NCISAA State Championships: Top Performers and Recaps
Raleigh, North Carolina – The North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) gathered at Raleigh (NC) Ravenscroft School this weekend to play the state championships. Eight of the top teams from around North Carolina played in the two-day event.
A handful of college coaches along with numerous sold out crowds made the trip to Raleigh to watch as these high school athletes competed for a state championship.
On3’s Jamie Shaw was also seated courtside to talk about the action.
2A Davidson (NC) Davidson Day vs. Wilson (NC) Greenfield School
Final School: Davidson Day 74, Greenfield School 64
These teams are very different. Davidson Day starts one player under 6-foot-5, with a front line that is listed as 6-foot-7, 6-foot-9, and 6-foot-10. The tallest player Greenfield starts is 6-foot-3. The pace of play from the beginning was fast and both teams were able to get a lot of shots.
Isaiah Denis, a 6-foot-5 junior guard, set the pace for the Patriots. He was the primary initiator for the team, he put consistent pressure on the paint and spread the ball around. When Denis was asked to call is own number he scored the ball from each level. He is a quick-on-quick athlete with burst. On a floor with fast athletes, Denis’ burst stood out. He finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Will Stevens is a player to start monitoring for Davidson Day. The 6-foot-9 sophomore made plays on both sides of the floor for the Patriots. He stepped out to knock down a couple of threes while grabbing rebounds and protecting the rim. He could become a hot commodity this summer with college coaches. He had 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks in the win.
Junior Levon Jacob, a 6-foot-8 forward, and senior Brady Kester, a 6-foot-7 forward answered when his number was called.
For Greenfield, their backcourt kept it close. Senior Matt Kirby, a Mt. Olive commitment, played with an incredible amount of confidence. He is able to create space with the ball to get open looks for himself in the half-court. Kirby is a tough defender and an opportune shot-maker. He had a game-high 23 points.
Sophomore guard Kobe Edwards started the game hot with two threes and then got back to work in the second half. He has great length and plays with poise beyond his years on the ball. He used his length in the passing lanes and moved the ball well on offense. He also absorbed contact to get to the line and finished looks at the rim. He had 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Greenfield’s team defense sped Davidson Day up throughout the game, their entire team switched up and down the lineup and guarded for the full length of the floor.
4A Asheville (NC) Christ School vs. Charlotte (NC) Providence Day
Final Score: Christ School 56, Providence Day 45
Christ School worked early to establish junior forward Mikey Wilkins, and they were able to. The Greenies played through the 6-foot-8 Wilkins for the duration of the game, and Providence Day had a tough time. Wilkins scored from each level on the court. He faced up and attacked in the half-court. He knocked down pick and op jump shots and he scored on the block. Wilkins is a quick processor with the ball in his hands, delivering timely passes from multiple levels. He battles on the block and brings a toughness to the court. Wilkins finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks.
While Mikey Wilkins was the consistent force for Christ School, the spark was senior guard Keenan Wilkins. He handled the ball, consistently getting his team into sets, and knocked down a couple of huge threes, from deep range. He had 16 points.
George Mason commit Bryson Cokley made some plays for Christ School. Junior guard Madden Collins iced the game for the Greenies on the free-throw line, knocking down
Providence Day junior Trajan Thompson did what he could for the Chargers. He showed he could create offense for himself while making shots at multiple levels of the floor. He is a 6-foot-6 wing and a good athlete. He finished with both hands in traffic and knocked down shots from three. Thompson’s game is on a clear upward trajectory with some ceiling still left to grow into. Thompson had 18 points, six rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
Providence Day used their defensive pressure to make the game close in the fourth quarter. They cut a double-digit lead to four, with the ball, but could not capitalize on free-throws, missing eight of their last nine down the stretch.
3A Winston-Salem (NC) Forsyth Country Day vs. Gastonia (NC) Gaston Christian
Final Score: Forsyth Country Day 57, Gaston Christian 44
Jahon Foster led all scorers with 20 points, and added seven assists in the win. Emory and Henry commit Draven Pilson added 12 for NCISAA state champion Forsyth Country Day.
Foster was the best player on the floor in this one, consistently putting pressure on the defense, touching ht epaint and making a play. He opened the game with 10 poins in the firset quarter, including two threes. And he closed the game knocking down five free-throws to put the game away down the stretch. Foster, listed as a 6-foot-0 guard remains uncommitted.
While Foster closed the door for Forsyth Country Day, it was sophomore point guard Q Williams that was the engine. Williams showed a lot of toughness on both sides of the floor. He pushed the pace with the ball, putting cosnistent pressure on the defense. He also rebounded the ball well and was a terror in the passing lanes. While the 5-foot-9 guard finsihed with six poitns, he added six rebounds, four steals, and four assists.
New Orleans signee Bobby Cannon rebounded the ball and protected the rim while Presbyterian signee Iverson King made a lot of winning-type plays. At the end of the day, it was the Forsyth Country Day defensive pressure int eh second half that was the story of the game.
For Gaston Christian, coached by former NBA guard Chris Duhon, Gabby Mabor was a tough matchup when he was able to get touches. The 6-foot-10 uncommitted senior set up a wide base on th eblock and showed a big target. While the face up jumper was not falling, he showed touch over both shoulders around the basket. He was also a presence around the rim, occupying players on the boards and affecting shots at th erim. He finisehd with with a team-high 12 points while adding six rebounds and five blocks. With about ten D1 offers, he is one of the top unsigned players in North Carolina.
It was a very gusty performance for Gaston Day sophomore Cam Newman. WIthout much ball-handling help, he was face guarded for the majority of the later parts of the game while taking care of the ball and getting his team into positive positions. When he went out with an ankle injury with just under three minutes to go, Forsyth Country Day extened their lead.
1A Charlotte (NC) Victory Christian vs. Charlotte (NC) United Faith Christian
Final Score: Victory Christian 48, United Faith Christian 44
5-foot-10 Victory Christian senior Xavier Perry led the winning team in scoring with 12 points on the night. Six players scored for Victory with five of them between six and 12 points.
Freshman Carlos Marshall, a 6-foot-6 forward, was a takeaway from the game. Built with a strong frame and good length, he had no problem filling in a role and taking on the tough-guy responsibilities. He was a very good rebounder, finishing the game with 13. But where he made game-changing plays was on defense, while walling up in the paint, he also guarded the ball in the open floor, using quick hands for a couple of big deflections down the stretch.
Another young player who made his presence felt for Victory Christian was 6-foot-1 guard Justyn Whitfield. The lefty sophomore made timely shots, with a smooth shooting stroke and a lot of confidence.
The best player on the floor was on United Faith, with the play of 6-foot-0 junior JD Bowden. Bowden lived in the paint, putting pressure on the defense to move and creating advantages with his ability to to spray passes to open teammates. He had control of the pace of the game and brought his United Faith team back in the second half to take the lead in the fourth quarter. Bowden, who claims offers from the likes of NC A&T, Florida International, Radford, Western Carolina, and others, finished the game with 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 assists to go with the 17 points.