Top Freshmen – Western North Carolina
The Hoop State is starting to develop top prospects in the Western part of North Carolina. This has been an untapped market for top talent for decades. The 2022 class in WNC is loaded with talent. These top freshmen…
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Continue ReadingThe Hoop State is starting to develop top prospects in the Western part of North Carolina. This has been an untapped market for top talent for decades. The 2022 class in WNC is loaded with talent. These top freshmen were instant contributors to their high school varsity teams. The players on this list have a very high ceiling and it will be fun to watch them develop over the next couple of years. I will be working on ranking in WNC throughout the year ( players are listed by height ).
6’8″ Deante Green (Christ School) is a smooth, big man with great footwork and a soft touch around the basket. He has an arsenal of moves that create easy buckets in the paint. He has the ability to make a difference on both ends of the court with his solid frame. He is capable of going coast to coast and finishing above the rim. Even though he is very consistent scoring the ball, it is his passing at that position that is very impressive often creating easy scoring opportunities for his teammates.
6’7″ Jake McTaggart ( Hayesville) is a very athletic big that has the ability to play above the rim. His shooting stroke will surprise you because of his physical nature. He has a quick release and a good backspin on the ball. He can draw defenders out of the paint because of his consistent shooting from behind the arc. He also has a mean streak to his game with thunderous dunks and good post moves. Almost effortlessly getting double-doubles throughout the season.
6’4″ Miles McClure is a pure scorer with everything in his arsenal. He has great size and can play every position on the court. Great things happen when he has the ball in his hands. He can easily lead the fast break with tight handles and pure passing ability. He is a load to handle on defense and often needs to be double teamed. He can score on all three levels shooting super efficient from the field. He is a great shot blocker and one of the top rebounders in his class.
6’2″ Cash Watkins ( Carolina Day ) is super effective on both sides of the court. Even though Cash is an elite scorer for a freshman, he always makes the right read on the offensive end of the floor. A great passer in transition and a good slasher. He really is a stat sheet stuffer often leading his team in multiple categories. He often creates matchup issues with the opposing team because of his ability to do so many things on the offensive end. Great rebounder at his position.
6’2″ Coleman Bryson ( Tuscola ) is very athletic and has a great knack for creating turnovers. He can play positions 1-3. He plays great on-ball defense. He raises his level of play against higher level talent and welcomes a challenge. Does everything really well. Makes very solid decisions leading his team in assists this year. He can get to the rim with ease and often overpowering guards and wings. He has a really nice jump shot. He can get really hot from the field often making him completely unstoppable.
5’10” Kolbe Ashe (Hayesville) is a pass-first guard that has elite vision and passing ability. Great ball handler with a little flair to his game. Has an array of moves to create his own shot opportunities. He has nearly perfect form while shooting a high percentage from the mid-range & behind the arc. He also creates great separation at the basket with a variety of layups with both hands. The type of player that makes everyone around them better.
5’9″ Dwight Canady (Hendersonville) is absolutely relentless at attacking the rim. He has a very high motor. His quick hands and timing create a lot of scoring opportunities for fast break situations. Don’t let his hard work on defense fool you into thinking he’s just a lockdown defender. He has an effortless release with good arc and rotation on the ball. You can add the fact that he is left-handed to his bag, making it harder than ever to guard him one-on-one. He has the ability to play above the rim with a great vertical. You probably won’t see another player working as hard as him on the court.
5’8″ Theo Antinori ( Asheville ) is a pure shooter and highly effective. He has great range that helps spread the defense. He moves very well without the ball to create scoring opportunities. Always in the right spot on the court. Great IQ. He is also super efficient. Don’t be surprised if he shoots a hundred percent from the field. He has great leadership skills with being very vocal on the court to run the offense. It is his tight handle and a great first step that helps him get around the opposing defenders. He is extremely clutch so you can rely on him to continue to hit big time shots in important game situations.