North Carolina is historically a high school basketball hotbed. The Tar Heel State produced 32 players who were on NBA rosters during the 2021-22 season, including Steph Curry, Brandon Ingram, Chris Paul and John Wall among many others.
The Tar Heel State also produced the No. 12 team in high school basketball this year in
Weddington, which went 31-0 en route to its second consecutive NCHSAA state title.
That led us to question where Weddington stacks up against the top teams in the state since the turn of the century? Evaluating resumes, national rankings and talent on the rosters, we put together a list of the top teams in Texas since 2000. See the complete breakdown below.
Senior J.P. Moorman dribbles the ball up the court during Greensboro Day's 2017 upset of IMG Academy.
File photo by Steven Ryan
Top 10 teams in North Carolina since 2000
Record: 34-4
National Ranking: No. 6
Notable Players: Will Dillard, John Newman, J.P. Moorman, Jordan Perkins, Solomon Smith
Rundown: The only Tar Heel State team to win a game in GEICO Nationals, Greensboro Day pulled off one of the biggest upsets in event history, defeating two-seed IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 59-40 in the first-round upset. An experienced group saw balanced production across the board led by seniors Perkins and Moorman along with juniors Dillard and Newman.
Record: 30-0
National Ranking: No. 5
Notable Players: B.J. Gladden, C.J. Jackson, Trey Mitchell, Deriece Parks, Jevon Patton
Rundown: Despite losing star Allerik Freeman to transfer prior to the season, the Trojans went unbeaten en route to the Class 4A state title led by an experienced core. Seniors Parks (14.2), Mitchell (11.8), Simmons (11.1) and Patton (10.1) along with junior Jackson (11.3) led a potent offense that averaged 81.2 points. The 2012-13 season concluded a successful three-year run that saw Olympic go 85-4.
Record: 36-2
National Ranking: No. 5
Notable Players: Dee Giger, Lakeem Jackson, Reggie King, Tony Kimbro, Mason Plumlee
Rundown: Both losses came against out-of-state opponents in January as the Greenies fell to Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 75-58 and Princeton (Cincinnati) 64-60. Christ School was led by seniors Plumlee, who averaged team-highs of 15.3 points and 10.1 rebounds and Jackson who averaged 15.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists. The program went 139-11 over four seasons.
Record: 30-1
National Ranking: No. 11
Notable Players: Jahzeer Baker, Shy'Quan Jones, Jeremy Lewis, Shykeim Phillips, Day'Ron Sharpe
Rundown: The Falcons' lone loss came in the John Wall Holiday Invitational title game against national top 10 Ranney (Tinton Falls, N.J.) 63-58. South Central was utterly dominant, winning all 30 games by double-digits and outscoring opponents by 35.6 points. An experience rotation was composed of all juniors and seniors led by third team MaxPreps Junior All-America selection Sharpe.
Record: 28-3
National Ranking: No. 7
Notable Players: Mitchell Baldwin, Whit Holcomb-Faye, Derrell Mitchell, Mike Russell
Rundown: Captured its second consecutive Class 4A state title after exploding for 58 second half points to defeat Leesville Road (Raleigh) 94-73 in the title game. The 94 points scored in the state championship contest is the highest scoring output in Class 4A history. Mitchell led the way with a game-high 22 points of 9 of 11 from the field in the title game triumph.
Record: 31-0
National Ranking: No. 12
Notable Players: A.J. Cook, Kyle Frazier, Chase Lowe, Evan Morton
Rundown: Ended the season on a 49-game win streak that spanned consecutive unbeaten seasons culminating in a state championships. Weddington captured the Class 3A state title in 2020-21 before moving up to Class 4A for the 2021-22 season. An experienced Warriors group saw four players average double-figures led by seniors Lowe (17.1), Frazier (15.0) and Cook (12.0) and junior Morton (11.5).
7. Greensboro Day 2014-15
Record: 33-3
National Ranking: No. 11
Notable Players: Peter Agba, Will Dillard, Trevor Mayo, Marquelle McIntyre, Darius Moore
Rundown: This group qualified for Dick's Nationals for the first time in program history before falling to Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 50-34 in the first round. The Bengals captured the program's eighth state title with a 44-34 victory over Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point) in the championship game. The win avenged a quadruple-overtime loss to the Trojans earlier in the month.
Record: 30-4
National Ranking: No. 18
Notable Players: Devon Dotson, Joshua Howard, Isaac Johnson, Trey Wertz, Grant Williams
Rundown:
Set a school record with 30 victories while capturing the program's
sixth state championship after defeating High Point Christian Academy
(High Point) 67-53 in the 3A title game. Each of the Chargers losses
came against out-of-state opponents, including a season-ending 70-54
loss against Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) in the opening round of
Dick's Nationals.
9. Christ School 2009-10
Record: 37-2
National Ranking: No. 13
Notable Players: Trevonte Dixon, Damarcus Harrison, Tony Kimbro, Marshall Plumlee, Eric Smith
Rundown: Outscored opponents by an average of 28.6 points en route to the program's only trip to Dick's Nationals. The Greenies lone losses came against nationally ranked out-of-state opponents, falling to Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 80-64 and Winter Park (Fla.) 82-72. Three players averaged double-figures led by senior Smith (13.5) and juniors Kimbro (12.0) and Harrison (11.6).
Record: 27-5
National Ranking: No. 12
Notable Players: Michael Buckland, Brandon Childress, Harry Giles, Jalen Johnson, Kwe'Shaun Parker
Rundown: Although this group fell shy of capturing the NCISAA 3A state title after falling to Greensboro Day 44-34 in the championship game, it's hard to deny the talent across the roster. Led by first team Junior All-America selection Giles, who averaged 23.9 points and 12.5 rebounds, the Trojans advanced to the City of Palms Classic semifinals with each of their losses coming against nationally ranked opponents.
