The Observer’s 2025-26 regional boys’ private school basketball preview
N.C. boys’ basketball for some private schools began last week, but most teams will get underway this week.
Here’s a preview for regional boys’ teams in The Observer’s coverage area. That includes NCHSAA and NCISAA teams from Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln and Union counties.
Teams to watch
Concord Academy: The Eagles have won 81 games in the last three years, including a 31-win NCISAA 3A state runner-up team season a year ago. For 25-26, Concord Academy is loaded with talent again. The Eagles’ backcourt will feature 6-foot-1 senior Lincoln Raper (13.5 ppg, Lees McRae College commit) and 6-3 sophomore Cruz Miller (15.5 ppg, Cox Mill transfer). The frontcourt has size with 6-7 junior forward James Mineland (11.3 ppg), 7-foot junior center Modou Ndiaye, who is from Senegal, and 6-8 senior forward Mata Vidakovic, who is from Croatia.
East Lincoln: The Mustangs have won 20-plus games in each of the last six seasons. This season, East Lincoln looks to continue that streak led by 6-5 senior forward Jaxon Dollar (15.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 6.1 apg, 3 spg, 2.1 bpg) and 5-10 senior point guard Christian Atkins (13 ppg, 5 apg).The senior trio of 5-11 guard Braden Miller (3.3 ppg), 6-6 forward Gavin Haeberlin and 6-3 forward Gaige Ikard (5.5 ppg) will be asked to take on bigger roles.
Gaston Christian: The Eagles return their entire backcourt from a 25-win team that advanced all the way to the NCISAA 3A state semifinals. Gaston Christian will feature 6-1 senior Cameron Newman (17.5 ppg, 4.8 apg, 5.1 rpg, 2.8 spg), 6-3 senior Kendall Southern and 6-1 junior Jeremy Duhon, son of Gaston Christian head coach and former Duke star Chris Duhon.
Hickory Ridge: The Ragin’ Bulls’ will depend on an experienced backcourt, where 6-2 junior Travien Williams (20 ppg, 8 rpg, 3 spg, Greater Metro 4A player of the year) teams with 6-1 senior Tyson Durant (9 ppg) and Braylen Hill (13 ppg).
Jay M. Robinson: The Bulldogs return four senior starters from a team that won 26 games, including a 15-1 mark in the South Piedmont conference (SPC) to win the league title. The Robinson frontcourt will be a strength with all-conference performers like 6-5 senior Da’Montre Harlee (12 ppg, 7 rpg, 2 bpg) and 6-3 senior forward Jamell Reid (11 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 bpg) returning. The Bulldogs’ backcourt also features two seniors — 6-1 point guard Noah Speller (10 ppg, 6 apg) and 6-3 shooting guard Roger Walton (8 ppg, 3 spg).
Mooresville: The Blue Devils return three starters from a team that won 24 games. This year, Mooresville will look to the senior trio of 6-1 guard Nolan Ericson (13.2 ppg), 6-4 wing Eian Bailey (7.1 ppg) and 6-7 forward Christian Wilson (7.4 ppg) to lead the team. Lake Norman’s 6-4 transfer, senior Taureen McKinnon (4.8 ppg, 4 rpg), will also have an immediate impact on a team looking to contend in the newly organized North Piedmont conference.
Players to watch
Jerel Brawley, Langtree Charter: The 5-9 senior point guard (13 ppg, 3.3 apg) is back to lead the Lions.
Manuel Gladden, Statesville: The 6-4 junior (15.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg) pairs with junior point guard Paul Cauthen (9.8 ppg, 4.9 apg) to lead Statesville in the newly organized North Piedmont conference.
Justin Gonder, Northwest Cabarrus: The 6-1 senior all-conference guard will be a key playmaker for the Trojans. He averaged 10.6 points, four rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game last season.
Gary Grear, Pine Lake Prep: The 6-3, all-conference sophomore guard (10 ppg, 7 rpg) is part of a young but talented backcourt with all-conference senior Chris Luceri (8 ppg, 8 rpg) and 6-foot freshman Mark Mahoney (ranked one of the top freshmen in the state).
Mike Hoff, Central Academy: The 6-1 senior guard (15 ppg) will play a lead role for the Cougars. He is also one of the top students in his class (2026) and a leader in the school’s marching band.
