The Observer’s high school basketball preview for Cabarrus County schools
The Observer continues its boys basketball previews for the 2022-23 season with a look at Cabarrus County schools.
Throughout the week, look for additional previews, concluding with the release of The Sweet 16 preseason poll.
Teams to Watch
Cannon School: The Cougars return three starters from a team that advanced to the NCISAA 4A state semifinals and has averaged 22 wins over the past four seasons. Coach Che’ Roth will look to three Division I prospects in junior Austin Swartz (16 ppg) and sophomores Jaylen Claggett (7 ppg, 3 apg) and Isaiah Henry (11 ppg, 6 rpg) to lead the way. Cannon will also add 6-8 junior Sean Birmingham to the lineup. Cannon School is capable of winning the CISAA conference and being a NCISAA 4A state contender again.
Central Cabarrus: The Vikings are 47-3 over the last two seasons, including a 30-1 campaign last year, where their only loss came to West Charlotte in the 3A semifinals. Central Cabarrus has all five starters back, led by seniors Jaiden Thompson (19.8 ppg), Gavin Bullock (10.8 ppg) and Adreil Miller (7.2 ppg) as well as juniors Carson (7.9 ppg) and Chase Daniel (15.6 ppg). The Vikings have all the pieces to make a serious run at the 3A state championship.
Concord: The Spiders enjoyed their best season (22-6) since the 2015-16 campaign. Coach Barrett Krueger has an experienced group with three starters back, including Brayden Blue (14 ppg), James Smith (13 ppg) and Jerell Reddick (4 ppg, 5 rpg).
Concord Academy: The Eagles won 20 straight games for nine straight years, before going 17-16 last year, but still won the NCISAA 3A state championship. This year, Concord Academy returns only one starter in senior Noah Van Bibber (12.7 ppg), a Winthrop recruit. But the Eagles will have plenty of talent with 6-foot-5 senior Magnus Swinger, classmate 6-foot-7 Sergej Cvetkovic as well as transfers Avion Pinner (The Burlington School transfer, Division I recruit) and Isaiah Tate (Kings Mountain transfer), are all expected to make immediate impacts in the lineup. Concord Academy has the experience, size and talent to contend for both the MAC and NCISAA 3A state titles.
Cox Mill: The defending, Greater Metro 4A conference champions will have to reload a bit under coach Ty Johnson. But Cox Mill has some key pieces in seniors Kendall Harris, Titus Ivy and junior Langston Boyd, a Division I recruit, to stay on top of the league standings and make a playoff run. The Chargers advanced to the third round of 4A state playoffs last year.
Jay M. Robinson: The defending 2A state champions (28-3 last year) return the core of the team that won it all with the senior trio of Daevin Hobbs (14.7 ppg, 10 rpg), Jermaine Gray (12.8 ppg, 8 rpg) and Zi’Kei Wheeler (12.3 ppg) all back to lead the way. Coach Lavar Batts’ team has the pieces to be competing for championships again in February and March (conference/state).
Players to Watch
Miles Beard, Hickory Ridge: The 6-foot-2 junior (19.8 ppg) had a breakout sophomore season and leads a Hickory Ridge team with all five starters back, including senior Luke Brigman (13.2 ppg) and junior Caden Haywood (10.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg).
Brayden Blue, Concord: The 6-foot-3 senior (14 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg) gives the Spiders two dynamic playmakers, pairing with senior James Smith (13 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg, 2 spg, 25 charges taken last year).
Langston Boyd, Cox Mill: The 6-foot-5 junior guard/forward is a major Division I recruit.
Daevin Hobbs, Jay M. Robinson: The 6-foot-6, 255-pound power forward (14.7 ppg, 10 rpg, 4 bpg) is a major force inside. He’s also a major Division I football prospect who will chose between Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio State, Michigan and North Carolina Nov. 25.
Trey Minard, West Cabarrus: The 6-foot-2 senior (12.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg) is the “go-to” player for the Wolverines.
Austin Swartz, Cannon School: The 6-foot-5 junior (16 ppg) is a major Division I recruit. Swartz shot 42 percent from the three-point line as a sophomore.
Jaiden Thompson, Central Cabarrus: The 6-foot-1 senior is reigning SPC player of the year after averaging 19.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.6 steals last year.
