She gave up martial arts and North Meck’s Lenise Joseph became one of NC’s best prep players
Performing arts and martial arts’ loss has proved to be basketball’s gain in the case of North Mecklenburg sophomore girls basketball standout Lenise Joseph.
A 6-foot sophomore forward, Joseph switched interests in elementary school and has since turned into a top high school player and college prospect.
“I didn’t want to play basketball until I was like 7 or 8,” Joseph said. “I was doing ballet and karate. Then one day I went to a basketball camp and I enjoyed it.
“Actually, my dad wasn’t a fan of it at first but once we got into it, we got trainers and now we’re here.”
Joseph’s debut on the local high school basketball scene showed she belonged when she had 31 points and 12 rebounds in an 85-77 overtime win over Porter Ridge in her first high school game on Nov. 24, 2023.
She finished that freshman season averaging 16.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.4 blocks as the Vikings went 23-6 overall and advanced to the second round of the N.C. 4A playoffs before losing to eventual Western N.C. 4A regional finalist Watauga.
According to 16th-year Vikings head coach Jennifer Baker, there were expectations for Joseph as soon as she enrolled at North Mecklenburg. But Baker says what Joseph has done to prepare for her first two seasons proved that she was talented and eager enough to become a standout performer.
“She had a lot of potential,” Baker said of Joseph. “She had gone to Randolph (Middle School) and they won the first city league championship.
“And when she came in, there’s always a transition from middle school to high school and it’s always the speed of the game and the physicality.
“So we were anxious to see how that would work for her and we got our kids in the weight room early and she did a good job. Then she did a phenomenal job this past summer; She’s more agile and more athletic and has stepped everything up a notch.”
Joseph has improved her averages to 25.0 points and 14.0 rebounds this season for the Vikings, who were ranked No. 4 in N.C. 4A and No. 3 in The Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 in last week’s polls.
Baker says Joseph’s development has made her a coveted Class of 2027 recruit.
“They’re very interested because her ceiling is so high,” Baker said. “As a coach, it’s a blessing to have someone who’s willing to take constructive criticism, digest it and continue to move forward.
“She’s just different. I’ve never had a player with the footwork skills that she has. She’s really good inside.”
For now, Joseph and the Vikings are navigating the Queen City 3A/4A with recent state powers Chambers, Mallard Creek and West Charlotte; North Mecklenburg this week has Harding on its schedule for Monday, Hopewell on Tuesday and West Charlotte on Friday.
“The goals are to play with camaraderie and be together the whole time and play with a fast pace,” Joseph said. “Defense is our main focus. Everything starts with defense.
“Our team goal is wanting to go to (the state finals).”
