North Carolina: Winter tour of the players fans should become familiar with

North Carolina is known as a basketball state. Every year players who come from North Carolina find success at every level from college championships to NBA All-Star games and more. This year is no different.

On3 is traveling around the state to introduce the prospects tracking toward the high major prospects fans should become familiar.

The 252

Bailey is the home of 2024 guard Jordan Vick, a dynamic 5-foot-10 point guard averaging 20.9 points. The Bailey (NC) Southern Nash High sophomore claims early offers from Illinois, Pittsburgh, Florida, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest. Vick’s brother Jackson Vick is an early enrollee at NC State for football.

The 910

Rockingham is where 2024 Paul McNeil resides. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard is the ultimate bucket getting alpha. He averages 23.8 points per game for his 20-1 Rockingham (NC) Richmond High team. McNeil claims offers from NC State, Indiana, Tennessee, Clemson, and Western Carolina.

The 919

Raleigh
Freddie Dilione is a 2023 shooting guard at Raleigh (NC) Word of God. He has put up some gaudy stats with multiple triple-doubles on the season. Strong and athletic, Dilione is wired to score. He claims offers from Providence, VCU, St John’s, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, LSU, and more.

Dilione’s high school teammate is 2023 On3 Consensus No. 59, Brandon Gardner. The 6-foot-7 power forward is lengthy and highly explosive, with one of the quickest jumps in the country. Gardner has taken official visits to Auburn, LSU, and St. John’s.

Raleigh (NC) Ravenscroft is home to 6-foot-4 Comeh Emuobor. Emuobor is a versatile wing who can handle and pass, and he shot 39-percent from three on Nike’s 16u EYBL circuit this summer. Lengthy with straight-line burst, Emuobor claims offers from Illinois, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, South Florida, and more.

Durham is the home of Durham (NC) Good Better Best Academy center Tiki Musaka who plays with length and a lot of pop. The 6-foot-9 junior claims offers from Illinois, Providence, LSU, and others.

A pair of 2024 prospects call Pittsboro home. Pittsboro (NC) Northwood High Drake Powell is a 6-foot-5, lengthy guard prospect with confidence on the ball and anticipation in the passing lanes. Powell’s former teammate Jarin Stevenson transferred to Pittsboro (NC) Seaforth High. The 6-foot-9 Stevenson is very skilled and productive. He helped lead his high school team to the state championship game and his Team United travel ball team to a Peach Jam finals. Powell carries an NC State offer. Stevenson has Virginia, North Carolina, Wake Forest, and NC State.

The 704

Charlotte is the biggest city in North Carolina, it also carries the most talent. We are starting with South Carolina signee Daniel Hankins-Sanford. The 6-foot-6 forward at Charlotte (NC) Vance HIgh is a tough guy, a high-level defender, and very strong.

Ezra Ausar is a 6-foot-8, 235-pound senior at Charlotte (NC) Liberty Heights. Ausar is a physical presence: a top-line defender, excellent rebounder, and a high-level passer. The double-double machine carries Texas A&M, Wichita State, and UMass offers.

Sanford’s teammate Jaylen Curry played with the Team USA 16u team this summer. At 6-feet, the 2023 point guard is a crafty passer and quick going left. He claims Ole Miss, Xavier, Virginia Tech, Alabama, East Carolina offers.

Ausar’s teammate, 2023 Silas Demary, Jr., is a 6-foot-5 combo guard. He led his high school o a state championship last season and then his Team Curry team to a 16u UAA championship this summer. Demary, Jr. is an elite-level defender and competitor. He claims offers from St. John’s, Texas A&M, VCU, Providence, and Wichita State.

Isaiah Evans is a new name to national-level recruiting. The sophomore at Huntersville (NC) North Mecklenburg High. Evans is a 6-foot-5 small forward who is comfortable in the open floor and in the passing lanes. The 2024 wing claims offers from Tennessee and Texas A&M.

Mikey Williams has captivated social media onlookers for a few years. Playing with Bronny James in middle school, the strong-framed and explosive guard has a 3-million person following on Instagram. The 6-foot-2 junior at Charlotte (NC) Vertical Academy claims LSU, Memphis, Arizona State, and more.

