2021-22 Mecklenburg County boys high school basketball preview
Teams to Watch
Ardrey Kell: coach Michael Craft annually gets the most out of his teams, including last year when the Knights went 10-1 with their only loss coming 67-65 to Millbrook in the 4A state championship game. This year, Ardrey Kell will have to reload a bit, but can lean on senior point guard Evan Smith (8 ppg, 7 apg) and junior wing Brandon Nelson as younger frontcourt players like Toni Akinyelu emerge.
Butler: After winning 20-plus games for six straight years from 2013-2019, the Bulldogs have struggled in the last two years going 16-19 in that span. But with three starters back in senior guard Ty Black (11.7 ppg), junior forward Zion McDuffie (8.9 ppg) and sophomore point guard Bryce Heath (3 ppg) plus the return of junior forward Peyton Scott from injury, Butler expects to get back into contention in the Southwestern 4A conference.
Charlotte Catholic: The Cougars return all five starters as they make the jump into class 4A and the Southwestern 4A conference. Charlotte Catholic has a balanced lineup with seniors Josh Williams (6 ppg, 3 apg), Peter Rossitch (6 ppg) and Kevin Williams (5 ppg) in the backcourt with juniors Pat Tivnan (13 ppg) and Vaughn Thomas (4 ppg) in the frontcourt.
Independence: The Patriots must reload quickly after losing all five starters from a season ago. But coach Preston Davis has made a reputation for plugging in new pieces into the lineup and has four seniors who know the system in Bryce Brooks, Ralph “R.J.” Johnson and Dyshawn and Sebastian Taylor. Independence may take some time to gel, but the Patriots will continue to make their opponents uncomfortable with their full court pressure and expect to contend for the league title and more into postseason play.
Julius Chambers: The Cougars are loaded with talent as junior guard Jaylen Curry (11.4 ppg as a freshman) returns to a lineup (from Combine Academy) that already has four starters back with 6-foot-8 senior post and University of South Carolina commit Daniel Sanford (I-Meck 4A conference player of the year, 21.4 ppg) and 6-foot-6 sophomore forward Maurio Hanson (7.6 ppg), also headlining the group. Julius Chambers has the experience and talent to win the Queen City Athletic conference title, and be a factor deep into the 4A state playoffs.
Myers Park: The Mustangs return four starters with 6-foot-8 junior forward Elijah Strong (19 ppg) surrounded by the backcourt of senior Nathanael Roberts, junior Sam Walters and sophomore Sir Mohammad (7.3 ppg). That experience will give Myers Park a chance to contend for league supremacy in their first year in the SoMeck 4A conference.
North Mecklenburg: The Vikings have been one of the state’s top teams in the last two years, going 42-2 in that span, including a 4A state title (2020) and 4A state semifinal (2021) finish. This year, coach Duane Lewis will have to reload a bit as they lost their entire frontcourt. However, all-conference senior guards Davion Cunningham (10 ppg) and Jordan Crawford (15 ppg) give the Vikings the playmakers to lead the way while younger players emerge inside.
West Charlotte: The Lions return three all-conference starters in 6-foot-5 senior Chancellor Morrow (14.6 ppg) and two juniors, in 6-foot-9 center Donovan Raymond (7.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and 6-foot-1 point guard Ollie Alford (10.4 ppg, 4.3 apg). The Lions averaged 20 wins per season from 2018-20, before going 4-3 in the COV-19 shortened season in 2021.
Players to Watch
Ty Black, Butler: The 6-foot senior guard (11.7 ppg) led the Southwestern 4A conference in three-pointers (27) last season; helps set Bulldogs’ frenetic, full-court pace.
Logan Blair, Harding: The 6-foot-5 senior is reigning SoMeck 4A player of the year and looks to build on a monster junior season where he averaged 20.3 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.
Jaylen Curry, Julius Chambers: The 6-foot-1 junior returned to Chambers (from Combine Academy) and is poised for a breakout season after averaging 11.4 points, 5 assists and 2.7 steals as a freshman.
Jordan Crawford/Davion Cunningham, North Mecklenburg: The Vikings’ all-conference senior duo will have to step into even bigger roles as the only two returning starters from 4A state semifinalist team.
Jemez Herd, Olympic: The 6-foot-8 (16.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg) can give the Trojans a massive frontcourt with 6-foot-10 junior Tai Hamilton.
Seth Johnson, Community School of Davidson: The 5-foot-11 junior guard (17.3 ppg, 3 apg) leads a Spartans’ team with big expectations with all five starters back.
Chancellor Morrow, West Charlotte: The 6-foot-5 senior all-conference forward (14.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg) is also a University of Louisville football commit.
Jordon Nevill, East Mecklenburg: The 5-foot-10 junior all-conference point guard (18.5 ppg) will team with classmate Kanye Johnson (12.7 ppg) to try to help East Mecklenburg move up the Southwestern 4A conference ladder.
Daniel Sanford, Julius Chambers: The 6-foot-8 senior forward is reigning I-Meck 4A player of the year (21.4 ppg, 9.9 rpg) and a University of South Carolina commit.
Evan Smith, Ardrey Kell: The 6-foot-3 senior, all-conference, all-district, point guard (8 ppg, 6 rpg, 7 apg) has has committed to Army.
Elijah Strong, Myers Park: The 6-foot-8 junior forward (19 ppg, 8 rpg) is a go-to player on a veteran Mustangs’ team.
