The ACC schools in North Carolina, commonly referred to as “the Big Four,” all possess their own cherished basketball legacies in a state known for producing top talent in the sport.

However, with the evolution of trends in men’s basketball recruiting, it is challenging to recall a time when the Big Four universities had a strong argument for claiming the best four in-state, public school players.

There are three main reasons for this occurrence. Firstly, the trend among high school male basketball players to switch from public schools to private institutions or sports training academies has been present for a while. In fact, an increasing number of players are opting to play for a non-scholastic team under a different name, rather than attending a private school.

The second point is that there are fewer annual scholarships offered in basketball recruiting now compared to before the transfer portal. This may be even more evident in today’s recruiting landscape, depending on a coach’s approach during the offseason.

In conclusion, Duke is the key factor. They have not often recruited local talent from public schools, with the exceptions of Brandon Ingram from Kinston and Shavlik Randolph from Broughton being the most recent and noteworthy.

However, things have shifted this year as it marks the final high school season for the gifted class of 2024. This has not only resulted in increased enthusiasm for public school basketball amongst fans of the Big Four, but it has also revived the N.C. High School Athletic Association season.

Depending on the ranking system, the 2024 graduating class has as many as six top 100 players. This does not account for Jayden Quaintance, a transfer from Ohio to Arizona to Raleigh who attends Word of God but is not from North Carolina, or Jarin Stevenson who graduated a year early from Seaforth to enroll at Alabama.

Two other individuals, Sir Mohammed from Myers Park and Bishop Boswell, who are regularly ranked in the top 100, have made commitments to attend Notre Dame and Tennessee, respectively. However, for the scope of this article, we will concentrate on the incoming class of the Big Four teams.

N.C. State has added Richmond’s Paul McNeil Jr. to their roster.

North Carolina signed nearby resident Drake Powell, who attends Northwood.

Salisbury’s Juke Harris has officially joined Wake Forest.

Duke’s team boasts McDonald’s All-American Isaiah Evans, who hails from North Mecklenburg and is similar to Powell in skill level.

The most recent occurrence of the Big Four universities in North Carolina recruiting four players from NCHSAA (North Carolina High School Athletic Association) schools was in 2002. Duke signed Randolph, North Carolina welcomed David Noel from Southern Durham, Wake Forest recruited McDonald’s All-American Eric Williams from what is now Wake Forest High School, and N.C. State added Adam Simons from Williams. However, Noel (although he eventually played in the NBA) was initially a non-scholarship player, Simons was not highly regarded nationally, and while UNC did have Rashad McCants from Asheville and N.C. State had Cam Bennerman from Greensboro in the same recruiting class, both players spent their senior year at prep schools outside of North Carolina.

So the last real time this all really happened — four different schools, four top recruits, all attending public school? According to longtime high school sports writer Alex Bass, it’s 1986.

The list consisted of Robert Brickey from E.E. Smith who attended Duke, Marty Hensley from McDowell County who attended UNC, Ralph Kitley from North Rowan who attended Wake Forest, and Brian Howard from North Forsyth who attended N.C. State. This group achieved success on the basketball court during their time in college – both Brickey and Kitley had won championships, with Kitley being the MVP of his team. They continued to excel even after college: Brickey with three Final Four appearances and Howard going on to play in the NBA. (Kitley has also maintained connections with the ACC, as his daughter Elizabeth has earned two ACC Player of the Year awards at Virginia Tech.)

The landscape of high school basketball was drastically different in 1986, and continues to evolve in more recent times.

It’s hard to be unaware of the 2001 Leesville Road vs. Broughton regular season game, featuring two McDonald’s All-Americans and several players from the ACC, which ended up being relocated to Reynolds Coliseum where it was witnessed by 12,400 spectators.

Selling out arenas is a frequent occurrence, but for two public schools to draw in 12,400 attendees?

The dispersion of skills has hindered the recreation of such a setting.

However, after 38 years, Powell, Harris, McNeil Jr., and Evans remain popular and continue to attract a devoted fan base at the Big Four event. It is speculated that if any of these players were to compete in the NCHSAA championship in Winston-Salem this year, it would likely draw large crowds and create unforgettable memories.

Four stars.

Four public schools of different types.

Four unique college choices.

Four hometown heroes.

In the following, we will discuss the strengths of each person and their accomplishments, as well as what they will contribute to Tobacco Road in the upcoming year.

Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg — Duke

Evans’ path: Though he grew up in Fayetteville, Evans has been attending North Mecklenburg High School since he entered high school. Initially, he played on the JV team during his freshman year. However, this does not suggest that he was a late developer. Rumors about an immensely talented player on the Vikings team quickly circulated, making him a familiar name even before his sophomore year.

Evans’ defining moment occurred during the elite eight round of NCHSAA playoffs last year. In a thrilling overtime victory against Chambers, he scored an impressive 62 points with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Despite being a strong contender for the Gatorade Player of the Year award, it ultimately went to Stevenson.

