Jordan Buzzard’s return lifts East Mecklenburg basketball, fuels playoff hopes
Back in November, two games into the season, East Mecklenburg‘s first-year coach Joseph Gripper told his team he had a surprise for them in practice.
The Eagles, with high hopes to start the season, were 0-2. They had lost two games to Harding and Hopewell — by 29 points combined.
They needed a little good news, or as Gripper said, “I felt like we needed a little pick-me-up.”
Gripper actually had received the same surprise two days earlier when former East Mecklenburg coach Jason Buzzard called him to tell that his son, Jordan, a 6-foot-9 senior at Carmel Christian, was returning to his home school.
“His dad called me to let me know what they were doing,” said Gripper, whose team beat Mallard Creek, 76-54, at the Mike Gminski Classic on Monday at Marvin Ridge High, “and we came up with this plan to bring him out in the middle of practice.”
Jordan Buzzard had transferred to Carmel for his senior season, after averaging 11.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 2.1 assists for his dad at East Mecklenburg last winter.
So, even in an era where offseason transfers are the norm, it’s not every day you get a bona fide Division I post player — Jordan Buzzard has signed with Coastal Carolina — a few weeks before the holidays.
And the plan went perfectly.
Buzzard waited outside the Eagles’ gym, and Gripper stopped practice and gathered everybody together. Buzzard was signaled to walk in, and...
“Everybody went crazy,” Eagles sophomore guard Zavion Funderburk said. “Everybody was hyped. I mean, the energy was just different.”
All of a sudden, a team with plenty of young talent, like Funderburk and 6-5 junior jumping jack Nixon Wright, had a defensive anchor — an experienced talent among the best in the region.
Nobody really thought about the 0-2 start anymore.
“He’s just part of the group,” Gripper said. “The kids, they go to his house and spend the night on weekends after big games. It’s just fun having him back. The team morale is better.”
Buzzard said he decided to leave Carmel Christian, a private school in Matthews, to return to public East Mecklenburg because he felt the new school just wasn’t the right fit.
“So I decided to come back with my boys to finish the year,” he said. “And it was good. Everybody was happy for me to come back, and I was happy about that. I was excited to come back and I had some high expectations.”
East Meck sandwiched wins over South Meck and Sun Valley around a 3-point loss to Hough in Buzzard’s first three games. But the Eagles said they were still adjusting to having their big man back and adjusting to new rotations and the different ways players would be getting shots.
In their next game, the Eagles were within shouting distance of nationally-ranked and reigning state champion North Mecklenburg on Dec. 5 in the second half before the Vikings pulled away late for a 76-55 win.
Funderburk, the sophomore star, was ejected in that game for multiple technical fouls and sat out the next two — an overtime win over Weddington and a 64-48 loss to a 10-1 Butler team.
But since Funderburk came back — and Buzzard has been fully integrated — East Meck has been rolling.
The Eagles (7-5) have won four straight games, including two at the Gminski Classic. Buzzard had 11 points, nine rebounds, five blocks, two assists and a steal against West Mecklenburg Saturday and nine points, 16 rebounds, five assists and three steals against Mallard Creek Monday.
Buzzard and the Eagles wrap up Gminski play Tuesday at 11 a.m. against Burlington Christian.
“Having him back helps a lot,” Funderburk said of Buzzard. “Everything in the paint, he blocks.”
Gripper gives Buzzard lots of freedom, sometimes even allowing him to bring the ball up the court, like a Magic Johnson-sized point guard, or lets him shoot jumpers on the wing.
“He has so many facets to his game that help us out,” Gripper said. “He can pass the ball well, everybody knows that. He rebounds. He gives us so much on both sides of the floor.”
And Buzzard thinks his team’s recent success is just a sign of what Eagles’ fans will see for the rest of the season.
“I think we’re a good team,” he said. “I think we should win our conference and make a good run in the playoffs.”
Holiday tournaments continue
Post-Christmas tournaments in the area continue and Charlotte-area teams are playing all over the southeast.
A look at Monday’s key games:
Queen’s Grant vs. West Charlotte, Mike Gminski Classic: The top game of the day involves two state championship contenders and top five Observer Sweet 16 teams. Queen’s Grant (13-3) is a small 2A public playing a challenging schedule. The Stallions, an NCHSAA regional finalist last March, have won nine straight. West Charlotte (9-1), an 8A power, has only lost to national power Oak HIll (VA). Tipoff is 5 p.m. at Marvin Ridge High School.
