The Observer’s 2025-26 Mecklenburg County boys’ public school basketball preview
Boys’ basketball in North Carolina for some schools is already underway, but most teams will begin this week.
Here’s a preview for Mecklenburg County boys’ public school basketball.
Teams to watch
Myers Park: The Mustangs’ roster will look a lot different from the one that got hot late and made a run to the 4A state quarterfinals last season. The Mustangs return 6-6 sophomore Ayo Awosanya (9.5 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game, 1.7 blocks per game) but no other starters are back. A few transfers will play big roles: 6-5 junior guard Thomas Vickery (Christ School transfer, Division I recruit) and 6-4 sophomore forward Rucker Jamison (Ambassador Christian transfer), the youngest son of former University of North Carolina and NBA standout Antawn Jamison. The Mustangs will also look to 6-3 senior Mack Walters and 6-2 junior Cash Hall to provide experience.
North Mecklenburg: The defending 4A state champions are 150-21 in the past six years, which includes six straight trips to at least the 4A state semifinals. Returning this year are 6-3 shooting guard, Ashton Pierce (14 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 apg, Sacramento State commit) and 6-4 forward Exzavier Young (11 ppg, 8 rpg, Division I and II recruit). Additionally, 6-4 junior wing Alek Lewandowski, a Division I recruit, will play a bigger role this season.
South Mecklenburg: The Sabres returns the core of a team that went 17-11 last season. South Mecklenburg will lean on a veteran backcourt which includes 6-5 Jim Gatehouse (14.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg), 6-5 Ben Houpt (15.3 ppg, 4 apg) and 6-3 Connor Yett (8.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg).
West Charlotte: The Lions have won a combined 33 games over the last three seasons. However, coach Jacoby Davis’ team could be much improved this season. On the roster are 6-3 junior point guard A.C. Pressley (10 ppg); 6-2 shooting guard Jeylen “ChaCho” Womack (9 ppg); . Harding transfer, 6-4 point guard Kaharri Coleman (18 ppg, 5 rpg, 5 apg, 3 spg); and Berry transfer, 6-5 senior forward Jkhai McManus Wade (15 ppg, 8 rpg).
Players to watch
Terrance Baddio, Butler: The 6-2 guard (14.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2 spg) sets the tone on both sides of the floor in the Bulldogs’ frenetic full-court pace.
Matthew Craft, Ardrey Kell: The 5-11 senior point guard will play a key role (9.8 ppg, 44% , 3-point shooter) in an experienced Knights’ backcourt with 6-1 classmate Dylan Morrison (5.2 ppg) and 5-11 junior Braden Suggs (8 ppg, 2.5 apg).
Caleb Gaither, Providence: The Panthers’ 6-3 senior point guard (11.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.7 apg) gives Providence a dynamic one-two punch outside and inside, along with 6-6 junior forward Liam Drayton (10.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg)
Jaden Hardnett, Olympic: The 6-3 junior guard (9 ppg, 3.6 apg, 1.7 spg) is part of a versatile backcourt with 6-3 sophomore Eddie Cota (5.8 ppg).
Aaron Lawler, Garinger: The 6-1 sophomore point guard looks to build on a breakout freshman season, where he averaged 20 points, three assists and three steals per game.
Lusemo Macharia, Independence: The 6-7 senior forward (10.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg) is a key piece inside for a deep Patriots’ team that will also feature seniors like 6-4 guard Jaxson Neely (9.7 ppg), 5-8 guard Dylan McFarland (5.2 ppg), and 6-3 wing King Rhodes (10.5 ppg, Charlotte Catholic transfer).
Collin McConneyhead, Lake Norman Charter: The 6-2 junior is the Knights’ only returning starter. He averaged 14 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals per game last season.
Jack Siegel, Charlotte Catholic, Sr.: The 6-4 senior will play a bigger role (13 ppg, 5 rpg) for a younger Cougars’ squad that lost nine seniors to graduation.
Chase Smith, Queens Grant: The 6-9 sophomore (12.9 ppg, 9.9 rpg) looks to build on a freshman season where he nearly averaged a double-double. He will team with 5-11 sophomore guard Bobby Montgomery (11.1 ppg) and 6-7 sophomore forward Mekhi Allen (10 ppg) on a 2A state title contender.
Ethan Tomko, Community School of Davidson: The 6-3 senior forward nearly averaged a double-double last season (8.6 ppg, 10.2 rpg) and will have to play a bigger role this year with only two starters returning.
