By Cameron Lee
Curated by @ShotMakersClub
March 15, 2021
North Carolina has long been the training grounds for great basketball players. From the iconic Michael Jordan to Chris Paul to the Charlotte Hornets’ own Devonte’ Graham, the list of great basketball players hailing from the Carolinas is long and illustrious.
Here are some top North Carolina high school basketball prospects to pay attention to:
Robert Dillingham
Point Guard / Charlotte, NC (Combine Academy) Class of 2023
Robert Dillingham is a sky-rocketing prospect in the class of 2023 who has garnered the interest of several top schools, including the North Carolina Tar Heels. A Charlotte native, Dillingham attends Combine Academy and is coached by former Tar Heel and NBA player, Jeff McInnis. McInnis compares the shifty point guard to an Allen Iverson-type scoring guard, with relentless drive and the ability to score on all three levels. Dillingham is currently ranked No. 12 on Rivals’ class of 2023 Top 30, but his star is rising fast.
Jaden Bradley
Point Guard / Concord, NC (IMG Academy) Class of 2022
Concord, North Carolina native Jaden Bradley is a Rivals.com five-star recruit, and currently the No. 1 ranked point guard in ESPN’s 2022 class. A versatile point guard averaging 23.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.9 steals per game, Bradley led the Cannon School Cougars to a 27-6 record and the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 4A state championship in his sophomore season. Receiving the honor of North Carolina Gatorade player of the Year 2020, the 6’3” guard exhibits all of the traits of a well-rounded NBA floor general, with the ability to fill up the stat sheets. Recently transferred from Concord to the famed IMG Academy in Florida, Bradley has received offers from Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, and many more top basketball schools in the country.
Mikey Williams
Point Guard (Lake Norman Christian School) Class of 2023
Most casual basketball fans probably already know who Mikey Williams is. The 6-foot-2 guard from San Diego with Charlotte roots– who transferred to Lake Norman Christian School in 2020 for his sophomore season– rose to prominence in eighth grade playing alongside Bronny James on the North Coast Blue Chips AAU team. After a stellar freshman year in San Diego averaging an astonishing 29.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, Williams was cemented as a top-five prospect in the 2023 class by Rivals and ESPN. A combo guard with good strength for his age and athletic prowess, “Mikey,” as most of his 2.7 million Instagram followers know him, still has time to improve his game.
Aden Holloway
Point Guard / Matthews, NC (Covenant Day) Class of 2023
Aden Holloway is another standout point guard in the 2023 class out of Covenant Day in Matthews, North Carolina. A fast-rising prospect who averaged 19.3 points, 3.3 assist, and 3.1 rebounds per game with a 47% field goal percentage (42% from 3-pt range) according to PhenomHoopReport.com in his freshman year, Holloway has already received offers from Syracuse, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech. With great handles and a pure shot with the ability to change speeds well, Holloway is expected to be one of the top point guards in the state when it comes time to graduate.
Trey Green
Point Guard / Charlotte, NC (Lake Norman Christian School) Class of 2023
Another standout in the 2023 class of point guards in North Carolina, Trey Green transferred from Vance High School to Lake Norman Christian after scoring 14.8 points, 3.2 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game as a freshman. With highly touted leadership skills to match his equally impressive game, Green is a quick-twitch 5’11” guard with touch from long range and the ability to create and finish off the dribble. Now playing alongside Mikey Williams, his game is already getting the attention it deserves.
M.J. Rice
Small Forward / Durham, NC (Oak Hill Academy) Class of 2022
The 6-foot-5 Durham native averaged 25 points, nine rebounds and two assists per game in his sophomore season at Durham Academy, according to Sports Illustrated. Suffering a torn ACL prior to his junior year, the nationally ranked small forward transferred to one of the most prestigious basketball schools in the country, Oak Hill Academy. Still considered one of the top small forwards in the country (No. 4) by ESPN in the 2022 class, Rice has received offers and interest from several ACC schools including NC State, Pitt, and Louisville.
Khalil Marshall
Point Guard / Raleigh, NC (Word of God Christian Academy) Class of 2022
A rangy combo guard from the small town of Burgaw, North Carolina, 25 miles outside of Wilmington, Marshall is a three-level scorer that can pull up from anywhere on the court. A high IQ player with crafty maneuverability, Marshall has the ability to draw contact both driving the lane and from long range. His mid-range game includes a smooth floater and he’s also a slick defender that can pickpocket players off the dribble and take it the distance. Currently under the radar on most national rankings, Marshall has the potential to prosper at the next level.
Jahseem Felton
Charlotte, NC (Northside Christian) Class of 2024
The cousin of former North Carolina point guard Raymon Felton, Jahseem Felton is widely regarded by many as the nation’s No. 1 player in the 2024 recruiting class. With a strong frame at 6’4”, Felton’s well-rounded game with the ability to score, in addition to his physical attributes, make him a prime NBA prospect. An unselfish player that prides himself on getting his teammates involved, Felton’s skillset could allow him to play multiple positions at the next level.
M.J. Collins
Clover, SC (Westminster Catawba Christian) Class of 2022
A late-rising prospect out of Westminster Catawba Christian in Rock Hill, M.J. Collins is a sturdy combo guard at 6-foot-4 who plays with great energy on both sides of the court. A reliable and efficient scorer on all three levels, Collins is gaining momentum as he’s picked up an offer from Murray State University where another late-rising athletic South Carolina guard attended– Ja Morant. He has the skill set and size that will allow him the versatility that many programs covet.
Video by @ShotMakersClub. Song: “Ball is Life” by Erick Lottary
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