NCHSAA 4A East Preview – Who To Watch?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Millbrook- [player_tooltip player_id='1272558' first='Colt' last='Langdon'] is quickly becoming a name that not only North Carolina hoops fans know, but national fans know as well. He's an elite shooter with a smooth lefty jumper that he can get off both on the catch and off the dribble. His size also allows him to be an efficient scorer inside, especially out of the mid-post where he can put smaller guards in a box as they try and defend him. He will be a joy to watch night in and night out for this group. However, this group really will feed off of senior leader [player_tooltip player_id='1343867' first='Gabriel' last='Cerda']. He is a dog defensively and provides a maturity and leadership on the court that is matched by very few others in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='1343876' first='Jayan' last='Walker'] and <strong>Brandon Callahan</strong> are both area transfers that will provide some much needed scoring punch as complementary guys that are D1 prospects of their own. [player_tooltip player_id='1062157' first='Jacob' last='Lawton'] is very undersized, but he makes up for it in his downhill driving and defensive intensity. He makes the right read all the time. This group has retooled and will be a powerhouse once again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jordan- Jordan has lost some guys to transfers, but has once again retooled to stay near the top of the pile. They will be led by [player_tooltip player_id='1143945' first='Walker' last='Woodall'], who is a big off-ball guard/wing who has a quick trigger and can knock down the long ball at a high clip. He makes the right reads off the bounce and shows why he can be a high volume guy night in and night out. [player_tooltip player_id='1350176' first='RJ' last='Bridges'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1117525' first='Javier' last='Ortiz'] will be solid supporting pieces that do a bit of everything well and make the right plays consistently. Some younger guys to watch include Derek Ross, a quick playmaking point guard that will be a threat in transition with his ability to score and pass, and [player_tooltip player_id='1280980' first='Rivers' last='Knight'], a 6'8 freshman big who is continuing to develop a well rounded offensive game that stretches his range out to the three point line. Overall, this team is solid from top to bottom and will be consistently good throughout the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Panther Creek- Panther Creek may have made a surprise state championship final, but they bring a lot of guys back and are so well coached that they should be right back near the top of the pile. [player_tooltip player_id='1014989' first='Amari' last='Odom'] is a dual threat athlete who is a star in both, but on the basketball court, he is a big time playmaker who makes his teammates better with his vision and spacing on the court. [player_tooltip player_id='1614295' first='Caleb' last='Surgers'] is a big wing who impacts the game with his activity on defense and rebounding as well as his ability to finish downhill. His size is prototypical for a D1 athlete and makes him a name to watch on the recruiting circuit this year. [player_tooltip player_id='1386542' first='Amari' last='Richardson'] is shifty and quick and should be a good dual threat to both make plays and score. Their bigs [player_tooltip player_id='1076332' first='Greg' last='Ehlinger'] and <strong>Logan Ware</strong> both will stretch the floor and attack the glass with consistency. This team will be right back near the top this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holly Springs- Holly Springs is so loaded with talent and plays so well together that a state championship should be the biggest thing on their minds this year. [player_tooltip player_id='1158778' first='Collin' last='Kuhl'] is probably the guy who will average the most points every night, and you can see why with his mid-post ability as well as his rim running. He will also be a huge presence on the boards with his jumping ability and overall high motor. [player_tooltip player_id='1014990' first='Micah' last='Jones'] is a floor general that despite his size, offers great playmaking ability and leadership for this squad. His athleticism helps him makes those plays as well as getting downhill and attacking the rim with skill. [player_tooltip player_id='1546447' first='Ryan' last='Crotty'] has a burner from deep and is one of the best shooters in the state, but has improved his off the dribble scoring game to make him a viable D1 guy in college. 2025 <strong>Jake Cackovic</strong> is a developing wing/big who stretches the floor well for his size, but still has game off the dribble with his athleticism and strength. Holly Springs continues to be a pipeline for skilled players, and this year's roster is no different.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check back soon for our final class preview of the pre-season with the NCHSAA 4A West!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->