Players on the rise
Barrington Cook, Corvian Charter: The 6-3 senior guard (2.1 ppg) joins 6-3 guard Maxwell Garvin, 6-1 guard Brycen Hinnant, and 6-2 wing Kendall Patel (2.4 ppg) on a defending 1A state championship team that will have to rebuild after returning only seven percent of its scoring from a year ago.
Tre Gatlin, Hopewell: The 6-2 senior guard (5.5 ppg) is the lone returning starter for a Titans’ squad looking to reload with 5-6 senior Kyle Broughton (5.4) also playing a key role.
Luke Hanson, Bradford Prep.: The 6-3 senior (10.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg) is the team’s only returning starter.
Corde Harrison, Sugar Creek Charter: The 6-foot senior, all-conference guard (9 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg) back to lead the Wildcats in the new Catawba River 1A/2A/3A conference.
Brighton Lester, Palisades: The 6-2 junior point guard (7.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.3 apg), 1.7 spg) will set the tone for a Palisades team seeking to get back above .500 in year four of the program.
Jimmy Neubauer, Ballantyne Ridge: The 6-4 senior forward gives the Wolves experience and scoring as the second-year program looks to improve.
John Slusher, Hough: The 6-6 senior center/forward (5.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg) is the leading returner scorer and rebounder for the Huskies and will have to step into a much bigger role this season.
Josiah Pratt, West Mecklenburg: The 6-6 senior forward (11 ppg, 6 rpg) looks to help get West Mecklenburg back in the win column after an 0-25 season last year.
Ahmad Savage, Mallard Creek: The 6-foot point guard is the top returning playmaker for the Mavericks after averaging 9.6 points and 4.6 assists per game last season.
Matthew Tyler, Berry: The 6-2 senior guard (8 ppg, 7 rpg) will be part of an experienced backcourt with 6-1 Marcus Goodman (7 ppg) and 6-2 senior C.J. Meriweather.
Nixon Wright, East Mecklenburg: The 6-6 junior guard/forward (8 ppg, 5 rpg) is the team’s leading returning score. He has college interest from High Point, Miami (OH) and UNC-Asheville, according to coach Joseph Gripper.
Preseason all-county team
Terrance Badio, Butler, 6-2, Sr.
Kaharri Coleman, West Charlotte, 6-4, So.
Caleb Gaither, Providence, 6-3, Sr.
Ben Houpt, South Mecklenburg, 6-5, Sr.
Aaron Lawler, Garinger, 6-1, So.
Lusemo Macharia, Independence, 6-7, Jr.
R.J. Moore (Jr.) Ambassador Christian, 6-7, Jr.
Ashton Pierce, North Mecklenburg, 6-3, Sr.
Jack Siegel, Charlotte Catholic, 6-4, Sr.
Chase Smith, Queens Grant, 6-8, So.
Thomas Vickery, Myers Park, 6-5, Jr.
Exzavier Young, North Mecklenburg, 6-4, Sr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Ashton Pierce, North Mecklenburg, 6-3, Sr., SG.
Notes
— Olympic guard Eddie Cota is the son of former University of North Carolina point guard Ed Cota. Meanwhile Myers Park has 6-4 sophomore forward Rucker Jamison, son of former Tar Heel and Providence High standout Antawn Jamison.
— First-year East Mecklenburg head coach Joseph Gripper takes over a program he had been a part for over two decades . Gripper was an assistant coach under former Eagles’ coach Jason Buzzard for the last six seasons. He also served as East Mecklenburg’s assistant under former coach Jason Grube. Gripper was also an all-conference player (2003) for Grube.
— Former East Mecklenburg and Hough basketball coach Jason Grube takes over the as Bradford Prep’s head basketball coach in his 25th year overall.
Conference predictions
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 Charlotte 7A/8A conference
1. Myers Park; 2. South Mecklenburg; 3. Hopewell; 4. Hough; 5. West Mecklenburg; 6. Garinger.
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.
Meck Power 6, 7A/8A conference
1. North Mecklenburg; 2. West Charlotte; 3. Independence; 4. Butler; 5. Julius Chambers; 6. Mallard Creek.
Southern Carolinas 6A/7A conference
1. Charlotte Catholic; 2. Marvin Ridge; 3. Cuthbertson; 4. Weddington; 5. Piedmont; 6. Sun Valley; 7. Porter Ridge.
Southwestern 7A/8A conference
1. Ardrey Kell; 2. Palisades; 3. Providence; 4. East Mecklenburg; 5. Rocky River; 6. Ballantyne Ridge.
