The NCHSAA season has roughly a week left and the freshmen are starting to blossom. Here’s a look at the freshmen standouts at the 2A level.
Ortiz is an emerging guard/wing prospect in the South Granville rotation. He’s averaging 4.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 1.3 apg while operating as a solid two-way presence off the bench. He’s an aggressive defender that likes to play physical and attack the paint. As he learns to limit his fouls while staying aggressive on the defensive end, he’s a prospect with room to grow in the class.
He’s averaging 13.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.8 apg and 2.2 bpg in the Cummings rotation in Year 1. He uses his size well to make an impact in more ways than one when he’s on the floor. He posted 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting along with 11 rebounds (5 offensive) against Carrboro back on Feb. 2. He’s a big man prospect worth tracking now in the class.
Smith is an emerging guard in the 2024 class that currently leads
The NCHSAA season has roughly a week left and the freshmen are starting to blossom. Here’s a look at the freshmen standouts at the 2A level.
Javier OrtizJavierOrtiz6'4" | CGSouth Granville | 2024NC | 6’4 Guard | South Granville
Ortiz is an emerging guard/wing prospect in the South Granville rotation. He’s averaging 4.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 1.3 apg while operating as a solid two-way presence off the bench. He’s an aggressive defender that likes to play physical and attack the paint. As he learns to limit his fouls while staying aggressive on the defensive end, he’s a prospect with room to grow in the class.
Kaden HammondKadenHammond6'6" | CCummings | 2024NC | 6’6 Forward/Center | Cummings
He’s averaging 13.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.8 apg and 2.2 bpg in the Cummings rotation in Year 1. He uses his size well to make an impact in more ways than one when he’s on the floor. He posted 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting along with 11 rebounds (5 offensive) against Carrboro back on Feb. 2. He’s a big man prospect worth tracking now in the class.
Makel SmithMakelSmith5'11" | CGMorehead | 2024NC | 5’11 Guard | Morehead
Smith is an emerging guard in the 2024 class that currently leads all freshman in scoring at the 2A level, according to MaxPreps. He’s posted 18.6 ppg, 4.0 apg, 3.8 rpg and 1.7 spg through 11 games in 2020-21 so far. He’s got a knack for getting to the rim and scoring as a volume shooter. He’s posted a season-high 29 points already on 11-of-21 (52 percent) shooting from the field back on Jan. 7 against Person. He’s got good potential in the class.
Myron MckoyMyronMckoy5'5" | PGHeide Trask | 2024NC | 5’5 Point Guard | Heide Trask
The Heide Trask Titans have a star in the making on their hands in
Myron MckoyMyronMckoy5'5" | PGHeide Trask | 2024NC. He’s a speedy 5-foot-5 point guard that fills up the stat sheet scoring the ball and defending the ball. He’s posted 15.5 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.5 rpg and 2.3 spg through their first seven games of his freshman campaign. He knocked down six 3-pointers to the tune of 26 points back on Jan. 22 and is shooting 46 percent from behind the arc in 2020-21. He’s a young guard worth tracking early.
Nylan BattleNylanBattle5'11" | CGHibriten | 2024NC | 6’0 Guard | Hibriten
Battle has had a productive season in the backcourt for Hibriten in his freshman year. He’s producing 8.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.2 spg through six games played on the young season. He’s a three-level scoring guard that can make things happen off the catch and off the bounce given his strength. He’s made four 3-pointers as well while scoring 16 points twice this season.