Forest Hills vs. Ardrey Kell, Ardrey Kell Winter Classic: Forest Hills is one of the biggest surprises of the season, off to a 7-4 start after four straight losing seasons. The Yellow Jackets face Ardrey Kell (8-2) in the tournament semifinals. The Knights have won six straight. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.
North Mecklenburg vs. Our Lady of Mount Carmel (MD), Arby’s Classic: The Vikings (9-0) face the No. 23 team in MaxPreps national poll in the quarterfinals of the Arby’s event in Bristol, TN. North Meck is No. 33 nationally according to MaxPreps. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.
Hough vs. Lake Norman, East Lincoln Winter Jam: First-year Hough coach Beau Maye, brother of New England Patriots’ QB Drake Maye, has his alma mater off to a 6-2 start heading into the tournament semifinals. Lake Norman (2-8) would love to snap its three-game losing streak against a geographical rival. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m.
Mallard Creek girls vs. Bullis (MD), John Wall Invitational: No one on the girls’ side has played as tough a schedule as the Mavericks (10-2). That continues today at Southeast Raleigh High when Mallard Creek plays Bullis (8-3), the No. 3 ranked team in MaxPreps national poll, in the tournament semifinals. Tipoff is 6 p.m.
Monday’s schedule
ARDREY KELL WINTER CLASSIC
(Boys’ semifinals)
(Consolation bracket)
Cuthbertson 62, Providence 43
Parkwood 76, Porter Ridge 70
(Championship bracket)
Butler 64, Spartanburg 58
Ardrey Kell 72, Forest Hills 58
(Girls’ round robin)
Ardrey Kell 64, Hunter Huss 41
Forest Hills 54, Providence 40
Myers Park 40, Cox Mill 23
BUTCH BLALOCK CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT’
(at Highland Tech)
(semifinal round)
(Girls) North Gaston 69, Piedmont Community Charter 39
(Boys) North Gaston 74, Pinnacle Classical 46
(Girls) Highland Tech 61, Pinnacle Classical 37
(Boys) Highland Tech vs. Victory Christian
CHARLESTON CLASSIC
(at Ashley Ridge High)
(boys) Berkeley (SC) 59, Covenant Day 48
(at Bishop England High)
(girls) Charlotte Christian 55, Porter Gaud (SC) 41
(boys) Charlotte Christian 90, Stall (SC) 67.
(at Cane Bay High)
(girls) Covenant Day 54, Perry County (KY) 44
(at James Island High)
Woodmont (SC) 67, Olympic 64
(at Palmetto Christian High)
(boys) Metrolina Christian 65, Palmetto Christian (SC) 54
THE CLASSIC (boys)
(at Bristol, TN)
(winners’ bracket quarterfinals)
Webb Scnool (TN) 75, Olympia (FL) 62
Our Lady of Mount Carmel (MD) 59, North Mecklenburg 50
Bishop O’Connell (VA) 48, Upperman (TN) 46
St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) vs. Bearden (TN)
COMET CLASSIC (boys)
(at North Stanly High)
Lexington 76, South Stanly 47
Langtree Charter vs. West Stanly
North Stanly 72, Cabarrus Stallions 68
EAST LINCOLN WINTER JAM
(consolation semifinals)
(girls) Christ the King 69, West Stanly 38
(girls) Hopewell vs. Independence,
(boys) Washington (DC) Banjamin Banneker 63, Christ the King 46
(championship semifinals)
(girls) West Cabarrus 51, Central Cabarrus 45
(boys) Lake Norman 60, Hough 55
(girls) East Lincoln 62, East Mecklenburg 18
(boys) SouthLake Christian vs. East Lincoln
FREEDOM CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT
(boys’ finals)
Boys’ seventh place: Johnson County (TN) 53, East Burke 50
Boys’ fifth place: Hickory Grove Christian vs. West Caldwell
Boys’ third place: McDowell vs. Kings Mountain
Boys’ championship: Asheville Christian vs. Freedom, 8:30 p.m.
