3A Basketball Preview
Teams To Watch
School | Class | 2014-15 Record | Comment |
Ashbrook boys | 3A | 23-4 | Lost 6-9 Isaiah Whaley to transfer, but 3 starters back from state finalist |
Concord boys | 3A | 17-9 | Senior sharpshooter Ray Kowalski is one of four starters back |
Cox Mill boys | 3A | 19-7 | Senior starters Messiah Baptiste and Corey Cline have tons of young talent joining them |
Cuthbertson boys | 3A | 22-6 | 3 senior starters return for deep team that reached N.C. 3A regionals last season |
Cuthbertson girls | 3A | 18-8 | Won 54 games in past three seasons. Breanna McAdams (6-0, Sr, F) is a key returnee |
East Gaston girls | 3A | 14-11 | Three starters back, including 5-6 senior Brooklyn Armstrong (10 ppg, 4 spg) |
Hickory Ridge girls | 3A | 19-6 | Returns five starters, led by all-conf. guard Laura McManimen (13.6 ppg) |
Robinson boys | 3A | 19-7 | Moving back from 4A; 3 starters, including Daniel Spencer (18 ppg), return |
South Iredell girls | 3A | 21-4 | North Piedmont 3A champs lost all-conf. Julia Scoles (22.5 ppg) |
Rock Hill South Pointe girls | 3A | 20-5 | Deep team expected to challenge for state title |
Weddington girls | 3A | 29-2 | Lost All-American Stephanie Watts, but 13 players back from state semifinalist |
Players To Watch
Name | School | Class | Pos | Ht. | Comment |
Lavar Batts Jr. | Robinson boys | Jr. | PG | 6-1 | Nationally ranked star is jet quick with improving jumper |
Rechon “Leaky” Black | Concord boys | So. | PG | 6-7 | Nationally ranked talent is top N.C. player in 2018 class |
Izzy Clark | Rock Hill South Pointe girls | Sr. | G/F | 5-9 | Averaged 15.6 ppg for Region III 3A power |
Alexandra Dawes | South Iredell girls | Sr. | C | 6-0 | One of 3 starters back; averaged 5 ppg, 14 rpg |
Emeka Emezie | Marvin Ridge boys | Jr. | G | 6-3 | Athletic, football star averaged 10 ppg in hoops last season |
Mahaley Holit | Central Cabarrus girls | Jr. | PG | 5-4 | Averaged 19 ppg, 6.5 apg last season |
Avery Metcalf | Hickory Ridge boys | Sr. | G | 6-2 | All-conference star averaged 16.4 ppg last season |
Remi Roberts | Weddington girls | Sr. | F | 6-1 | Expected to take lead role for powerhouse |
Hunter Tyson | Piedmont boys | So. | F | 6-5 | Ranked among the state’s best in his class; versatile |
Anthony Caldwell | NW Cabarrus boys | Sr. | F | 6-4 | All-conference star averaged 13 ppg, 9 rpg last season |
Notes
▪ Central Cabarrus’ girls will have a sterling backcourt in Mahaley Holit and Kasey Rowden (10.1 ppg). That pair will help make Vikings a favorite to win the South Piedmont 3A. … Cox Mill 6-4 freshman Caleb Stone-Carrawell is the son of former Duke star Chris Carrawell.
▪ Kenyon Weaks begins his second season at Central Cabarrus with four starters back from a 7-16 team.
▪ The state’s top players in the Class of 2018 (Concord’s Rechon Black), 2019 (Cox Mill’s Wendell Moore) and 2017 (Robinson’s Lavar Batts) are all from Cabarrus County and all play in 3A.
▪ Rock Hill South Pointe, the reigning Region III 3A boys’ champ, returns three starters – Pete Branham (12 ppg), Quay Brown (10 ppg) and Nick McCloud (10 ppg). …Sun Valley (12-14 last season) has two Division I recruits in point guard Hughston Finklea and forward Anthony Brown.
Langston Wertz Jr.
This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 10:58 AM with the headline "3A Basketball Preview."