Davidson Day’s revamped roster eyes another state title in 2025 season

Davidson Day’s basketball program enjoyed state championship success two years ago when it won the N.C. Independent Schools Class 2A title. A year ago as a Class 3A school, the Patriots finished 19-8, losing in the semifinals.

This year, second-year head coach Ricky Hickman’s team has a pro-sized frontline and what he calls a “revamped” roster in order to pursue another state title.

“I think our team has a high ceiling,” Hickman said of his team, which features two top returnees and six talented newcomers. All-state post player William Stevens, a 6-foot-11, 225-pound Clemson commit, and 6-2 junior Sam Flippin are the lone returning players, with Stevens coming back after averaging 11.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks a year ago.

He’ll be joined by a pair of tall newcomers in senior Cody Peck (6-11, 215) and sophomore Xavier Hall (6-10, 248). Peck returns to the area after playing at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and is a top 80 ESPN recruit who has received attention from multiple Division I programs. Hall transferred from Roseboro Lakewood High in eastern North Carolina.

“My selling point is trying to turn these players into young men and showing them how the academic program at Davidson Day will benefit them,” said Hickman, who was an assistant in the 2023-24 season before becoming head coach. “We’re not just a basketball factory. We want our young men to become better basketball players, but we also want them to become better students as well while preparing them for the next level.”

If the Patriots are to achieve their high expectations, Hickman says newcomers at guard will need to do well.

“Our guard play with Nick Arnold and Sherrod McCormick will be a big part of what we’re trying to do,” Hickman said of Arnold (Lake Norman transfer) and McCormick (Cox Mill transfer). “We expect them to make plays for everybody and create opportunities for others because we do have a lot of talented players.

“How they go will be how the team goes, so there’s a lot of pressure on those guys.”

Two other newcomers — sophomore Omari Whiteside (Shelby transfer) and senior Justyn Whitefield (Victory Christian transfer) — also are expected to play big minutes.

Like last season, Davidson Day will be an independent and play the toughest competition it can find to prepare for the state playoffs in February.

“We’re still an independent school and I think we’ve done a really good job with our schedule to prepare us for our ultimate goal of winning a state championship,” Hickman said.

This story was originally published November 10, 2025 at 5:30 AM.