NCHSAA 3A State Title Contenders: Five Early Favorites
The NCHSAA State Title race is a wide-open one after SW Guilford took home a championship in 2018-19. Here’s a look at five early favorites in 2019-20. 1. Freedom Patriots 2018-19: 28-3, 14-0 Conference The Freedom Patriots made it to…
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Continue ReadingThe NCHSAA State Title race is a wide-open one after SW Guilford took home a championship in 2018-19. Here’s a look at five early favorites in 2019-20.
1. Freedom Patriots
2018-19: 28-3, 14-0 Conference
The Freedom Patriots made it to last year’s Elite 8 of the NCHSAA State Tournament before falling to Cox Mill. They return 2020s Aidan Pearson (11.9 ppg) and James Freeman (10.0 ppg) while losing their top three scorers from a year ago. Freeman led the team in assists per game with 7.4 while Pearson led them in rebounds with 6.6 per contest. They’ll need to reload with their rotation but with an experienced senior group, it’s hard to pick against the Patriots in 2019-20.
2. A.L. Brown Wonders
2018-19: 21-8, 6-4 Conference
The A.L. Brown Wonders are one team that returns their top two scorers from 2018-19 with 2021 guard Amarie Haynie and 2022 guard Kheni Briggs leading the way. The Wonders made it to the third round of last year’s state tournament before falling to Freedom High School. Haynie led the team in scoring with 17.2 points per game along with 3.1 steals per game. Briggs produced 14.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. 2020 guard Amari Grier also returns after putting up 9.6 points, 5.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds per contest. With a strong backcourt returning, look for A.L. Brown to make some noise.
3. Terry Sanford Bulldogs
2018-19: 20-8, 12-4 Conference
Jay Hickman has transferred to Northwood Temple but with the addition of 2020 forward Josh Rubio (11.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game at Comenius), the Terry Sanford Bulldogs should be a team to watch in 2019-20. They’ll return 2020 forward Yates Johnson and 2022 forward Davis Molnar, who got his first taste on the varsity level as a freshman this past season. Terry Sanford fell in the second round of last year’s tournament but with a stronger frontcourt, they’ll be a team to beat at the 3A level.
4. Charlotte Catholic Cougars
2018-19: 21-9, 13-1 Conference
The Charlotte Catholic Cougars fell in the Elite 8 of last year’s tournament but return 2021 guard Colin Thomas along with 2020 forward David Pino with a number of rising juniors set to take on bigger roles. 2020s Jack Dortch and Noah Hopper along with 2021s Kevin McArdle and Kevin Dumser give them quite an experienced rotation in 2019-20. Considering how they dominated their conference last season, they should be expected to do big things this upcoming season.
5. Ben L. Smith Golden Eagles
2018-19: 14-13, 6-6 Conference
With an experienced rotation of 2020s Nick McMullen, Silas Mason and Jordan Williams and having lost just two seniors from a season ago, the Ben L. Smith Golden Eagles will look to get past the second round of the NCHSAA State Tournament after falling in the second round to Freedom High School. McMullen and Mason are two prospects that have really improved over the spring and summer and due for strong senior seasons before heading to the college level. McMullen is already committed to Murray State. 2021 wing Juwelz Hargrove is another prospect to keep an eye on.