Charlotte Hoops Challenge: Day 1 Preview (Ct 1)

<h5>The Charlotte Hoops Challenge returns after Covid saw it put to the shelf this past season. Here’s a look at some prospects to keep eyes on in the Friday games.</h5> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5>1:30 PM South Mecklenburg High vs. Cannon School</h5> <p>South Mecklenburg High will have a tough game on their hands squaring off against private-school power Cannon School in the 1:30 game in Gym 1 of the Charlotte Hoops Challenge. [player_tooltip player_id="577867" first="Jacob" last="Newman"] and Stephen Fry are a few senior names to know while sophomores [player_tooltip player_id="1076350" first="Bishop" last="Boswell"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1076364" first="Peter" last="Moye"] are two prospects off the ball to keep an eye on for the South Meck Sabres. Boswell is a versatile wing at 6-foot-4 that can get downhill and make plays in the paint. Moye is a shooter that can get going on all three levels.</p> <p>Cannon School is led by the playmaking [player_tooltip player_id="577868" first="DJ" last="Nix"] and bull-dozing [player_tooltip player_id="848077" first="Karon" last="Boyd"], who should both be a burden to guard but they’ve got plenty of help and youth in [player_tooltip player_id="1239537" first="Isaiah" last="Henry"], [player_tooltip player_id="1159295" first="Mason" last="Hagedorn"], [player_tooltip player_id="1105008" first="Jaylen" last="Claggett"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1030010" first="Austin" last="Swartz"]. They’re back and loaded more than ever and as they build their chemistry with their sizeable senior front in Nix and Boyd, look for their supporting cast to step up in a big way. Hagedorn is a presence in the paint at 6-foot-9 while Henry, Claggett and Swartz are the next crop of 2024 guards set to make waves in the state. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5>3:00 PM York Prep vs. Providence Day School</h5> <p>York Prep is headlined by the Davis’ twins ([player_tooltip player_id="746059" first="Kendall" last="Davis"] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id="746056" first="Kory" last="Davis"]). They do well to pace the backcourt with their ability to defend and make plays on the perimeter as combo guards. Kory is stellar at shooting and socring the ball and Kendall is the primary defender. Ji’Meion Brown and [player_tooltip player_id="930604" first="LaDarian" last="McCree"] are two other names to know for this squad. Brown uses his 6-foot-8 length well to operate on both ends of the floor. McCree is another prospect that gets after it defensively and can shoot the 3-ball. </p> <p>Providence Day School has a solid crop of prospects to keep eyes on in [player_tooltip player_id="848078" first="Bryce" last="Scott"], [player_tooltip player_id="848076" first="Donovan" last="Atwell"] (UNC-Greensboro), [player_tooltip player_id="848075" first="Quave" last="Propst-Allison"], [player_tooltip player_id="1278827" first="Khamani" last="Wertz"], [player_tooltip player_id="1180816" first="Riley" last="Allenspach"] and [player_tooltip player_id="854899" first="Trey" last="Horton"]. They’re 2-1 on the young season with a 1-point loss to Carmel Christian. Atwell can shoot the lights out while Scott and Propst-Allison are capable of creating for themselves and others off the bounce. Allenspach is a two-way paint presence while Wertz and Horton should fill the void on the wing as perimeter threats. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h5>4:30 PM Combine Academy vs. Concord Academy</h5> <p>Combine Academy is led by senior commits [player_tooltip player_id="787667" first="Jayden" last="Epps"] (Illinois) and [player_tooltip player_id="848067" first="Patrick" last="Wessler"] (Virginia Tech) but they’ve still got other talent to keep an eye on in [player_tooltip player_id="574405" first="AJ" last="Smith"], [player_tooltip player_id="932083" first="Joel" last="Baucom"] and Preston Murphy Jr.. They’re a scrappy bunch that’s remained unbeaten on the year at 3-0 so far in 2021-22. Epps and Wessler are quite the burden to defend against while Murphy is solid running the show when Epps isn’t handling the ball.</p> <p>Concord Academy is a young bunch led by wing prospect [player_tooltip player_id="1076354" first="Langston" last="Boyd"]. Boyd is already making a case for a top prospect in the 2024 class and he’s well on his way already as the primary scorer in the lineup. [player_tooltip player_id="1326000" first="Kany" last="Tchanda"] is another name to keep an eye on with his length and ability to play inside and out. [player_tooltip player_id="1315994" first="Noah" last="van Bibber"] is a new face in the state that can get going from deep. </p> <h5> </h5> <h5>7:30 PM  Myers Park High vs. West Charlotte High</h5> <p>A battle of Charlotte squads has Myers Park and West Charlotte squaring off in the primetime game of the night. [player_tooltip player_id="997734" first="Elijah" last="Strong"], Sam Walters, [player_tooltip player_id="1180892" first="Sir" last="Mohammed"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1334260" first="Santana" last="Lynch"] are just a few names to know in the Myers Park rotation. Strong is a versatile 6-foot-8 forward that can do a variety of things well like create on the perimeter and defend the paint. Walters and Lynch are two solid names to know in the backcourt. Mohammed is an underrated prospect to know in the 2024 class that should turn a ton of heads in 2021-22. Keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id="1225669" first="Sadiq" last="White"] as well.</p> <p>West Charlotte is a squad led by [player_tooltip player_id="1149131" first="Landon" last="King"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1057406" first="Chance" last="Morrow"], who are already off to hot starts as the Lions are already 2-0 on the year. King is quite the sharpshooting guard that can handle the rock as well. [player_tooltip player_id="1059721" first="Ollie" last="Alford"], Mari Day and [player_tooltip player_id="959479" first="Donovan" last="Raymond"] are some 2023 prospects to keep an eye on. Alford and Raymond are two frontcourt prospects with some potential in the paint area. Day is an intriguing prospect that can rebound and get to the rim. </p>