The 2021-22 Iredell County boys high school basketball preview
Teams to Watch
Lake Norman: The Wildcats return only one starter, 6-foot-5 senior Davis Wagner (10 ppg, 10 rpg), from a season ago. But Lake Norman has some promising juniors in guards Cole Calloway and Alex Gruber (8 ppg, 6 rpg, 6 apg), which should give them a chance to finish in the top half of the new, Greater Metro 4A conference and return to the playoffs.
North Iredell: The Raiders return four starters from a team that posted their first winning season since 2016, going 12-3 overall, while winning the North Piedmont conference title. Coach Jeff LeVan has plenty of options with the senior backcourt trio of seniors: Jackson Hawkins (18 ppg), John Jackson (16 ppg) and junior Cole Saunders (12 ppg) teaming with 6-foot-8 junior center Beckham Tharpe (15 ppg) to give North Iredell a veteran unit. North Iredell has the balance and experience to contend in the new Western Foothills’ Athletic 3A conference, but will have to prove it against programs like East Lincoln, Hickory and Statesville.
Statesville: The Greyhounds return their entire backcourt in senior Torry Miller, Messiah Robinson and Zamari Stevenson, who combined to average 44 points per game last year. However, it’s the trio’s constant defensive pressure that will give Statesville a chance to be a contender in the new Western Foothills’ Athletic 3A conference and be a factor in postseason play. Statesville will have to prove their small-ball lineup can hang tough when the stakes get bigger in February and March games.
Players to Watch
Jackson Hawkins, North Iredell: The 6-foot-4 senior can fill it up, averaging 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists last season.
John Jackson, North Iredell: The 5-foot-11 senior (16 ppg) impacts the game on both sides of the floor with his speed and quickness.
Torry Miller/Zamari Stevenson, Statesville: The Greyhounds senior duo averaged a combined 27 points per game a year ago, and puts constant pressure on their opponents on both offense and defense.
Messiah Robinson, Statesville: The 5-foot-9 senior (17 ppg) plays a big role on a defensive-minded Statesville team.
K.C. Shaw, Mooresville: The 6-foot-4 senior can contribute in multiple ways, averaging 17.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists as a junior.
Davis Wagner, Lake Norman: The 6-foot-5 senior (10 ppg, 10 rpg) averaged a double-double last season.
Brayden Watson-Jones, South Iredell: The 6-foot-3 senior is the Vikings’ leading returning scorer (11 ppg, 5 rpg).
Players on the Rise
Kobe Brown, Statesville: Statesville basketball coach Denard McAlister says the Greyhounds’ 5-foot-9 guard has a chance to be “a special ball player.”
Cole Calloway, Lake Norman: The 6-foot-4 junior guard has the potential to be one of Lake Norman’s top players, according to Wildcats’ coach Grant Hodges.
Zach Gilpin, Woodlawn School: The 6-foot-5 sophomore center will have to play a bigger role for a Woodlawn School team without any returning starters.
Brycen Manns, Langtree Charter: The 6-foot-6 senior (8.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg) is the lone returning starter from a team that is 11-32 in the last two years.
Patrick Schwaba, Pine Lake Prep: The 6-foot-5 senior shooting guard (6 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 apg) will have to be more productive for Pine Lake Prep to earn its eighth straight winning season, stay in the playoff picture.
Preseason All-County Team
Jackson Hawkins, North Iredell, 6-4, Sr.
John Jackson, North Iredell, 5-11, Sr.
Torry Miller, Statesville, 6-0, Sr.
Messiah Robinson, Statesville, 5-9, Sr.
K.C. Shaw, Mooresville, 6-4, Sr.
Zamari Stevenson, Statesville, 6-0, Sr.
Davis Wagner, Lake Norman, 6-5, Sr.
Player of the Year: Jackson Hawkins, North Iredell, 6-4, Sr.
Interesting Notes
South Iredell boys’ basketball coach Marcus Chambers takes over the boys’ team after a decade of leading the Vikings’ girls’ basketball squad.
The Mooresville basketball team has struggled of late, going 15-70 overall, including 4-46 in I-Meck conference play in last four years. However, the Blue Devils have a new opportunity in the new Great Metro 4A conference with three senior starters back in Christian Herring, K.C. Shaw and Dane Stewart.
Woodlawn School also has a first-year head coach in Kyle Dill.
Conference Predictions
Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A Conference
Lincoln Charter; 2. Mountain Island Charter; 3. Community School of Davidson; 4. Pine Lake Prep; 5. Christ the King; 6. Langtree Charter.
Foothills Athletic Conference
Davidson Day; 2. Statesville Christian; 3. Hickory Christian; 4. University Christian.
Greater Metro 4A Conference
Cox Mill; 2. Hickory Ridge; 3. Lake Norman; 4. Mooresville; 5. West Cabarrus; 6. A.L. Brown; 7. South Iredell.
Western Foothills Athletic 3A Conference
Statesville; 2. East Lincoln; 3. North Iredell; 4. Hickory; 5. North Lincoln; 6. St. Stephens’ 7. West Iredell; 8. Fred T. Foard.
--JAY EDWARDS
