Is East Meck’s Jordon Nevill the best HS basketball shooter in North Carolina?
The first thing you need to know about the best 3-point shooter in North Carolina high school basketball is that he loves to rebound.
“It’s a lot of fun to get in there and mix it up, especially for an offensive rebound,” East Mecklenburg senior Jordon Nevill said.
This, coming from a 5-foot-11, 170-pounder, who earned a spot on The Charlotte Observer’s midseason All-Observer all-star team.
True to his word, Nevill grabbed five rebounds in his team’s 68-51 upset loss Friday night at Independence. And he emerged with a black eye.
“Yeah, look at that,” he said, pointing to a reddish-black area under his left eye. “Someone must have caught me with an elbow.”
Nevill’s other loves include dashing down the floor for a breakaway layup; feeding a teammate, using a between-the-legs or behind-the-back pass if necessary; and playing tight defense and forcing an average of two steals per game.
“I just love playing basketball,” he said. “I always have.”
Accuracy is Nevill’s specialty
All the rebounds, passes and steals aside, Nevill is a 3-point field goal specialist. Last year, nobody in North Carolina high school basketball was better at it, and Nevill is on his way to repeating that this season.
Last year, he topped the state with 111 successful 3-pointers. Lest you think he is someone who jacks up 25 long-distance shots a game, Nevill made 52 percent from 3-point range. In 27 games, he averaged 7.8 attempts a game, making 4.1.
For the season, he averaged 19.3 points a contest, highlighted by a 36-point outing against Providence.
This season, he is averaging 22.6 points for an East Mecklenburg team that is 12-2 and contending for the Southwestern 4A Conference title. Nevill has made 71-of-139 long-range shots — 51 percent. Last month against Sun Valley, Nevill scored 42 points, hitting 11-of-17.
Metrolina Christian’s Eli Clark is second, with 67, but in 25 games. Nationally, Nevill is in the top 25 in 3-point shots made.
But so much for the stats. Here’s the real story.
“Nevill is a heckuva player — a real threat,” Independence High coach Preston Davis said. “You’ve got to be watching him all the time.”
Davis’ team is among few to put the reins on Nevill the past two seasons, holding him to 2-of-7 shooting from 3-point range Friday night.
East Mecklenburg coach Jason Buzzard expected more of the same Tuesday night, when the Eagles visit Charlotte Catholic in a showdown of teams tied for first in the Southwestern 4A.
“We know teams will try to shut him down,” Buzzard said. “It’s our job to learn from that, and learn how Jordon — and everyone else on this team — can get their shots.”
An assist to Grandpa
Nevill has been getting his shots up for more than a decade, dating back to when he was 5 years old and attending a summer camp sponsored by the Charlotte Hornets.
His grandfather, Charles Hicks, became his assistant. Nevill would shoot, and Hicks would rebound.
“It would go on for hours,” Nevill said. “My grandfather was always there. He’s a big part of what I am today.”
As he got older, Nevill’s range increased. He would go to the YMCA and get involved in pick-up games with older teens. And he would make 3-pointers.
“I liked the competition,” he said.
Nevill played in a handful of games with East Mecklenburg as a freshman, then became a regular in the COVID-shortened 2021 season.
The key is consistency
Nevill said the key to success as a 3-point shooter is consistency.
“I may get the ball on a pass, or dribble it myself,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how I get the ball. The important thing is to shoot it the same way every time. The mechanics have to be the same.”
Having a little faith helps.
“Yeah, you have to believe the ball will go in,” he said with a smile.
Nevill said he realizes that other teams key on him. They play tight defense that often gets physical.
“Look at my eye,” he said, citing an example of that defense. “I just have to work through it.”
Nevill takes pride in playing a complete game.
“I think my passing is underrated,” he said. “And I love playing defense.”
He said he realizes games like Friday’s at Independence “are gonna happen. You just have to learn from it and try to get better.”
Nevill hasn’t made a decision on a college, and says this year’s East Mecklenburg team is his primary concern.
“It’s my senior year, and I think we can do something really big,” he said.
Buzzard, his coach, concurs.
“This is a very tight group that supports one another in every way,” he said. “There are no hidden agendas, no selfishness. These guys are capable of a lot.”
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
This story was originally published January 10, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
