The Observer’s 2024 Cabarrus County girls’ high school basketball preview
Here is The Observer’s look at girls’ high school basketball in Cabarrus County ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Teams to watch
Cannon School: The defending NCISAA 4A state champions return four starters from a team that won 23 games and was 8-0 in CISAA conference play. Cannon School returns its entire backcourt, with sophomore Brooke Busby (9.5 points per game) and seniors Maya McCorkle (13.3 ppg) and Khloe Thompson (8.4 ppg). The Cougars frontcourt returns sophomore forward Madison Drayton (15.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg) and will benefit from newcomers in 6-3 freshman Jakaila Gaskin (Northside Christian transfer) and 5-11 junior Jaiden Thompson (Union Academy transfer).
Concord Academy: The Eagles have dominated the Metrolina Athletic conference (MAC) in recent years, going 83-0 in league play in the last eight years. Concord Academy has also averaged 23 victories per season in that same span. This season, the Eagles’ strength will in the backcourt, where all-state freshman Justice Alexander (20.3 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 apg as an eighth-grader on varsity) and junior all-conference point guard Taylor Smith (6 ppg, 5 apg, 6 spg, 3 rpg) return. If the Eagles can get consistent production inside from players like 6-2 freshman center Faith Bekrich, they should win their ninth consecutive conference title and be a threat to go deep into the NCISAA 3A state playoffs. Concord Academy was a state semifinalist last year.
Hickory Ridge: The Ragin’ Bulls have won 61 games over the last three seasons, emerging as a player in the Greater Metro 4A conference. This season, Hickory Ridge will lean on a veteran backcourt with all-conference performers Amya Leathers (senior, 11.8 ppg), and Ma-Kaela Gidney (junior 13.4 ppg). The Ragin’ Bulls have the experience to finish in the top half of the Greater Metro 4A conference and win 20-plus again this season.
Jay M. Robinson: After winning just 26 games from 2018 to 2023, Jay M. Robinson was much improved a year ago, going 19-8 overall. This season, the Bulldogs have the experience to be even better with 6-3 junior point guard Camri Hobbs (21.6 ppg) and senior shooting guard Destiny Young (6 ppg, 5 apg) returning. The Bulldogs also have help coming into the program from senior shooting guard, Shariya Rucker, a Northwest Cabarrus transfer, and junior forward Destiny Chambers, who transferred from Northside Christian transfer.
Players to watch
Justice Alexander, Concord Academy: The 6-1 freshman guard (20.3 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 apg) was an all-state performer as an eighth-grader.
Madison Drayton, Cannon School: The 5-11 sophomore forward building on a breakout freshman season, where she averaged 15.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game for the defending NCISAA 4A state champions.
Jahnae Duncan, Central Cabarrus: The 5-7 junior guard (8.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.6 apg, 3.7 spg) will pair with forwards Daniyah Burton (7.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and Myajah Nix (12.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg, Concord transfer) to help Central Cabarrus make a run at the top half of the South Piedmont 3A standings.
Audrey Gorman, Christ the King: The 5-11 senior is a Newberry College (SC) commit and she looks to build on an all-conference season last year when she averaged 10.9 points per game.
Camri Hobbs, Jay M. Robinson: The 6-3 junior point guard (21.6 ppg, 8 rpg, 5 apg, 3 spg) is a major Division I recruit.
Lauren Farrell, Cox Mill: The 5-11 senior forward (10.7 ppg, 8 rpg, 3.1 spg) will be a key as the only returning starter for the Chargers.
Marisa Furner, Northwest Cabarrus: The 6-foot center (4.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.6 bpg) gives the Trojans a strong presence inside with junior guard/forward Mackenzie Ortscheid (12 ppg) leading the team on the perimeter.
Amya Leathers, Hickory Ridge: The 5-7 senior guard (11.8 ppg) will team with classmate Ma-Kaela Gidney (13.1 ppg, Greater Metro 4A conference defensive player of the year) to give Hickory Ridge a dominant backcourt.
Maya McCorkle, Cannon School: The 5-9 senior East Tennessee State University commit (13.3 ppg, 7 rpg, 4.2 apg) can make plays with the ball for herself or her teammates.
Shariah White, West Cabarrus: The 5-10 junior (9.9 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 spg) will play a lead role both offensively and defensively for the Wolverines.
Players on the rise
Ella Barber, Mount Pleasant: The 5-8 senior gives the Tigers a key player inside, while junior point guard McKenzie Clutter is back to lead the backcourt this season.
Destiny Chambers, Jay M. Robinson: The 6-2 junior power forward and Northside Christian transfer gives the Bulldogs some size inside.
Michaela Buster, A.L. Brown: The 5-11 freshman joins classmate Kennedy Yow as two players who must step in and step up immediately for the Wonders to be improved this season.
Jakaila Gaskin, Cannon School: The 6-3 freshman center, a Northside Christian transfer, is already an ACC/SEC recruit. She will pair with Dayton recruit and junior forward Jaiden Thompson, a Union Academy transfer who averaged 17.4 ppg, to give Cannon School an solid frontcourt.
Preseason all-county team
Justice Alexander, Concord Academy, 6-1, Fr.
Madison Drayton, Cannon School, 5-11, So.
Marisa Furner, Northwest Cabarrus, 6-0, Sr.
Ma-Kaela Gidney, Hickory Ridge, 5-7, Jr.
Camri Hobbs, Jay M. Robinson, 6-3, Jr.
Amya Leathers, Hickory Ridge, 5-7, Sr.
Maya McCorkle, Cannon School, 5-9, Sr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Camri Hobbs, Jay M. Robinson, 6-3, Jr., PG.
Notes
Central Cabarrus head coach Brandon Blalock is five wins from his 200th career victory in his 13th year in charge of the Vikings.
New Christ the King head coach Jen Gorman will be coaching both of her daughters: sophomore Rosie Gorman and freshman Lucy Gorman.
First-year Cox Mill head coach William Auman has coached at the Division I level in college and will have a new system for the Chargers this season.
Jay M. Robinson’s Lavar Batts will again be doing double duty as head coach for both Bulldogs’ varsity teams.
Conference predictions
Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A Conference
Community School of Davidson; 2. Lincoln Charter; 3. Christ the King; 4. Pine Lake Prep; 5. Mountain Island Charter; 6. Corvian Charter; 7. Bradford Prep; 8. Langtree Charter.
CISAA Conference
Cannon School; 2. Providence Day; 3. Charlotte Country Day; 4. Charlotte Latin; 5. Charlotte Christian; 6. Covenant Day.
Greater Metro 4A Conference
Lake Norman; 2. Hickory Ridge; 3. Cox Mill; 4. Mooresville; 5. West Cabarrus; 6. A.L. Brown; 7. South Iredell.
Metrolina Athletic Conference (MAC)
Concord Academy; 2. Westminster Catawba; 3. Gaston Christian; 4. Hickory Grove; 5. Metrolina Christian; 6. SouthLake Christian; 7. Gaston Day.
South Piedmont 3A Conference
Jay M. Robinson; 2. Northwest Cabarrus; 3. West Rowan; 4. Central Cabarrus; 5. East Rowan; 6. Concord; 7. South Rowan; 8. Lake Norman Charter; 9. Carson.
Yadkin Valley 1A/2A Conference
Albemarle; 2. Union Academy; 3. Mount Pleasant; 4. North Stanly; 5. Gray Stone Day; 6. South Stanly.
