NCHSAA 2A State Title Contenders: Five Early Favorites

<p>Farmville<em> Central returns their top three players from 2018-19 looking to defend their 2A crown. They're one of five early favorites to win the NCHSAA 2A State Title once again in 2019-20.</em></p> <h5>1. Farmville Central Jaguars</h5> <h6>2018-19: 32-0, 10-0 conference</h6> <p>The defending champion Farmville Central Jaguars return <strong>Justin Wright</strong> (2020), <strong>Terquavion Smith</strong> (2021) and <strong>Samage Teel</strong> (2020) after going undefeated in 2018-19. It's hard to pick against them considering with the trio above brings to the table. They'll be the team to beat all season long at the 2A level.</p> <h5>2. Kinston Vikings</h5> <h6>2018-19: 24-7, 10-2 conference</h6> <p>The Kinston Vikings fell in the third round of last year's 2A state tournament to the defending champions and are back and better than ever with forward <strong>Dontrez Styles</strong> (2021), and guards <strong>Isaac Parson</strong> (2020) and <strong>Chance Minott</strong> (2020). Styles is due to breakout in 2019-20 after putting up 15.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game this past season.  2022 forward <strong>Jeremy Dixon</strong> is another prospect to keep an eye on as his game is much improved.</p> <h5>3. Hertford County Bears</h5> <h6>2018-19: 19-11, 9-1 conference</h6> <p>2022 point guard<strong> Keondre Rogers</strong> made waves for the Hertford County Bears during his freshman season, leading them to the fourth round of the 2A state tournament last season. He averaged 13.4 points, 3.4 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest in 2018-19. Behind Rogers, 2021 guard<strong> Daylan Askew</strong> should lighten the scoring load after putting up 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game in 2018-19. 2020 wing <strong>Avery Hoggard Jr.</strong> and 2021 guard<strong> Quintin Wright</strong> are both due for bigger production after contributing to last season's success.</p> <h5>4. Reidsville Rams</h5> <h6>2018-19: 20-10, 10-2 conference</h6> <p>The Reidsville Rams fell in the third round of last year's tournament to Vance County. <strong>Justin Lowe</strong> is gone from this squad but they've still got 2021 point guard <strong>Breon Pass</strong>, who put up 22.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.0 steals per contest as a sophomore. Pass will have fellow 2021 guards <strong>Ste'vian Harrison</strong> and <strong>Carter Wilson</strong> to rely on to lighten some of the scoring load but as a player who can do it all, Pass is due to produce even more in 2019-20.</p> <h5>5. South Granville Vikings</h5> <h6>2018-19: 20-9, 11-3 conference</h6> <p>Expectations are high for the South Granville Vikings in 2019-20 with 2021 point guard <strong>Bobby Pettiford Jr.</strong> leading the way. Pettiford is a do-it-all guard that put up 19.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game in 2018-19. With 2020s <strong>Micah Jones, Wy'kise Allen</strong> and recent transfer <strong>Kobe Jones</strong>, they have quite the combination of shooters and attacking guards that makes them an early favorite in the 2A State Title race. Jones made 43 3-pointers across 13 games while shooting 37 percent. At full strength, he's an X-Factor alongside Pettiford in the backcourt.</p> <h5> </h5>