With six consecutive games, the MLK Classic at the Greensboro Coliseum is always a highlight of the January basketball schedule.
This Monday was no exception, and it was highlighted by a Charlotte school's thrilling upset of the nation's No. 1 team.
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) was atop the MaxPreps, ESPN Rise and USA Today national rankings, but the Warriors were beaten by
United Faith Christian Academy (Charlotte) 90-88.
Junior point guard
Braxton Ogbueze scored 31 points, including two free throws with 3 seconds left to break a tie game, and teammate
Paris Roberts-Campbell, who has committed to East Carolina, added 24 points.
With Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski watching from the stands, United Faith held Blue Devils commitment Quinn Cook to 11 points on 5-for-16 shooting. Cook, a senior point guard, was also the player whose foul sent Ogbueze to the line for three free throws in the final seconds.
"All respect to them," Cook told the Greensboro News-Record. "They're a good team. You can't leave the game in the refs' hands."
OAK RIDGE ENTERS RANKINGSWhile Oak Hill Academy slid down, a new team from North Carolina appeared in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25.
Oak Ridge Military Academy moved in at No. 23 after defeating High Point Christian Academy 63-35 in the nightcap of the MLK Classic.
Oak Ridge broke open a five-point game at halftime by outscoring High Point 19-3 in the third quarter.
Appalachian State-bound
Michael Neal had a game-high 17 points and Tennessee-bound
Chris Jones added 16.
But the news wasn't all great for the Cadets. According to the News Record, Purdue signee
Jacob Lawson tore his Achilles tendon over the weekend and will miss the rest of the season.
"There were more tears in the locker room than there was enjoyment," coach Stan Kowalewski told the paper after his team received the results of Lawson's MRI in the postgame.
OTHER N.C. RECRUITS SHINEWhile "Coach K" saw Cook struggle at the MLK Classic, another one of his recruits dominated. Center
Marshall Plumlee had 12 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three steals as
Christ School (Arden) defeated Greensboro Day 83-48.
Rob Gray had a game-high 18 points for the Greenies, who led by 38 points after three quarters.
Fans of other local colleges also had reason to be excited at the MLK Classic, as North Carolina recruit
James McAdoo of Norfolk (Va.) Christian and N.C. State recruit
Tyler Lewis of Forsyth Country Day also had big games.
In the MLK Classic opener,
Keaton Haack had 14 points and 10 rebounds and sub
Duncan Everett had 11 points and eight rebounds as Northwest Guilford (Greensboro) defeated Cannon (Concord) 55-40. The Vikings (7-7) improved to .500 by holding the Cougars to two points in the third quarter.
Harold Gutmann covers the state of North Carolina for MaxPreps.com. He lives in Durham and can be reached at haroldgutmann@gmail.com.
