The Observer’s high school basketball preview for Mecklenburg County public schools
The Observer continues its boys basketball previews for the 2022-23 season with a look at Mecklenburg County schools.
Throughout the week, look for additional previews, concluding with the release of The Sweet 16 preseason poll.
Teams to Watch
Ardrey Kell: The Knights have been consistent winners of late and coach Michael Craft has another veteran squad this season. The Knights’ will look to seniors Brock Rose (13.7 ppg), Trent Gerald, R.J. Milliken, Cole Perodeau and junior Delani Hammonds (8 ppg, 3.8 apg) to get the most out of this team’s talent and contend for the conference title.
Charlotte Catholic: The Cougars have senior-laden team with size as 6-foot-8 Patrick Tivnan (18 ppg, 9 rpg), 6-foot-6 Vaughn Thomas (10 ppg) and 6-foot-5 Jake Kernodle (3 ppg) all returning to the lineup. Charlotte Catholic has the experience, size and versatility to contend for Southwestern 4A conference title and be a difficult playoff match-up.
East Mecklenburg: The Eagles (17-10 last year) are looking to build on their first winning season since the 2013-14 campaign (14-13 that year). East Mecklenburg has the backcourt with senior Jordon Nevill (19.2 ppg) and sophomore Jonah Lawrence (14.6 ppg) to be legitimate conference contenders and make the playoffs.
Julius Chambers: The Cougars will look to senior guard Nick Dorn (7 ppg) and junior forward Maurio Hanson (12 ppg, 6.6 rpg) to lead a team that won 22 games, including the Queen City Athletic conference a year ago. Coach Brian Frasier believes his team can repeat as conference champions and make another deep playoff run. Chambers made the N.C. 4A quarterfinals last season.
Myers Park: The Mustangs are loaded with talent as all five starters, including seniors Elijah Strong (17 ppg, 10 rpg), Sam Walters (6 ppg), juniors Sir Mohammed (17 ppg), Santana Lynch (7 ppg) and sophomore Sadiq White (6 ppg, 4 rpg) returning to the lineup. Add in South Mecklenburg transfer Bishop Boswell, a nationally ranked 6-3 junior and you have a team with experience and talent to win the SoMeck 4A conference title and be legitimate 4A state championship contenders in March.
North Mecklenburg: The Vikings have been consistent, averaging 24 wins per season over the last decade, including a 27-win, n.C. 4A state semifinal run a year ago. This season, the Vikings will feature 6-foot-7 junior Isaiah Evans (19 ppg) along with juniors Bray Thomas, a major college recruit, Christian Foy, Trey Maxwell and senior Demoris Jenkins, an East Carolina football commit, to form a deep team that is a definite N.C. 4A state title contender.
West Charlotte: The defending 3A state champions have a solid core returning with seniors Ollie Alford (6 ppg), Donovan Raymond (10.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and sophomore Chadlyn Traylor (10 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg) all returning. West Charlotte’s biggest challenge will be the 4A competition within its own conference, the Queen City 3A/4A, which should have them ready to try and repeat as state champions for the first since the Lions did it 1991 and 1992, when they were in the 4A class.
Players to Watch
Bryson Davis, Mallard Creek: The 6-foot-2 senior (17.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg) is part of experienced backcourt with classmates Russell Hawkins (8.5 ppg), Kaden Ross (9.4 ppg) and sophomore Jalyn Connor (11.1 ppg) all back in the lineup.
Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg: The 6-foot-7 junior (19 ppg, 6 rpg) is one of the top 25 recruits in the nation with offers from Florida State, Kansas and more.
Maurio Hanson, Julius Chambers: The 6-foot-7 junior forward (12 ppg, 6.6 rpg) give the Cougars a “go-to,” scorer inside.
Seth Johnson, Community School of Davidson: The 5-foot-11 senior guard (20.5 ppg, 4.2 apg, 3 spg) is reigning Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A conference player of the year.
Jaden Lyles, Rocky River: The 6-foot-2 senior point guard returns after a big junior year, where he averaged 18.1 points and 3.7 rebounds.
Rashad McCormick, Hough: The 6-foot-7 all-conference guard (14.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg) gives the Huskies a “go-to” scorer.
Zion McDuffie, Butler: The 6-foot-5 senior wing (17 ppg, 6.7 rpg) sets the tone for team that makes its opponents uncomfortable with its full-court, uptempo pace on offense and defense.
Peter Moye, South Mecklenburg: The 6-foot-3 junior (14.8 ppg, 5 rpg) is a versatile playmaker for the Sabres.
Sir Mohammed, Myers Park: The 6-foot-6 junior wing (17 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg) is a nationally ranked prospect who can play four positions.
Jordon Nevill, East Mecklenburg: The 5-foot-11 shooting guard (19.2 ppg) led the state with 111 three-pointers last season, making 52 percent from beyond the arc.
Donovan Raymond, West Charlotte: The 6-foot-10 senior forward (10.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.1 bpg) gives the Lions one of the biggest front lines in the state with classmate, 6-foot-11, Muhammed Kone.