(girls’ round robin)
Kings Mountain 47, West Caldwell 36
East Burke 39, Freedom 29
HIGH COUNTRY CLASSIC (boys)
(at Watauga High)
(consolation semifinals)
South Iredell 84, Ashe County 72
Hibriten 66, Saluda (SC) 51
(championship semifinals)
Panther Creek 71, Hopewell 65
Apex Friendship 81, Watauga 54
HOGGARD HOLIDAY CLASSIC (girls)
(at Hoggard High, Wilmington)
Hoggard 59, Ballantyne Ridge 16
Porter Ridge vs.Laney
JOHN WALL CLASSIC
(at Raleigh)
Coby White Boys’ Bracket
(at Broughton High)
(consolation semifinals)
Davidson Day 69, The Burlington School 57
Ambassador Christian 84, Millbrook 49
(championship semifinals)
Spire Academy 63, Greensboro Day 42
Southeastern Prep 75, IMG Academy (FL) 56
Frances Pulley Girls’ Bracket
Championship: South Mecklenburg 52, Southeast Raleigh 37
Wonderland Girls’ Bracket
(at Southeast Raleigh High)
(consolation semifinals)
Terry Sanford 63, T.W. Andrews 35
Cannon School 51, South Garner 42
(championship semifinals)
Bullis School (MD) 64, Mallard Creek 40
St. Frances Academy (MD) vs. Princess Anne (MD)
MIKE GMINSKI NEW YEAR’S BASH
(at Marvin Ridge High)
(boys) East Mecklenburg 76, Mallard Creek 54
(boys) Harrells Christian 67, Carmel Christian 60
(boys) Myers Park 83, Cannon School 64
(girls) Concord Academy 57, Queen’s Grant Charter 51 (OT)
(boys) Queen’s Grant Charter 67, West Charlotte 61
(boys) Combine Academy 67, Gaston Christian 61
(boys) Marvin Ridge 77, Hunter Huss 69
MOUNT PLEASANT HOLIDAY CLASSIC
(Boys’ semifinals)
(consolation bracket)
Mount Pleasant 63, Albemarle 57
(championship bracket)
Mooresville 78, Central Cabarrus 59
Jay M. Robinson vs. Cox Mill
(Girls’ round robin)
Parkwood vs. Jay M. Robinson, noon
Mount Pleasant vs. Albemarle, 1:30 p.m.
MOUNTAINEER CLASSIC (boys)
(at Shelby High)
(consolation semifinals)
Gaston Day 86, Charlotte Lab Christian 74
Pine Lake Prep 55, Kings Mountain 54
(championship semifinals)
Providence Day 59, Weddington 55
Shelby vs. Kings Mountain,
NORTH IREDELL HOLIDAY CLASSIC
(semifinals)
(consolation bracket)
(girls) Bradford Prep vs. West Iredell
(boys) Forbush 63, West Iredell 60
(girls) Rocky River vs. West Iredell
(boys) Bradford Prep 81, West Wilkes 52
(championship bracket)
(girls) Pine Lake Prep vs. North Iredell
(girls) Hibriten 50, Statesville 46
(boys) West Cabarrus 100, Statesville 68
(boys) Bradford Prep vs. North Iredell
PEOPLES BANK HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
(at West Lincoln High)
(first round)
(girls) Lincoln Charter 62, West Lincoln 27
(girls) North Lincoln 81, Forestview 24
(boys) Ashbrook 81, East Gaston 72
(boys) North Lincoln 105, Draughn 43.
(girls) DSraughn 62, East Gaston 17
(girls) Bandys 65, Ashbrook 27
(boys) Lincoln Charter vs. Forestview
(boys) Bandys 74, West Lincoln 36
RED RAIDER WINTER RUMBLE
(at South Point High)
(first round)
(girls) Charlotte Latin 66, Burns 17
(boys) Piedmont Community Charter 63, Bessemer City 55
(girls) South Point 45, Bessemer City 37
(boys) South Point 68, Stuart Cramer 67
SAM MOIR HOLIDAY CLASSIC
(at Catawba College)
(semifinals)
(consolation bracket)
(girls) Salisbury 42, A.L. Brown 24
(boys) North Rowan 60, South Rowan 45
(girls) Jesse Carson 44, North Rowan 30
(boys) East Rowan 58, A.L. Brown 5 2
(championship bracket)
(girls) East Rowan 59, South Rowan 52 (OT)
(boys) Salisbury 62, Central Davidson 48
(girls) West Rowan 49, Central Davidson 42
(boys) Jesse Carson 70, West Rowan 55
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