Bryan Little, Piedmont: The 6-5 senior forward (13 ppg, 9 rpg) is part of an experienced frontcourt with 6-5 senior Nolan Smith (6 ppg) and 6-3 junior Graham Blackman (10 ppg, 5 rpg).
O.B. Lowery, South Point, So.: The 5-8 sophomore combo guard averaged 20.2 points per game as a freshman.
Camari McCrae, West Cabarrus: The 6-foot senior all-Greater Metro conference guard returns as the Wolverines’ top scorer. He averaged 12 points per game last season.
Sean Nix, Cannon School: The 6-4 all-state junior looks to build on a breakout sophomore season, where he averaged 24.1 points and 6.2 rebound per game last year.
Cooper Perkins, Mount Pleasant: The 6-4 junior guard (20 ppg, 6 rpg, 6 apg, 4 spg) gives the Tigers a strong scorer on the wing with 6-6 senior forward Silas Lowder (11 ppg, 11 rpg) inside.
Griffin Simpson, Gaston Day: The 6-4 senior forward (10 ppg) will play a key role as the only returning starter for the Spartans.
Henry Smith, Marvin Ridge: The 6-4 senior all-conference forward is a force inside for the Mavericks, averaging 14 points and six rebounds per game last year.
Players on the rise
Lloyd Barnes, Union Academy: The 6-foot junior forward (8 ppg, 5 rpg) is the lone returning starter for the Cardinals.
Kyle Bridgewater, Mountain Island Charter: The 6-2 sophomore (4.8 ppg) will have to play a bigger role with 6-3 forward David Furlough (4.5 ppg). They are the team’s leading returning scorers.
Braylen Cheek, Cuthbertson: The 6-7 senior forward will be a go-to player inside with 6-3 senior Grady Webb, (9.3 ppg) leading the way on the perimeter for the Cavaliers.
Talon Dalton, Cherryville, Sr.: The 5-11 senior point guard (7.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg) returns to lead the Ironmen, who should be improved with four starters back.
Rai’Shawn Elmore, Porter Ridge: The 6-3 senior (6.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg) will take on a bigger role for the Pirates. He’s also a standout on the Porter Ridge football team.
Tyler Gadd, Metrolina Christian: The 6-5 senior forward (7 ppg, 5 rpg) is a go-to player inside for the Warriors.
Gavin Jordan, Stuart Cramer: The 5-11 junior guard is a versatile performer. He averaged 10.5 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals per game last season.
Amari Melton, Forest Hills: The 6-2 senior point guard (15 ppg) pairs with 6-3 senior shooting guard Ja’hmarion Mingo (11 ppg) to set the tone for Forest Hills’ frenetic, full-court pace on both sides of the court.
Dexter Montague, Central Cabarrus: The 6-3 senior (8 ppg) will team with classmate Kameron Cook (6 ppg) and Parker Watkins (13 ppg, Hickory Ridge transfer) to form an experienced Central Cabarrus backcourt.
Jaylin Powell, Sun Valley: The 6-2 senior (9.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg) is one of four seniors in the starting lineup. Also returning are 5-10 Jayden Jeffery (3.4 ppg), 6-3 Noah McKinney (8.4 ppg) and 6-foot Thanasi Papazis (7 ppg).
Jackson Reed, Lincoln Charter: The 6-5 sophomore forward (3 ppg) and classmates — 6-5 forward Braydon Walden and 6-foot point guard Samirr Collins — look to build on solid freshmen seasons on a team that will go 10-deep, according to coach Justin Brittain.
Tucker Robinette, Lincolnton: The 5-8 senior point guard (8.5 ppg, 4.9 apg) leads a balanced lineup with 6-4 senior Josiah Guyton (16.5 ppg, Bessemer City transfer) and senior forwards Charlie Foster (6.8 ppg) and Cameron Smith (8.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg).
Max Werdann, Weddington: The Warriors sophomore, the son of former St. John’s standout and NBA player Robert Werdann, should have an immediate impact for a Weddington team with only one returning starter.
Noah Wilson, Lake Norman: The 6-3 junior (4.4 ppg) is the leading returning scorer on a Lake Norman team reloading without any returning starters.
Kaden Zachary, North Iredell: The Raiders’ senior shooting guard is the team’s leading returning scorer, averaging 10 points per game last season.
