Arrival of Edrice Adebayo, Ty Graves raises the bar for Cougars.
Video: Early Contenders - High Point Christian AcademyMaxPreps 2015-16 High School Basketball Early Contenders, Presented by Dick's Sporting Goods and Under Armour
Head coach: Brandon Clifford (149-61 career record)
2014-15 record: 19-14
State association: North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association
Enrollment: 650 (K-12)
Head coach Brandon Clifford (middle) and his 2015-16 High Point Christian Academy players
Photo by Alik McIntosh
Players to Watch
Edrice Adebayo (6-9, Sr., F) … Committed to Kentucky
Amidou Bamba (6-7, Sr., F) … Committed to Coastal Carolina
Reece Bogan (6-2, Jr., G) … Averaged 9.4 points per game as a sophomore
Ty Graves (6-1, Sr., G) … Committed to Boston College
Michael Hueitt Jr. (6-3, Jr., G) … Several high major programs monitoring progress
Ben Robertson (6-5, Sr., G/F) … Committed to Bucknell
Jalen Seegars (6-5, Jr., F) … Handful of Division I offers
Forward Edrice Adebayo was a first-team MaxPreps Junior All-American for the 2014-15 season.
Photo by Alik McIntosh
Key Dates
Nov. 28 – vs.
Providence Day (Charlotte) at Charlotte Hoops Challenge
Dec. 19-23 – City of Palms Classic
Dec. 28-30 – HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational
Jan. 18 – vs.
Chino Hills (Calif.) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
Jan. 23 – vs.
Pace Academy (Atlanta, Ga.) at Peachtree Corners Invitational
Guard Reece Bogan
Photo by Alik McIntosh
Cougar Storylines
* High Point Christian has had plenty of success under Clifford, but the arrival Adebayo takes the expectations to a whole new level. A recent Kentucky pledge, Adebayo was a first team MaxPreps Junior All-American in 2014-15 after putting up 32.2 points, 21.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots per game at Northside (Pinetown).
* In addition to its daunting showcase and tournament schedule, High Point Christian will have to tackle a tough league schedule that will include home-and-home meetings with Top 50 national teams
Greensboro Day and
Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point).
* Graves could be a major difference-maker after a frustrating junior season. The future Boston College Eagle started his high school career at Page (Greensboro) but transferred to Montverde Academy (Fla.) last fall. It wasn't a great fit and the point guard returned home in February. Graves averaged 14.0 points and 5.1 assists per game as a sophomore at Page in 2013-14.
View gallery of preseason Early Contenders photo shoot with High Point Christian Academy
