Reidsville High School’s Dionte Neal is Mr. Basketball in North Carolina
Reidsville High’s Dionte Neal, Mr. NC Basketball for the 2025-26, is the definition of “winner.”
As an all-state football star, Neal helped Reidsville to three state finals appearances during his four years, winning two state championships, including a title in December.
In basketball, Neal — a 5-foot-9 point guard — and Reidsville lost in the state championship game during his freshman season. The school has won the past two state titles, however, and will try for a three-peat Friday night against Salisbury.
The Rams had a 63-game win streak snapped in late December, but have won 20 straight games heading into the championship game.
“He’s special,” said former Reidsville High basketball star Joe Badgett, now coach at NCHSAA 2A state champion Queen’s Grant Charter in Mecklenburg County. “He’s just a high-major talent. I think the first time I met that kid, he was in fifth or sixth grade, and I watched him through middle school and high school. His IQ is off the charts. And it’s a shame that some of these (high major colleges) won’t recruit him because of his size. He could help them. But if that kid was 6-foot-3, this wouldn’t even be a discussion.”
Winning Mr. Basketball signifies Neal as the state’s top player and he will receive a trophy and a banner to hang in the school’s gym. He joins recent honorees like two-time winner Isaiah Evans of North Mecklenburg, who is now at Duke, and former Cox Mill star Wendell Moore, who is with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.
For the season, Neal is averaging 35.6 points, 8.6 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.6 rebounds. He ranks No. 7 nationally in scoring, No. 10 in steals and No. 19 in assists.
He is also believed to be the first N.C. boys’ player to reach 1,000 career assists. There have been 15 players nationally to ever reach that milestone.
For his career, Neal has 2,701 points, which ranks fifth all-time in North Carolina, and 1,102 assists. Heading into Friday’s state final, he is averaging 24 points and 10 assists for his career.
Neal committed to UNC-Greensboro for basketball, but after the school fired head coach Mike Jones this week, Neal took to social media to announce he was de-committing from the school, just 30 minutes from his hometown.
When he committed to UNC-Greensboro, Neal had a football offer from North Carolina and basketball offers from Appalachian State and Boston College. Appalachian State offered Neal in football and basketball.
“After careful consideration and conversations with my family and basketball coaches, I have made the difficult decision to de-commit from (UNC-Greensboro) and reopen my recruitment for both basketball and football,” Neal said in his social media post. “This choice was not made lightly, but I believe it’s essential for me to explore all options that will best serve me in reaching my full potential as a student-athlete.”
Previous winners
2024-25: Zymicah Wilkins, Christ School
2023-24: Isaiah Evans, North Meck
2022-23: Isaiah Evans, North Meck
2021-22: Cade Tyson (Carmel Christian)
2020-21: Terquavion Smith (Farmville Central)
2019-20: Tristan Maxwell (North Mecklenburg)
2018-19: Wendell Moore (Cox Mill)
2017-18: Coby White (Greenfield School)
2016-17: Lavar Batts (Concord Robinson)
2015-16: Edrice Adebayo (High Point Christian)
2014-15: Brandon Ingram (Kinson)
2013-14: Theo Pinson (High Point Christian)
2012-13: Isaiah Hicks Oxford Webb
2011-12: Rodney Purvis Raleigh Upper Room
2010-11: Terry Whisnant Cherryville
2009-10: Reggie Bullock Kinston
2008-09: Mason Plumlee Arden Christ School
2007-08: Ty Walker Wilmington N. Hanover
2006-07: Demontez Stitt Butler
2005-06: Will Graves Greensboro Dudley
2004-05: Kevin Swinton Greensboro Dudley
2003-04: Anthony Morrow Charlotte Latin
2002-03: Chris Paul West Forsyth
2001-02: Shavlik Randolph Raleigh Broughton
2000-01: Anthony Richardson Raleigh Leesville Rd.
1999-00: Scooter Sherrill West Rowan
1998-99: Jason Parker West Charlotte
1997-98: Kris Lang Gastonia Huss
1996-97: Jenis Grindstaff McDowell
1995-96: Vincent Whitt Greensboro Dudley
1994-95: Antawn Jamison Providence
1993-94: Ishua Benjamin Concord
1992-93: Jeff Capel Hope Mills South View
1991-92: Todd Fuller Charlotte Christian
1990-91: Donald Williams Garner
1989-90: Rodney Rogers Durham Hillside
1988-89: Bryant Feggins Win.-Salem Glenn
1987-88: Kenny Williams Eliz. City N’eastern
1986-87: Henrik Rodl Chapel Hill
1985-86: Robert Brickey Fayetteville Smith
1984-85: Chucky Brown North Brunswick