Preseason All-Region team
Jaxon Dollar, East Lincoln, 6-5, Jr.
Nolan Ericson, Mooresville, 6-1, Sr.
Damontre Harlee, Jay M. Robinson, 6-5, Sr.
O.B. Lowery, South Point, 5-8, So.
Amari Melton, Forest Hills, 6-2, Sr.
Cameron Newman, Gaston Christian, 6-1, Sr.
Sean Nix, Cannon School, 6-4, Jr.
Lincoln Raper, Concord Academy, 6-1, Sr.
Travien Williams, Hickory Ridge, 6-2, Jr.
Preseason player of the year: Newman, Gaston Christian
Notes
— Cannon School basketball coach Jim Baker is just seven wins from his 500th career win. He is 493-301 in his 45 years as a college and high school head coach.
— East Lincoln basketball coach Jonathan Hancock is nine wins from earning his 500th career victory. He is 491-285 in his coaching career.
— Jay M. Robinson basketball coach Lavar Batts will again be the head coach of both the Bulldogs’ boys’ and girls’ varsity teams. Batts went a combined 52-9 between the two squads last year.
Conference predictions
Big South 5A/6A Conference
1. Hunter Huss; 2. South Point; 3. Crest; 4. Ashbrook; 5. Kings Mountain; 6. Forestview; 7. North Gaston.
Catawba River 1A/2A/3A Conference
1. Queens Grant; 2. Jackson Day; 3. Piedmont Charter; 4. Sugar Creek Charter; 5. Carolina International; 6. Mountain Island Charter; 7. Thomas Jefferson Academy; 8. North Carolina School of Math and Science; 9. Bonnie Cone Academy.
Catawba Shores’ 2A/3A/4A Conference
1. Pine Lake Prep; 2. Lincoln Charter; 3. Community School of Davidson; 4. Corvian Charter; 5. Lake Norman Charter; 6. Christ the King; 7. Bradford Prep; 8. Langtree Charter.
Greater Metro 6A/7A Conference
1. Hickory Ridge; 2. Olympic; 3. West Cabarrus; 4. Central Cabarrus; 5. Cox Mill; 6. Harding; 7. A.L. Brown; 8. Berry.
NCISAA CISAA Conference
1. Providence Day; 2. Cannon School; 3. Charlotte Latin; 4. Covenant Day; 5. Charlotte Country Day; 6. Charlotte Christian.
NCISAA Metrolina Athletic Conference
1. Concord Academy; 2. Gaston Christian; 3. Gaston Day; 4. Westminster Catawba; 5. SouthLake Christian; 6. Hickory Grove; 7. Metrolina Christian.
North Piedmont 6A/7A Conference
1. Mooresville; 2. Lake Norman; 3. Statesville; 4. Davie County; 5. North Iredell; 6. South Iredell.
Rocky River 4A/5A Conference
1. Forest Hills; 2. Monroe; 3. Mount Pleasant; 4. Parkwood; 5. Anson County; 6. West Stanly; 7. Central Academy.
South Piedmont 4A/5A Conference
1. Jay M. Robinson; 2. Salisbury; 3. Carson; 4. Northwest Cabarrus; 5. Concord; 6. East Rowan; 7. West Rowan; 8. South Rowan.
Southern Carolinas’ 6A/7A Conference
1. Charlotte Catholic; 2. Marvin Ridge; 3. Cuthbertson; 4. Weddington; 5. Piedmont; 6. Sun Valley; 7. Porter Ridge.
Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A Conference
1. Lincolnton; 2. Burns; 3. Shelby; 4. Bessemer City; 5. Stuart Cramer; 6. West Lincoln; 7. Highland Tech; 8. Cherryville; 9. East Gaston.
Western Foothills’ Athletic 4A/5A Conference
1. Hickory; 2. East Lincoln; 3. North Lincoln; 4. Bandys; 5. Newton Conover; 6. West Iredell; 7. Maiden; 8. Fred T. Foard; 9. Bunker Hill.
Yadkin Valley 1A/2A/3A Conference
1. North Rowan; 2. Union Academy; 3. North Stanly; 4. Albemarle; 5. South Stanly; 6. Gray Stone Day.
This story was originally published November 11, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
