North and South Carolina Live Period: Top performers
The first June NCAA scholastic live evaluation period took place this weekend. Teams gathered across the country at events hosted by their specific state’s high school associations to compete in front of college coaches. North Carolina and South Carolina both hosted live events for their schools
The South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) hosted in Rock Hill, South Carolina, for their public schools. And the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association (NCISAA) hosted in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the North Carolina private schools.
This was the first of two live periods put on in June for games to be played with the player’s high school teams. On3 was on hand for these two events, along with hundreds of college coaches. Let’s go through the top performers from the two stops.
On3 MVP: Four-star SG Cam Scott
On day one, Friday, of the live evaluation period, Cam Scott had head coaches from Alabama and South Carolina courtside, along with an assistant from Oregon. Scott, the No. 19 player in the 2024 On3 150, is a priority recruit for multiple college programs.
This comes as no surprise, as the 6-foot-5 shooting guard is coming off a June month that saw him earn co-MVP honors at the prestigious Pangos All-American Camp and get invited to the USA Basketball u19 training camp while making the first cut. The Lexington (SC) High rising senior was the best player in the building. Each time he stepped on the floor, the entire gym migrated to his court. Scott did not disappoint, going for 22 and 33 points in his two Friday games.
Scott has taken four official visits, Texas, Auburn, South Carolina, and most recently, Oregon. He’s talking about setting visits with Southern California, Alabama, and Ole Miss.
2. Three-star PF Mikey Wilkins
Mikey Wilkins is a 6-foot-8 power forward who plays with a motor that makes him hard not to notice. Wilkins transferred to Arden (NC) Christ School this off-season, which is who he played with during this first scholastic live period. A who’s who of college coaches showed up to watch the 2025 prospect, including head coaches from Clemson and Mississippi State, along with a slew of power five assistant coaches.
Immediately, you see Wilkins’ propensity for chasing rebounds. He goes and gets it in and out of his area with good instincts and a purpose. Offensively, he has a lot of tools to work through, and it seems like they are still figuring out how to best use him. Wilkins has touch, which he showed when his feet are set beyond the three-point line. He is also an excellent passer, able to push the break off a rebound or run the offense from the top of the key. He also has some footwork and balance, with touch, on the block.
Wilkins currently claims offers from Virginia Tech, Iowa, South Carolina, LSU, Illinois, Mississippi State, and others.
3. Four-star SF Jordan Watford
No one will ever be able to question Jordan Watford’s production. Listed at 6-foot-5, the wing forward has done nothing but win – 47 games – since he has been at Lancaster (SC) High School. He averaged a double-double last season, leading his high school to a birth in last year’s 5A state championship game.
Simply put, Watford is a two-way dynamo at this level. He has good length and a lot of pop in his game. He is his most productive in the mid-range, playing from the high post and elbows. Watford plays with aggression, decisiveness, and great balance; he is able to pass, shoot, or distribute as a matchup nightmare from this area of the floor. The wing forward is an instinctive positional rebounder who also guards up and down a lineup, matching up against ones through fours throughout the course of a game.
It is easy to see the appeal in Watford, the appeal that landed him an early Mississippi State offer. South Carolina and Clemson were both present for multiple games this weekend.
4. PG Jaylen Cross
Along with Jordan Watford, Jaylen Cross was the player I was most intrigued to put eyes on in a live setting. He has been Team CP3’s best player throughout Nike’s EYBL 16u Circuit, so an updated viewing with his high school team was in line. What I wanted to see was how did he look as a primary initiator.
Long term, I think Cross projects as a point guard. The long-armed, 6-foot-3 Cross is an excellent defender, one of the best point-of-attack guys in this region, for his class. He can also guard off the ball, having natural passing lane instincts if need be. Cross is a point guard; he can get downhill in the half-court, with or without a screen. Once in the paint, he was making good reads. While he will need to continue working on the execution of the reads, he was seeing the correct play. Despite being his team’s leading scorer, Cross can be too unselfish at times. This is the next step in his development, ironing out the feel of when to score and when to pull back. There is a lot there, and this was a good viewing.
East Carolina, Appalachian State, College of Charleston, and Hampton are among his early offers. Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans and Clemson head coach Brad Brownell were in to watch him this weekend, as well as coaches from South Carolina and others were watching this weekend.
5. 2026 PG Josiah Sanders
Walking onto the court, you immediately notice Josiah Sanders. He is every bit of his listed 6-foot-6 height, with long arms and broad shoulders. He is one of the more physically developed players on the floor. Then you notice that he is a class of 2026 prospect with a January 2007 birthday.
Locking in on Sanders, he plays primarily on the ball for his Fayetteville (NC) Berean Baptist team. He had no issue getting his team into sets, and he was capable of delivering on-target passes on time. He will need to continue working on the jump shot, he did knock down two threes in the game, and I would like to see him tighten up the passes on the move. However, the limited plays he had in the pick and roll were very intriguing, and even at this size, he was at his best, creating opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Physically, Sanders looks very similar to Josiah-Jordan James at the same stage. Keep in mind the explosion for James came later; that said, there are also some interesting pieces of their games that look alike as sophomores in high school. Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans was among the coaches that took in his play this weekend.