He is known as “Slim” due to his 6-foot-7 height and 170 to 190 pound weight range. He has been compared to Brandon Ingram, a recent Duke recruit from an NCHSAA school, in terms of his physical abilities. Like Ingram, he excels at scoring and shooting with precision from the deep. He also has impressive footwork when receiving the ball on the block or short corner. What many may not notice is his ability to keep the ball in motion and make impressive passes.

His demeanor: Evans constantly carries a grudge. No matter where he performs, he draws in a large audience. A single remark from a student, even just a simple “overrated,” can ignite his inner motivation like gasoline on a fire. If Cooper Flagg receives the most “Duke hate” in the coming year, Evans will also desire a share of it.

The HSOT website connects to notable achievements, honors, and additional information.

Juke Harris, Salisbury — Wake Forest

Harris’s Path: In his second year, Harris emerged as a standout performer, scoring an average of 19.8 points per game. Alongside senior Cameron Stout, he formed a strong duo that contributed to Salisbury’s powerful offense. The team achieved 20 victories that season and has continued to thrive since then.

Harris set his sights on becoming the top scorer in Rowan County before the start of the year, surpassing former McDonald’s All-American Scooter Sherrill of West Rowan. He achieved this goal just last week, making it a moment to remember for him.

He is a skilled player who excels at scoring in large quantities, and is considered one of the best in the state in this aspect. He is a proficient shooter from beyond the 3-point line, quickly becoming hot and further challenging his opponents by driving to the basket and having a smooth finish. As a 6-foot-7 player, he is utilized in the Hornets’ full-court press, using his long arms to interrupt the opposing team’s gameplay. Harris and the Hornets have dominated numerous games this year, often securing the win by halftime. His average of 30.6 points per game is impressive, particularly because he achieves this in only three quarters of play.

Reword: Evans constantly consumes the comments of others while Harris operates quickly and calmly. There is no unnecessary action or movement – when he is on fire, you are faced with a relentless yet highly controlled and efficient attack.

HSOT provides access to noteworthy achievements, acknowledgements, and additional information.

The individual’s name is Drake Powell and they are from Northwood, North Carolina.

During his journey, Powell was part of the freshman trio that contributed to the Chargers’ success in reaching the NCHSAA 3A championship game. Along with him was Stevenson, who moved to Seaforth during their senior year. Stevenson’s parents were then hired as coaches for the team. Although there were attempts to convince him to switch schools, Powell chose to stay due to his strong ties to his community, family, and friends. It is not unusual to find him showing his support for other sports teams at Northwood outside of basketball season.

Powell has multiple choices available, though it is challenging to lead a team to the state championship. Out of all the players mentioned, Powell is the only one who has achieved this feat twice, coming in second place during freshman and junior years.

He is the standout player when it comes to possessing two-way skills among the others on this list. While it is expected for basketball to be played using both offensive and defensive tactics, it can be challenging to predict the defensive capabilities of certain players. However, he excels as a defender and can guard against various physical attributes such as speed, height, and strength. He is also a skilled finisher near the basket and has a high success rate with his shots. However, he is also known for his willingness to pass the ball to a teammate who is in a better position to score.

His approach: Similar to his teammates, Powell has long arms and is physically strong like Harris. He consistently faces the toughest defensive matchups each game. He is not a high-volume shooter, partly due to the playing style at Northwood and partly because of his selflessness. As a result, he may be the most adept at quickly settling into a specific role next season out of all the players on this list. As a freshman, Powell may have played for the crowd, with the exception of a smaller audience due to the pandemic, but he has matured into a player who prioritizes his team above all else.
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/ McNeil Jr., Paul – Race McNeil Jr., Paul – University

Paul McNeil Jr. attended North Carolina State University.

McNeil Jr.’s experience has been remarkable. His impressive skills as a freshman on the Raiders basketball team put Richmond on the map for the sport. He has received recognition as Gatorade Player of the Year in his sophomore year and has set a new record for points in a single game during his senior year (71). Despite facing challenges that made him worry about not being able to complete his high school career at Richmond, he persevered and returned each time. During his junior year, he briefly left to play for a non-scholastic team, Prolific Prep in California, but came back after just two games (following NCHSAA regulations that require sitting out for two games) and then announced a transfer to Word of God in Raleigh after his junior year, which he later decided against. Now back in Richmond, he has led the Raiders to a strong position for another run at a state title.

Being a senior and reaching the state championship game was a highlight for me. Seeing the lower bowl of the Dean Smith Center filled with people wearing yellow Richmond shirts with “P2” (in reference to my jersey number, 2) was a memorable sight. This was the first time Richmond had made it to the finals in almost 20 years.

He excels at shooting and has excellent body control, which allows him to draw fouls and score “and-one” opportunities. Additionally, his talent for passing often goes unnoticed. He is particularly skilled at moving without the ball and finding open spaces.
McNeil’s style is different compared to the other three players. He tends to rely on his quick footwork and angles rather than playing above-the-rim. He also plays at a faster pace and is always pushing the tempo. Although he is a skilled scorer, he does not force shots and instead acts as a facilitator in the Raiders’ offense, letting the game unfold naturally.
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Source: highschoolot.com