Brock Rose, Ardrey Kell: The 6-foot-6 senior sharpshooter (13.7 ppg) made 41 percent of his three-pointers, 80 percent of his free throws as a junior.
Elijah Strong, Myers Park: The 6-foot-7 senior Wofford College commit averaged a double-double (17 ppg, 10 rpg) and earned SoMeck 4A conference players of the years honors as a junior.
Patrick Tivnan, Charlotte Catholic: The 6-foot-8 senior forward was Southwestern 4A conference player of the year (18 ppg, 9 rpg) last season.
Quay Watson, Hopewell: The 5-11 junior point guard (18.5 ppg, 5 apg, 5 rpg) gives the Titans a dynamic backcourt with classmates Derrick Eley (12 ppg) and Julian Mack (12 ppg).
Players On the Rise
Darius Abraham, Harding: The 6-foot-2 senior (14 ppg) gives the Rams a dynamic duo in the backcourt with classmate Kendarion Thomas (9 ppg) to set the tone for a team with a “defensive-first,” philosophy under new head coach Benjamin Brickhouse.
Tosh Alberga, Independence: The 6-foot-6 junior forward (5.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg) will have to play a bigger role as one of only two starters back for the Patriots along with junior guard Kameron Jasper (4 ppg).
Bishop Boswell, Myers Park: The South Mecklenburg transfer (20.5 ppg) gives the Mustangs another elite scorer in a loaded Mustangs’ lineup.
Emanual Craig, Berry: The 6-foot senior guard (8 ppg, 3 apg, 3 spg) sets the tone on both sides of the floor for the Cardinals.
Sam Harris, Corvian Charter: The 6-foot-4 all conference guard (12.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg) is back to lead a team that won 21 games last season.
Isaiah Martin, Lake Norman Charter: The 5-foot-8 senior point guard (10 ppg, 3 apg) was an all-conference pick and his team’s most valuable player as a junior.
Bryce Taylor, Providence: The 6-foot-2 senior was all-Southwestern 4A last season.
J.D. Terrell, Olympic: The 6-foot sophomore guard (5.8 ppg, 3.2 apg) pairs with seniors Camron Burns (4.7 ppg) and Demarco Reynolds (6.3 ppg) to give the Trojans an experienced backcourt.
Jakhari Watson, Sugar Creek Charter: The 5-foot-10 senior (8 ppg) will team with sophomore guard Raymond Hector (10 ppg, 5 apg) to pace the Wildcats.
Preseason All-County Team
Bryson Davis, Mallard Creek, 6-2, Sr.
Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg, 6-7, Jr.
Maurio Hanson, Julius Chambers, 6-7, Jr.
Seth Johnson, Community School of Davidson, 5-11, Sr.
Jaden Lyles, Rocky River, 6-2, Sr.
Zion McDuffie, Butler, 6-5, Sr.
Sir Mohammed, Myers Park, 6-6, Jr.
Jordon Nevill, East Mecklenburg, 5-11, Sr.
Donovan Raymond, West Charlotte, 6-10, Sr.
Elijah Strong, Myers Park, 6-7, Sr.
Patrick Tivnan, Charlotte Catholic, 6-8, Sr.
Quay Watson, Hopewell, 5-11, Jr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg, 6-7, Jr.
Interesting Notes
Ardrey Kell basketball coach, Michael Craft, is 18 wins away from his 300th career victory, which could come this season if the Knights can post another winning campaign after six 20-plus win seasons in the last decade.
Independence basketall coach Preston Davis is one win away from his 200th career victory.
Mallard Creek returns all five starters from a squad that posted their first winning season since the 2018-19 campaign.
North Mecklenburg basketball coach Duane Lewis has 476 career wins. He needs 24 victories to hit the 500-win milestone.
Palisades’ basketball coach LaTroy Brace expects to build a winner eventually and is confident the Pumas can “hang” in the SoMeck4A conference this season. Brace led his former school, Marlboro County (SC), to a state title.
First year Providence basketball coach Nick Boney, a former Union Pines’ coach, is looking bring a winning mentality to a Panthers’ program that has struggled going 19-129 in the last seven years combined.
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.
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.
Queen City 3A/4A Conference
North Mecklenburg; 2. Julius Chambers; 3. West Charlotte; 4. Hopewell; 5. Mallard Creek; 6. Hough; 7. West Mecklenburg
South Mecklenburg 4A Conference
Myers Park; 2. Ardrey Kell; 3. Olympic; 4. South Mecklenburg; 5. Harding; 6. Berry; 7. Palisades.
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.
Southwestern 4A Conference
Charlotte Catholic; 2. East Mecklenburg; 3. Butler; 4. Rocky River; 5. Independence; 6. Providence; 7. Garinger.
This story was originally published November 9, 2022 at 7:00 AM with the headline "The Observer’s high school basketball preview for Mecklenburg County public schools."