The 2021-22 Mecklenburg County boys private high school basketball preview
Teams to Watch
Carmel Christian: The Cougars return have averaged 24 wins per season over the last six years, including a trip to the NCISAA 4A state championship game last season when they were runner-up to Cannon School. Coach Joe Badgett has some big pieces to fill, but can rely on seniors like shooting guard Kyle Bean (6.3 ppg), forward Cade Tyson (16.2), point guard Julian Arias and transfers Nyles Howard (Davidson Day) and Logan Threatt (Concord Academy) to give them a good chance to make another deep playoff run.
Charlotte Christian: The Knights return all five starters from a year ago, led by the junior backcourt duo of Bryce Cash (15.5 ppg) and Cade Nicholson (12.6 ppg). Coach Shonn Brown (450 career wins) has produced a consistent winning program and has the experience to contend in the CISAA and be a factor in the NCISAA 4A state playoffs again. The Knights reached the quarterfinals last season.
Northside Christian: The Knights return three starters in senior, Jalen Mattocks (8 ppg), Daniel Lubamba (10 ppg) and junior Wesley Tubbs, III (12 ppg) to give them a solid core from a 20-8 team a season ago. Add in 6-foot-1 junior point guard Mychael Mitchell and Northside Christian has a team that can contend for championships (conference/state).
Providence Day: The Chargers struggled a season ago, going 5-13 overall. But with three starters back in Quave Propst-Allison (20.9 ppg), Bryce Scott (7.1 ppg) and Khamani Wertz (8 ppg) to go with Davidson Day transfers Donovan Atwell (16.5 ppg) and Trey Horton, Providence Day should be much improved this year. Former Cannon School and Davidson Day coach Ron Johnson, has proven he can win games anywhere he has coached, and no one will be surprised to see Providence Day move back into contention in the CISAA, which have the Chargers prepared for a run in the NCISAA 4A state playoffs.
United Faith: First-year head coach Tamar Slay (former Marshall/NBA player) has the rare opportunity to take over an established team that went 18-4 and was the NCISAA 1A state runner-up a season ago. Slay will have plenty of talent with senior guard Marcus Willis (8.9 ppg) and Xavier McKelvy (18.9 ppg) getting plenty of help from forward Lance Gill (6.8 ppg), Landon Johnson (8.1 ppg) and a trio of transfers in Alex Bates (Weddington), Dorien Johnson (Westmister Catawba) and Camyl Witherspoon (Ardrey Kell).
Players to Watch
Donovan Atwell, Providence Day: The 6-foot-5 UNC Greensboro commit (16.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg) will give the Chargers an immediate boast on the wing and inside.
Bryce Cash, Charlotte Christian: The 6-foot-5 junior does everything well, averaging 15.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 steals as a sophomore, where he established himself as a Division I recruit
Micah Handlogten, SouthLake Christian: The 7-foot-1 senior Marshall University recruit (12 ppg, 10 rpg) can be a game-changer on both sides of the floor for the Eagles.
Xavier McKelvy, United Faith: The 6-foot-2 senior Winthrop University commit (18.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg) gives the Falcons a dynamic senior backcourt with classmate, point guard Marcu Willis (8.9 ppg, 4 apg)
Quave Propst-Allison, Providence Day: The 6-foot-2 senior point guard (20.9 ppg) is part of a versatile backcourt along with senior Bryce Scott (7.1 ppg, 4.3 apg) and junior Khamani Wertz (8 ppg).
Cade Tyson, Carmel Christian: The 6-foot-7 senior Belmont University (TN) commit (16.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) now moves into a lead role for a Carmel Christian team that expects to win big every season.
Wesley Tubbs, III, Northside Christian: The 6-foot-7 junior shooting guard (12 ppg) is already a major Division I recruit.
Players On the Rise
Carter Alessi/Sam Turner, Charlotte Country Day: The Buccaneers’ junior backcourt mates will have to play bigger roles as Country Day’s only returning starters from a 1-17 team last year.
Shane Fernald, Lake Norman Christian: The 6-foot-7 senior forward (7 ppg, 5 rpg) must expand his role as the Ospreys’ only returning starter.
Daniel Haughton, Charlotte Latin: The 6-foot senior guard (8.5 ppg, 5 rpg) has the athletic ability to be a playmaker for a Latin team that returns two starters from a year ago.
Sunny Jackson, Hickory Grove: The 6-foot-5 senior forward (3 ppg, 5 rpg) will have to play a bigger roles for the Lions to move up the MAC standings.
Josh Pizzo, Davidson Day: The Patriots’ 6-foot-1 senior will team with classmate, Yusuf Shire, to give Davidson Day some experience on a team in rebuilding mode after losing its’ head coach and most of its roster from last season.
Jaxon Prunty, Providence Day: the 6-6 sophomore will play a major role for the Chargers and is already attracting Division I attention.
Logan Threat, Carmel Christian: The 6-foot-3, Concord Academy transfer (11.5 ppg) should provide an immediate scoring punch in the Cougars’ lineup.
Preseason All-County Team
Donovan Atwell, Providence Day, 6-5, Sr.
Bryce Cash, Charlotte Christian, 6-5, Jr.
Micah Handlogten, SouthLake Christian, 7-1, Sr.
Xavier McKelvy, United Faith, 6-2, Sr.
Quave Propst-Allison, Providence Day, 6-2, Sr.
Wesley Tubbs, III, Northside Christian, 6-7, Jr.
Cade Tyson, Carmel Christian, 6-7, Sr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Xavier McKelvy, United Faith
Interesting Notes
Carmel Christian coach Joe Badgett is just 15 wins from earning his 200th career victory. Badgett has 185 wins and only 28 losses in his coaching career.
The CISAA Conference boasts some of the state’s most successful coaches in terms of career wins: Providence Day’s Ron Johnson has 537, Charlotte Christian’s Shonn Brown has 450, Charlotte Country Day’s David Carrier has 435. Charlotte Latin’s Chris Berger, with 191 wins, and Cannon School’s Che Roth, with 177 wins, have a chance to collect their 200th career victories this winter.
The Mecklenburg County private school basketball landscape with be filled with first-year head coaches from Davidson Day’s Josh Stein to Hickory Grove’s Austin Turner to Lake Norman Christian’s Patrick McCarthy to Providence Day’s Ron Johnson to United Faith’s Tamar Slay to Victory Christian’s Melvin Rendleman.
Conference Predictions
CISAA Conference
Cannon School; 2. Providence Day; 3. Charlotte Christian; 4. Charlotte Latin; 5. Covenant Day; 6. Charlotte Country Day.
Foothills Athletic Conference
Davidson Day; 2. Statesville Christian; 3. Hickory Christian; 4. University Christian.
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Westminster Catawba; 2. Concord Academy; 3. Northside Christian; 4. Metrolina Christian; 5. Gaston Day; 6. SouthLake Christian; 7. Gaston Christian; 8. Hickory Grove.
South Piedmont Athletic Association
United Faith; 2. Victory Christian; 3. North Hills Christian; 5. Woodlawn School.
--JAY EDWARDS
This story was originally published November 8, 2021 at 9:05 PM.