Newman has been a dark horse for Gatorade Player of the Year this season in North Carolina and I think the bright lights of the playoff will be the perfect showcase for him to show everyone the superstar that he's become for Gaston Christian. With a 24-6 record, they're a real threat for the NCISAA 3A title and Newman is flat out leading the charge. Newman is averaging 18.1 Points, 4.9 Rebounds, 4.6 Assists, and 3.0 Steals per game. All while shooting with 44/37/76 splits. He can completely manipulate the defense with his dribble live because of how he uses angles to create lanes for his own drives or passes for teammates. I think it's pretty clear that he's a division one level kid and should see more schools come in late as their respective seasons wind to a close. A monster state championship run for Newman and Gaston Christian would certainly help that.     Connor is a mismatch forward that brings a ton of energy and physicality over the course of a game. Forsyth Country Day is 24-2 and have a great blend of returners with new pieces and Connor is the shiny new car in the driveway. He's consistently flirting with 20 point double doubles, is a real problem to deal with physically, and is able to help this talented group of players execute their offense with efficiency. He's constantly a threat on both backboards, he possesses the strength and athleticism to guard bigger guys along with the agility and instincts to guard smaller ones. He's very efficient scoring the ball inside the arc and is someone you can run your offense through if needed with his ability to pass out of double teams. Forsyth Country Day is at this point in time, the clear favorite for the NCISAA 4A Championship with Connor as one of the main reasons why.

With the NCISAA conference tournaments beginning later on this week, there are so many guys on the verge of seeing their stock soar, but are just patiently waiting for that platform to present itself. Everybody in North Carolina knows that the last weekend of the NCISAA playoffs create a special environment for current stars to shine and new ones to emerge. Let's take a look at some guys that can see big bumps in recruitment and the rankings after the NCISAA playoffs.