Noah Van Bibber, Concord Academy: The 6-foot-5 senior, a Winthrop commit (12.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg), is back to lead the defending NCISAA 3A state champions.
Players On the Rise
Chase Daniel, Central Cabarrus: The 6-foot-1 guard (15.6 ppg) makes a dynamic duo with his twin brother Carson (7.9 ppg) in a loaded Vikings’ backcourt.
Isaiah Henry, Cannon School: The 6-foot-6 sophomore shot 55 percent from the field as a freshman (11 ppg) and is already a high-major Division I recruit according to Cannon School coach Che Roth.
Titus Ivy, Cox Mill: The 6-foot-5 senior (8 ppg, 4.7 rpg) will be a key player inside for the Chargers.
Easton Leonard, Mount Pleasant: The Tigers’ senior guard (12.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.8 apg) is versatile playmaker on both sides of the floor.
Kimman Power, Carolina International: The 6-foot-2 senior guard (16 ppg) pairs with classmate Davion Featherstone (13.3 ppg) to give Carolina International a backcourt capable of winning another Metro 8 1A conference title.
Nazir Reeves, A.L. Brown: The 6-foot-5 junior will be a force inside for the Wonders.
Aiden Wong, Covenant Classical: The 6-foot senior is Covenant Classical’s leading returning scorer.
Will Zuhosky, Christ the King: The 5-foot-11 senior point guard joins classmates Jake Dulski and Joe Kuhn to give Christ the King a veteran lineup.
Preseason All-County Team
Miles Beard, Hickory Ridge, 6-2, Jr.
Brayden Blue, Concord, 6-3, Sr.
Langston Boyd, Cox Mill, 6-5, Jr.
Daevin Hobbs, Jay M, Robinson, 6-6, Sr.
Trey Minard, West Cabarrus, 6-2, Sr.
Austin Swartz, Cannon School, 6-5, Jr.
Jaiden Thompson, Central Cabarrus, 6-1, Sr.
Noah Van Bibber, Concord Academy, 6-5, Sr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Austin Swartz, Cannon School
Notes
Central Cabarrus basketball coach James Baker has 413 wins in 42 years of coaching with 36 seasons coming as a college coach, and he is now in his sixth year as the Vikings’ head coach.
Jay M. Robinson basketball coach Lavar Batts is pulling double duty as the head coach of both the Bulldogs’ varsity boys’ and girls’ teams this year.
Mount Pleasant basketball coach Jody Barbee, who won two state titles at Cox Mill,, has a good chance of winning his 200th career game this season. He is 188-63 in his career to start the season.
Conference Predictions
Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A Conference
Lincoln Charter; 2. Community School of Davidson; 3. Pine Lake Prep; 4. Christ the King; 5. Mountain Island Charter; 6. Langtree Charter; 7. Bradford Prep.
CISAA Conference
1.Cannon School; 2. Providence Day; 3. Charlotte Country Day; 4. Charlotte Latin; 5. Charlotte Christian; 6. Covenant Day.
Greater Metro 4A Conference
Cox Mill; 2. Lake Norman; 3. Mooresville; 4. Hickory Ridge; 5. West Cabarrus; 6. A.L. Brown; 7. South Iredell.
Metro 8, 1A Conference
Carolina International; 2. Piedmont Charter; 3. Corvian Charter; 4. Queens Grant; 5. Sugar Creek Charter; 6. Cabarrus Charter; 7. Apprentice Way.
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Concord Academy; 2. Northside Christian; 3. Gaston Day; 4. Gaston Christian; 5. Westminster Catawba; 6. Metrolina Christian; 7. SouthLake Christian; 8. Hickory Grove.
South Piedmont Athletic Association
United Faith; 2. Victory Christian; 3. Lake Norman Christian; 4. North Hills Christian; 5. Covenant Classical; 6. Woodlawn School.
South Piedmont 3A Conference
Central Cabarrus; 2. Concord; 3. Lake Norman Charter; 4. East Rowan; 5. Northwest Cabarrus; 6. West Rowan; 7. Carson; 8. South Rowan.
Yadkin Valley 1A/2A Conference
Jay M. Robinson; 2. Mount Pleasant; 3. North Stanly; 4. Albemarle; 5. Union Academy; 6. South Stanly; 7. Gray Stone Day.
This story was originally published November 8, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "The Observer’s high school basketball preview for Cabarrus County schools."