Williams’ backcourt made Treymane Parker is one of the country’s more eclectic players. The 6-foot-1 point guard has range out to 30-feet and bounce to dunk on you in traffic. The younger brother of viral sensation Kwe Parker, Treymane, is a pick and roll point guard. He claims offers from Mississippi State.

Bishop Boswell is a 2024 dual-sport prospect at Charlotte (NC) South Mecklenburg High. He is a strong-bodied guard who plays with a lot of confidence, scoring at all three levels. The sophomore will decide when it comes to which sport, but he carries a Houston offer in basketball.

Lincolnton is about 30 miles west of Charlotte; it is also the home of Lincolnton (NC) Combine Academy. They are led by 6-foot Illinois signee Jayden Epps whose eyes are planted firmly on the basket at all times. He is a tough-nosed defender as well.

Epps’ has a pair of Virginia Tech signees as teammates. 7-foot Patrick Wessler has touch and toughness around the basket, and 6-foot-4 MJ Collins has straight-line burst and confidence as a bucket-getter.

Concord
6-foot-9 Kany Tchanda just moved to North Carolina from Gran Canaria. He is a long and rangy forward prospect who has ball skills and can step out to three. A lot of upside here, and he could blow up this summer. Charlotte and Morgan State are the Concord (NC) Academy sophomore’s first offers.

Austin Swartz is 6-foot-5 and a smooth three-level scorer in the 2024 class. The Concord (NC) Cannon School sophomore also has pop and vision on the ball. He claims early offers from Radford and Houston Baptist.

Gastonia
Jahseem Felton transferred to Gastonia (NC) Gaston Christian this season. The 6-foot-3 strong framed guard is cousins with Raymond and Jalek. He is a paint touch guard and a creative shot-maker in the half-court. He claims offers from Tennessee, South Carolina, and others.

The 828

Asheville
Deante Green is a 6-foot-8 Florida State signee. He started the season off strong for Asheville (NC) Christian but is out now with a torn ACL. he is currently the On3 Consensus No. 89 player in the 2022 class.

Gus Yalden transferred this year to Asheville (NC) School. The 6-foot-8 junior, nicknamed Gus Bus, is a very skilled big man who has touch, vision, and footwork. Yalden, who played at Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy last season has over 20 offers, most recently from TCU, Marquette, and Xavier.

Rakease Passmore is a lengthy and highly explosive sophomore at Asheville (NC) AC Reynolds High. Still raw, he is a bouncy straight-line driver and aggressive in the passing lanes. He claims early offers from Wake Forest, Murray State, and Appalachian State.

Hudson
Mayar Wol has taken giant steps this junior season. The 6-foot-8 wing transferred to Hickory (NC) Moravian Prep. He is a fluid athlete with some pop and great length. Wol can shoot the ball with range and finish at the rim. He is a summer breakout candidate who carries an Ohio offer.

Tuscola
Originally from Tuscola, senior Nate Brafford is now at Rabun Gap (GA) School. While in Georgia, his school plays in the North Carolina high school league. Brafford, a 6-foot-8 wing, has scored over 2,600 career points. He has wiggle off the bounce and can shoot with confidence. Brafford has a Rhode Island offer, among others.

The 336

Burlington
6-foot-9 Mike Nwoko calls Burlington (NC) School home. The junior is a strong post presence with toughness. He has good hands and pop around the basket and is a high-floor post option. Providence, Wake Forest, Houston, and Virginia Tech have offered.

Winston-Salem
Isaiah Washington is a 6-foot-5 wing, originally from Fayetteville, NC; he transferred to Winston Salem (NC) Christian school this season. Washington is a shot-maker, he is raw, but he has excellent positional size and the natural ability to put the ball in the basket. He carries early offers from St. Peter’s and Florida International.

2025s to Watch

PF Zymicah Wilkins of Rutherfordton (NC) East Rutherford
CG Isaiah Henry of Concord (NC) Cannon School
PF Gevonte Ware of Charlotte (NC) 1-fo-1 Academy
SF Tre McKinnon of Lake Norman (NC) High
PG Eli Ellis of Hudson (NC) Moravian Prep