Class of 2030 Players To Watch: 704 Area Code Edition

It can be argued that the best talent in North Carolina is in the 704. From a basketball perspective in the 2030 class, they are for sure at the top of the list. Let's take a look at some rising freshman to watch this year as they progress into potential stardom in the coming years.    Not many prospects in the class have the tools that Grant has. He's a legit 6'6 with the ability to shot create as well as maneuver off the ball effectively. Despite his small frame, he lives in the paint and above the rim. An improving jump shooter but certainly can keep defenses honest if left open. He's far more effective from three off the catch than the bounce but has shown drastic improvement from middle school to the end of the summer.   Coming out of Matthews Charter Middle, he broke the single game scoring record (43 points) and his dominance led the team to the championship game where they fell just short. His middle school success bled into a successful season for [program_tooltip program_id='2220892' first='Team' last='United'], who made the elite 8 of Peach Jam. His stellar play led to being invited to the Nike EYBL Top 100 camp where he thrived against some of the best in the country. Grant is poised for a big year at Carmel Christian as a day one starter.     The versatility of Traylin is the first thing that stands out when you watch him play. His athleticism allows him to finish with power at the rim on the offensive end and be a plus defender. Consistently bringing energy every time he steps on the floor is impressive, along with the communication level he displays on both ends of the floor. Athleticism is only a piece of the skillset for Traylin. He's a knockdown shooter with extended range and the ability to get hot in a hurry.   After playing varsity as an 8th grader for Trinity Christian, Traylin will now switch area codes as he is the newest member to Harding University. During the final month of the year, Traylin was given bigger minutes for Trinity and averaged right around 8 points over the final stretch. He's more than capable of playing well at this level and should be a key piece for a young but talented Harding team.     From a guard perspective, not many in the class possess the scoring prowess that Jenkins provides. He has an excellent blend of speed, pace, and shiftiness when the ball is in his hands. The shot creation ability is something special to watch, especially the ability to get a good look at ease regardless of defender. Matching that shot creation with actual makes is not an issue for Ivan as he's an exceptional shooter from all over the floor.   Following a successful middle school career at Alexander Graham, Jenkins was a pivotal piece for Carolina Stars on the Adidas 3SSB circuit. Even when playing up a level at times, the ability to score the ball and be effective followed Jenkins. Breaking down defenders and constantly touching the paint allowed him to be one of the top assist guards in the division. A successful summer led to an Jr 3SSB invite for Ivan where he was able to showcase why he is one of the best guards in the 2030 class     A two-sport athlete who is a tough hard-nosed guard with relentless effort for the entire duration of the game. Floor general is the best way to describe Hill Jr's game as he constantly finds ways to get his teammates easy looks. Dynamic in pick and roll situations as a passer or scorer, Devareus reads defensive coverages effectively when operating in those pick and roll sets. Although he is a very good playmaker, the scoring ability is there. He is very crafty and smart with his movements and rarely gives up his live dribble.   When he's not getting others involved, the paint is his home where he finishes well at the rim with either hand. The shot making is coming along and when teams try to take away driving lanes, he utilizes the pull up jump shot from the mid-range effectively. Winning follows Devareus whether it's on the field as the quarterback or the basketball court. Look for him to continue his winning ways at West Charlotte this year.     Couldn't talk about one without talking about the other as both young men have good long-term potential. While they have numerous similarities (obviously), the few that standout the most are the frame, shooting ability, and smoothness they play with. From a shooting standpoint, both shoot it well off the move or the catch at a high level. Both are about 6'2 with a plus wingspan that makes them disruptive on the defensive end.   The similarities are glaring but there are differences in their games. London is a little more polished offensively. He plays with a little more aggressiveness as well with his rim finishes when he touches the paint. Lennox is more finesse and moves better without the ball. Each of them cuts well without the ball but London's shot creation is a bit ahead of Lennox, so Lennox Is more effective in flare screen and pin down actions. When you combine these things and they're on the court together, they're dangerous.

It can be argued that the best talent in North Carolina is in the 704. From a basketball perspective in the 2030 class, they are for sure at the top of the list. Let's take a look at some rising freshman to watch this year as they progress into potential stardom in the coming years.