The Quest For A Three-Peat: Greensboro Day Team Preview

<p>Coming into year 50, the legendary Freddy Johnson shows no signs of slowing down. His Bengals are coming off their second straight state championship and yet another 20+ win season. In his tenure, there was only one three-peat completed but with the team that he's assembled, they'll be a heavy favorite to get the schools second three-peat. If you look at the team's roster with heights, you will think they're a division one team with all the size.</p>   <p>The scariest part about this team is that about 98% of their production this year will be from players who will be back for another year or two, or three. If the Bengals are near your area, they are a must see regardless of opponent. Just make sure to get there early because I don't expect them to play in a ton of competitive games, especially in the state.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Five Star Center</h2>    <p>Anchoring the Bengals will be five-star big man Grant Duggins. A top 10 nationally ranked prospect via ESPN and the number one player at his position in the country. The blend of size, skill, and production that Grant displayed throughout his freshman season justify the high praise that Grant has received. During an interview at the John Wall Invitational, Coach Johnson deemed Grant one of the best freshmen he's ever coached. High praise from a coach that has seen loads of talent come through the doors of Greensboro Day.</p>   <p>Standing at 6'10, Grant is a nightmare for opponents. He can space the floor with his shooting or abuse defenders in the paint. The Bengals do a good job of keeping him on the move, forcing defenses to scramble and be out of position. During the summer, they used him more as a point-forward, letting him initiate offense. As if he wasn't scary enough offensively, adding that to his shot blocking and rebounding just makes Grant even more unstoppable. With more pressure and expectations as a sophomore, expect Grant to continue progressing and producing at a high level.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Four Star Point Guard</h2>    <p>There are so many words that could be used to describe Micah Gunter, but his adaptability is one that stands out. Deemed a high-profile scorer when entering Greensboro Day, he quickly turned himself into an incredible all-around guard. The skillset is off the charts on both ends of the floor along with his IQ which separates him from other guards in the state. This year he'll be tasked with playing more point guard and Coach Johnson couldn't be more confident in his ability to run the team.</p>   <p>Micah enjoyed a successful summer of winning and producing at a high level. Whether it was his AAU team having one of the best records on the EYBL 16u circuit or winning MVP of the Josh Level Classic amongst all his peers. The intangible things are what I believe has seen the most growth from Micah. He was very vocal at practice, even in drills he wasn't apart of. After ranking top 12 in the EYBL 16u division in assists, expect Micah to push for averaging double digit assists with all the talent around him.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sharp Shooting Sniper</h2>    <p>A huge catalyst in the Bengals' latest success has been Andrew Juergens. One of the best shooting wings in the class that has continued to develop his all-around game each time I've seen him. This is a big year for Andrew as he's already got multiple offers, but I expect that to triple this year with how well he's projected to perform. The shooting is the superpower, and he utilizes It extremely well. The range is unlimited, the release is quick, and a hand in the face does not bother him. His ability to navigate through screens to get open is high-level and easily translates to the next level.</p>   <p>During the summer for Boo Williams on the EYBL circuit, Andrew showed improvement in his skillset. He put the ball on the floor effectively and touched the paint more than I have seen over the past few years. His ability to attack closeouts and keep defenses guessing adds a new dynamic that will take his game to another level. Andrew dominates his role and is productive while being low maintenance. Those types of skills are not easy to teach and are big positives for college programs.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Addition</h2>    <p>After a successful freshman campaign at Ben L. Smith, Cannon adds more size, versatility and length to the Bengals. Standing 6'8 (and still growing), Nick will provide elite outside shooting and secondary playmaking for a loaded Greensboro Day team. Over the last handful of years, freshmen barely see the floor at Ben L. Smith. Well, Nick not only saw the floor but started and produced all year long. That success bled over to Team CP3 where he teamed up with Grant Duggins and formed one of the best duos on the EYBL 15u circuit.</p>   <p>Coach Johnson had tremendous praise for Cannon and his willingness to work and prove himself. He told me that Nick never asked about playing time or anything like that, rather focusing on what he needs to do to get better and help the team. High praise for one of the best young prospects in the country. Role wise, Nick will be playing more of how he was for Team CP3. He'll be tasked with knocking down open shots, rebounding at a high level and being a lockdown defender. All are things he told me he's excited to build on for this upcoming season.</p>    <p>It is going to be difficult for teams to match the Bengals' length, athleticism, and depth. They can easily play 10-11 players, and Coach Johnson told me that developing lineup continuity and situational lineups will be pivotal. Some would say those are good problems to have despite how difficult it may be to construct those lineups. The out of conference schedule is loaded from start to finish but expect the Bengals to rack up a ton of wins and be a nationally ranked team by years end.</p>   <p></p>

Coming into year 50, the legendary Freddy Johnson shows no signs of slowing down. His Bengals are coming off their second straight state championship and yet another 20+ win season. In his tenure, there was only one three-peat completed but with the team that he's assembled, they'll be a heavy favorite to get the schools second three-peat. If you look at the team's roster with heights, you will think they're a division one team with all the size.