Pat Tivnan, Charlotte Catholic: The 6-foot-8 junior forward (13 ppg, 5 rpg, 1.5 bpg) gives the Cougars an inside, outside balance.
Players On the Rise
D.J. Bellinger, Bradford Prep: The 5-foot-8 senior point guard (10.2 ppg) is the leading scorer back on a team that should be improved with four starters returning.
Bishop Boswell, South Mecklenburg: The 6-foot sophomore (8 ppg) teams with classmate, Sincere Rasul (9 ppg) and junior Michael Nesbit (4 ppg) for a backcourt that will be the strength of this South Mecklenburg team.
Kobe Broome, West Mecklenburg: The 5-foot-11 sophomore give the Hawks some experience on a team that lost 10 of the 12 players on its roster (to graduation) from a season ago.
Titus Cunningham, Mallard Creek: The 6-foot-5 senior (9.4 ppg) and junior point guard Bryson Davis (7.5 ppg) give the Mavericks experience in the backcourt.
Derrick Eley/Quay Watson, Hopewell: The Davidson Day transfers will team with Julius Chambers transfer Anthony Moore, to give Hopewell a dynamic new backcourt.
Clayton Gaither, Providence: The 6-foot-2 junior guard (8 ppg) will play a big role as Providence moves back into the Southwestern 4A conference.
Caden Jernigan, Garinger: The 6-foot-2 senior point guard (16 ppg) will have the ball in his hands early and often for the Wildcats’ offense.
Javares Green, Rocky River: The 6-foot-2 senior is the lone returning starter from the co-Southwestern 4A conference championship team last season.
Ralph “R.J.” Johnson, Independence: The 6-foot-5 senior (6 ppg, 5 rpg) will help set the Patriots’ frenetic, full-court pace when on the offensive or defensive attack.
Greg Magnuson, Lake Norman Charter: The 5-foot-10 senior point guard (3 ppg) gives the Knights some backcourt experience as the move into the South Piedmont 3A conference.
Rashad McCormick, Hough: The 6-foot-5 junior (5.3 ppg) is expected to play a much bigger role for a Hough team that lost nearly 90 percent of its scoring and 80 percent of its rebounding from last season.
Sir Mohammad, Myers Park: The 6-foot-5 sophomore guard (7.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg) is ready for a breakout season as his role expands for the Mustangs.
Peyton Scott, Butler: The 6-foot-4 junior should be a big boast to the Bulldogs’ lineup after missing most of last season with an injury, according to Butler basketball coach, Patrick King.
Josh Stevenson, Berry: The 6-foot senior, all-conference guard (14 ppg, 5 rpg) makes a strong backcourt with classmate, Isaiah Jackson (10 ppg, 5 apg) to power the Cardinals.
Preseason All-County Team
Logan Blair, Harding, 6-5, Sr.
Jordan Crawford, North Mecklenburg, 6-2, Sr.
Davion Cunningham, North Mecklenburg, 6-3, Sr.
Jaylen Curry, Julius Chambers, 6-1, Jr.
Chancellor Morrow, West Charlotte, 6-5, Sr.
Daniel Sanford, Julius Chambers, 6-8, Sr.
Evan Smith, Ardrey Kell, 6-3, Sr.
Elijah Strong, Myers Park, 6-8, Jr.
Pat Tivnan, Charlotte Catholic, 6-8, Jr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Jaylen Curry, Julius Chambers, 6-1, Jr.
Interesting Notes
Ardrey Kell basketball coach Michael Craft has been the only head coach in the 16 years of the Knights’ program. Craft has 265 career victories in his coaching career.
The Christ the King basketball team lost 10 seniors, but will try to reload rather than rebuild with the core of an undefeated junior varsity team from a season ago. Senior, Parker Clapp (5.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.7 apg) and transfers Andrew Baich (Lincoln Charter) and Nolan Stern (Lake Norman Charter) lare ooking to make the playoffs for a third straight season.
The Garinger boys’ basketball team has struggled losing 51 straight games, going 9-97 in the last five years. But there is reasons for optimism for the Wildcats as former Rocky River basketball coach Oscar Walker returns a team with three senior starters back including Camden Jernigan (16 ppg), Justin Moore (9 ppg) and Malachi Moboti (3 ppg, 6 rpg).
Independence basketball coach, Preston Davis is 13 wins from his 200th career victory. He is 187-125 overall.
First-year coaches in Mecklenburg County (public schools) include Larry Blair at Bradford Prep, Jeff Bishop at Olympic and Walker at Garinger.
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.
Metro 8, 1A Conference
Apprentice Academy; Bradford Prep. 3. Cabarrus Charter; 4. Carolina International; 5. Corvian Community; 6. Piedmont Charter; 7. Queens Grant; 8. Sugar Creek Charter.
Queen City Athletic Conference 3A/4A
Julius Chambers; 2. West Charlotte; 3. North Mecklenburg; 4. Hough; 5. Hopewell; 6. Mallard Creek; 7. West Mecklenburg.
SoMeck 4A Conference
Myers Park; 2. Ardrey Kell; 3. Harding; 4. South Mecklenburg; 5. Olympic; 6. Berry.
South Piedmont 3A Conference
Central Cabarrus; 2. Concord; 3. West Rowan; 4. Carson; 5. Northwest Cabarrus; 6. Lake Norman Charter; 7. East Rowan; 8. South Rowan.
Southwestern 4A Conference
Charlotte Catholic; 2. Independence; 3. Butler; 4. Rocky River; 5. East Mecklenburg; 6. Providence; 7. Garinger.