The Observer’s Mecklenburg County private high school basketball preview
The Observer’s preview of Mecklenburg County private school basketball:
Teams to watch
Covenant Day: The Lions are 30-32 in the past two years. However, with all five starters back, including seniors Elijah Green (13 ppg) and Chris Rivens (11.7 ppg), the Lions believe they can contend for the CISAA conference title this season. Covenant Day adds a pair of impact transfers to help that cause: 6-foot-8 senior, Michael Marcus Jr. (Carmel Christian) and 6-1 junior Tyree White (Sun Valley transfer) who will have an immediate impact on the team.
Davidson Day: The Patriots have struggled, going 12-29 in the last two years. This year, things look different for first year coach James Long. Davidson Day should be much improved as it returns its starting backcourt in Ja Spruill (10.3) and Anthony Roger (10.2 ppg) to go with Hough transfer, 6-7 forward Mason Smith (Mercer University commit, 10.4 ppg). The Patriots should make a run at the NCISAA Foothills’ Athletic conference crown.
Northside Christian: The defending NCISAA 1A state champions have the firepower to repeat with senior guards Josh Bullock (11.9 ppg, 6.4 apg) and Kyrelle Shaw (15.5 ppg) both returning. The Knights will also feature 6-10 junior center Bryson Cowan, sophomore, Kenneth Shouse and freshman Josiah Johnson in a program that’s averaged 22 wins over the past five seasons.
Providence Day: The Chargers return three starters — juniors Trajan Thompson (10.5 ppg), Nick Hailey (10.2 ppg) and senior Jordan Appling — from a state semifinalist team that won 20 games last year. This season, Providence Day adds 6-4 junior shooting guard Jonah Lawrence (East Mecklenburg transfer, 20.3 ppg) and 6-8 junior Julian Johnson (8.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg).
United Faith: The Falcons return two starters in Division I targets J.D. Bowden (10 ppg, 5 apg) and Isaiah Sutherland (10 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 bpg) from a team that went 31-3 and was NCISAA 1A state runner-up to Northside Christian. Add in junior, Dylan Deluca (8 ppg) and Cox Mill transfer D.J. Boyce (16.3 ppg) and the Falcons should be competing for championships (conference and state) again this season.
Players to Watch
Amare Bethel, Charlotte Country Day: The 6-3 senior (16 ppg, 2.8 spg) is the lone returning starter for the Buccaneers.
D.J Boyce, United Faith: The 6-3 senior Cox Mill transfer (16.3 ppg) brings another scorer to the Falcons’ lineup.
Josh Bullock, Northside Christian: The 6-foot senior point guard (11.9 ppg, 6.4 apg, 2.4 spg) pairs with classmate Kyrelle Shaw (15.5 ppg) to give the Knights a dynamic backcourt.
Jonah Lawrence, Providence Day: The 6-4 junior East Mecklenburg transfer (20.3 ppg) looks to build on a breakout sophomore season with his new team
Michael Marcus, Covenant Day: 6-8 senior Appalachian State commit (Carmel Christian transfer, 7 ppg, 4 rpg) will be a major force in the paint for the Lions.
Mason Smith, Davidson Day: The 6-7 senior Mercer University commit (Hough transfer, 10.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg) gives Davidson Day some size on the wing.
Isaiah Sutherland, United Faith: The 6-9 senior (10 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 bpg) and junior point guard J.D. Bowden (10 ppg, 5 apg) both already have multiple Division I offers.
Kam Taylor, Carmel Christian: The 6-7 senior Olympic transfer and reigning SoMeck 4A conference player of the year (17.5 ppg) will be the go-to guy for the Cougars.
Trajan Thompson, Providence Day: The 6-5 junior guard (10.5 ppg) is the leading returning scorer in what is now a loaded, Providence Day backcourt.
Players on the Rise
Brent Banks, Hickory Grove: The 5-10 sophomore looks to build on a breakout freshman season, where he averaged 10.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per contest.
Bryson Cowan, Northside Christian: The 6-10 junior gives the Knights a presence in the middle on both sides of the court.
Dylan Deluca, United Faith: The 6-6 junior forward (8 ppg, 5 rpg) will play a bigger role for NCISAA 1A state runner-up.
Elijah Green, Covenant Day: The 5-10 senior point guard (13 ppg, 3.4 apg) will have a wealth of options to help make plays on a deep, Covenant Day team this season.
Nic Levy, Charlotte Latin: The 6-5 senior shooting guard (8.6 ppg, 4 rpg) is the leading returning scorer and rebounder on a younger, Hawks’ team.
Bryce Slay, Carmel Christian: The 6-7 junior (5.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg) will have to play a big role on a Carmel Christian team that is reloading this season.
Ja Spruill, Davidson Day: The 6-foot junior guard (10.3 ppg) and classmate Anthony Rogers (10.2 ppg) gives Davidson Day a dynamic backcourt.
Kelvin Thompson, Lake Norman Christian: The 6-2 junior guard will likely be the team’s top scorer, according to Storm coach Jeff Asiamah.
Maddox Watson, SouthLake Christian: The 6-4 senior shooting guard (14 ppg) gives SouthLake Christian a strong 1-2 punch with 6-7 Andrija Brzovic (12 ppg, 8 rpg) inside.
Tyree White, Covenant Day: The 6-1 junior Sun Valley transfer brings instant offense (18 ppg) to the lineup.
Preseason All-Mecklenburg County Private Team
Amare Bethel, Charlotte Country Day, 6-3, Sr.
D.J. Boyce, United Faith, 6-3,
Josh Bullock, Northside Christian, 6-0, Sr.
Jonah Lawrence, Providence Day, 6-4, Jr.
Michael Marcus, Covenant Day, 6-8, Sr.
Mason Smith, Davidson Day, 6-7, Sr.
Isaiah Sutherland, United Faith, 6-9, Sr.
Kam Taylor, Carmel Christian, 6-7, Sr.
Trajan Thompson, Providence Day, 6-5, Sr.
Preseason Player of the Year: Kam Taylor, Carmel Christian, 6-7, Sr.
Notes
▪ The Charlotte Country Day basketball team will play in its brand new Harris Gym, this season.
▪ New head coaches are all over the Mecklenburg County private school basketball landscape this year with Tamar Slay at Carmel Christian, James Long at Davidson Day, Jeff Asiamah at Lake Norman Charter. Jonathan McIntyre will start the season as interim coach at Providence Day while head coach Ron Johnson is dealing with a medical issue.
▪ West Charlotte transfer, Titus Ivory, the son of former North Mecklenburg and Penn State star, Titus Ivory, should have an immediate impact for a Charlotte Latin team that lost seven seniors to graduation.
Conference Predictions
CISAA Conference
Cannon School; 2. Covenant Day; 3. Providence Day; 4. Charlotte Latin; 5. Charlotte Country Day; 6. Charlotte Christian.
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Concord Academy; 2. Gaston Christian; 3. Northside Christian; 4. Westminster Catawba; 5. Gaston Day; 6. SouthLake Christian; 7. Metrolina Christian; 8. Hickory Grove.
NCISAA Foothills’ Athletic Conference
Davidson Day; 2. Hickory Christian; 3. Salem Baptist; 4. Statesville Christian; 5. University Christian.
NCISAA Southern Piedmont Athletic Association
United Faith; 2. Victory Christian; 3. North Hills Christian; 4. Woodlawn School.
