Talking Preps 03.05: NCHSAA state final preview, Ms./Mr. NC Basketball to be named
A new Talking Preps airs Monday, March 6, at 8 p.m. (replays after). On tap:
▪ Hear from all of the 4A boys and girls coaches involved in Saturday’s state championships in Chapel Hill: Lake Norman girls’ McKenzie Graham, Panther Creek girls’ Danielle Sullivan, Myers Park’s Scott Taylor and Richmond Senior’s Donald Pettigrew, who played on the Raiders’ 1997 state finals team.
▪ We break down all eight NCHSAA state finals.
▪ We hand out the state’s biggest basketball awards: Ms. and Mr. Basketball. The Charlotte Observer has named the winner for nearly 40 years. Male finalists are North Mecklenburg’s Isaiah Evans, Carmel Christian’s Jaeden Musaf and Northwood’s Drake Powell.
The female finalists are North Pitt’s Zamareya Jones, Lake Norman’s Kirsten Lewis-Williams and Grace Christian’s Sarah Strong.
▪ Myers Park post Elijah Strong joins us in studio to talk about Saturday’s 4A state final. Myers Park has never won a state title and hasn’t been to the big game since 1966. Strong will also face off with Randall on the Game Show. Randall is trying to polish off an unbeaten season (somehow).
▪ Chelsea sits down with Richmond Senior star Paul McNeil, an N.C. State commit who was N.C. Gatorade player of the year last season.
▪ Finally, in “Coach vs. Coach,” Gary and Randall debate how the NCHSAA should handle regional championship overcrowding, whether changing the normal state championship schedule was a good thing and if teens and young people with cameras should be considered “media.”
How to watch/listen
Watch the show, beginning at 8 p.m. on Monday night, on this page — or on The Charlotte Observer’s Twitter, Facebook or YouTube pages. It is also available on the News & Observer’s Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Talking Preps is also available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Megaphone and Spotify.
This story was originally published March 6, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