Other notables
*6-7 PF Hayden Assemian (Powedersville/SC) is a long-armed, extremely explosive forward. When he plays aggressively around the basket, he can be a tough force to deal with. He is a naturally strong prospect with a strong base. He has great hands and touch with good mobility and fluidity. George Mason and Hampton were among the early offers, and South Carolina, Clemson, and Boston College were among the schools watching.
*6-3 CG Isaiah Henry (Cannon School/NC) is an aggressive, downhill guard with a strong frame and a lot of explosion. He has early offers from Clemson, Georgia, and others. Isaiah is the younger brother of former Clemson defensive end KJ Henry.
*6-3 PG Kaleb Evans (Lexington High/SC) showed clear development over the past six months. A strong-framed guard, he touched the paint regularly and showed capable of making the reads in traffic. Evans finished with a number of excellent passes, as well as crafty finishes around the rim, and floaters throughout the event. The jump shot was also consistent. Winthrop and Jacksonville were the first two offers.
*With 2027 SG King Gibson (The Burlington School/NC), there are a lot of positive attributes in his game; with the 6-4 frame, he is a confident ball handle, capable of making shots and showing good instincts on both ends of the floor. Gibson is tracking as one of North Carolina’s top players in his class and toward a national-level recruitment.
*This was my first viewing of 6-2 PG Ian Bailey (Asheville Christian/NC), and it was hard not to walk away impressed. Bailey has a good frame, projectable, with a solid skill base and some natural flair to his game. The jump shot was smooth, the handle was crafty, and his pace got him to his spots where he delivered great passes or made his shots. He has no offers yet; it will be interesting to see where his recruitment goes from here.
*Possibly the best shot-blocker I saw this weekend was 6-8 PF Ellis Graham (Gray Collegiate/SC). He has long arms with excellent timing. While he needs to continue adding strength and developing his offensive game, the shot-blocking will travel. Jacksonville is an early offer for Graham.
*6-5 SF Tristan Thompson (Wilson High/SC) is currently a jack-of-all-trades type of wing. A guy with good size, nice length, and solid athleticism, and is capable of handling, passing, or shooting in the half-court. The next step for him is to develop the alpha confidence to take over a game, but there are a lot of tools in place with clear production.
* 6-10 C Gabby Mabor (Gaston Christian/NC) might have been the best rebounder I saw this weekend. He had a handful of college coaches across all levels, from the Big South to the ACC, tracking him this weekend. He has great length, plays with a great motor, and that rebounding will translate. The 2024 big claims Norfolk State and NC A&T offers.
* 6-5 SG Bryce Slay (United Faith/NC) has a lot of tools you look for in a next-level wing. He has good length and a smooth shooting stroke. He’ll need to keep getting strong and tightening the handle in the half-court. His dad, Tamar Slay, played at Marshall and then for the Nets and Bobcats in the NBA. Slay, a 2025 prospect, carries offers from Marshall, Winthrop, South Florida, Charlotte, and others.
* Perhaps one of the more intriguing prospects I saw all weekend was 6-10 C Wyatt DeGraaf (Cary Academy/NC). The fluid and high-academic post ran the floor extremely well. He finished above the rim, tracked rebounds well, and has touch and timing around the basket. He is a player who is on a clear upward trajectory with his best basketball ahead of him.
* To be a smaller guard, you have to be able to put pressure on the defense at the point of attack. 2026 Kobe Edwards (Greenfield School/NC) is a slender and lengthy 6-foot-0 point guard who is quick into the paint. He will need to continue working on the executions of his reads in traffic, but he plays with a good pace and has a natural feel.
* Alex Atkinson (Lower Richland/SC) has good size at 6-foot-8, to go along with good hands, mobility, and touch. Still somewhat raw, but the 2024 power forward has very real tools to build on with an intriguing future.
* There comes a value in knowing what you do well and going out to do that. 6-foot-6 2026 Antonio McKoy (Harrells Christian Academy/NC) finished very well around the basket. He rebounded and defended well in the passing lanes. A straight-line driver, he was consistently productive.
*6-5 SG Braylhan Thomas (Gray Collegiate/SC) is a strong and explosive wing prospect. He showcased some multi-level shot-making chops along with defensive upside both on and off the ball. NC A&T and Radford are among the early offers.
* 2027 PG Brennan Jefferson (North Raleigh Christian/NC) played with a lot of confidence. One of the youngest players on the floor, he played with a great pace and was able to make plays in the paint both for himself and his teammates.
* When watching 2026 PG Q. Williams (Forsyth Country Day/NC) play, it is hard not to recognize the feel. Despite his generous 5-foot-9 listed height, he seems to have full control of everything going on around him. Excellent passer with a crafty handle and the ability to read the floor.
*The award for best shooter I saw this weekend goes to 6-7 F Mason Smith (Davidson Day/NC). His form was picture-perfect, with excellent balance and a repeatable, high release. He moves great with the ball handler, creating angles, and he catches the ball confidently, ready to let it fly. He displayed toughness with a good understanding of team defense as well.