Watfords SE National Hoops Festival Preview

December 4, 2015 - Thanks to Jay Watford, the talented HOOPS Scouting Report National Recruiting Analyst, we have a game by game breakdown of this weekend's Southeast National Hoops Festival. Charlotte's Vance High School is the place, Saturday, December 5th is the date.

Enjoy Watford's work, and be sure to attend the Southeast National Hoops Festival. As he put it, "The event figures to be a memorable day of basketball with this inaugural event, featuring some of the best teams and players from the Charlotte area as well as from South Carolina and Virginia".

Inaugural Southeastern National Hoops Festival Previews:

12:00 PM - - West Charlotte (2-0) vs. Charlotte Catholic (4-0)

Both of these teams come up into the event with strong basketball traditions. I find it very ironic that they have not played each other in over 20 years. Another common threat is that each team features a sub-6-foottall guard leading the way.

For Charlotte Catholic, its 6 foot-senior Sam Smith (13.5PPG), who has scored 23 in the season opener against Rocky River and double figures in two out of the last 3 games this season. He's taken over the bulk of the scoring role alongside big time freshman 6 foot 8 inch- BJ Mack (10.0PPG 7.3RPG). Charlotte Catholic will need to control the tempo and boards against a pesky, scrappy West Charlotte team who will be led by senior Macar Jackson (10.5PPG, 4.5RPG, 1.0APG, 1.0SPG). The Lions want to push tempo and control the boards, averaging 72.0PPG right now and forcing 8 turnovers a game with their defensive intensity. West Charlotte does a great job of team rebounding the basketball so Charlotte Catholic will need to keep them off the glass and out of transition to win this one. What the complementary parts around Jackson do could tell the story in this one. These two teams have played very well early on this season with West Charlotte starting 2-0 and Charlotte Catholic starting our 5-0 beating some really good public school teams in the Charlotte area.

Two guys to keep an eye on for West Charlotte around the basket are Melvin Huntley and Deaquan Hatchetts, who so far this season combined for 24 points and 26 rebounds in the Lions first 2 games. Huntley is a 6-foot-6 junior, while Hatchetts is a 6-foot-5 senior. Head Coach Barrington Terry, has taken the Lions to the N.C. 4A Western Regionals five of the past six seasons.

1:30 PM - - Independence (2-0) vs. AC Flora (0-0)

The AC Flora Falcons return this season from a disappointing head-scratching State title game lost last season. The Falcons came up short in repeating as Class 3A State Champions in a title game lost to Midland Valley 62-56 at Colonial Life Arena They look to be very capable of getting back to Colonial Life Arena again this year behind the play of some key returning players and the addition of some new high profile talent. The Falcons kick off their season tonight against Columbia and play another game Friday before facing Independence. Independence is no slouch either, coming in off an impressive 36 point victory last night over West Mecklenburg and beating the likes of Olympic and Mallard Creek.

For Independence, they have one of the area's best perimeter duos from the Class of 2016 with 6-foot-4 guard Marcus Thomas (16.3PPG) and 6-foot-3 shooter Matthew Statile who went 5 of 6 from 3 point range vs West Meck. Thomas may lay claim to being one of the more versatile players in the area. He scores the ball inside and outside and does a really good job of rebounding the ball on both ends of the floor as well as defending.

While Head Coach Preston Davis of Independence has no shortage of weapons when you throw in 6 foot 10 big man Justyn Hamilton (5.0BPG) to that mixture, AC Flora Head Coach Joshua Staley has to like the pieces in place for his Falcons as well. Last year's team was led by four big time starters and key reserve Kendale Hampton who is a matchup problem that knows how to score in bunches. Two other key players, James Reese and Kewan Boyce, give them a couple of adequate ball-handlers and key scoring.

On the inside for AC Flora, 6-foot-8 senior Karl Gamble averaged (11.1PPG, 8.1RPG) is steadily developing his game around the basket while maintaining himself as a defensive force blocking shots with his length and athletic ability. Coach Staley also has reloaded with 6 foot 7-freshaman sensation Christian Brown. Brown ripped up the summer AAU circuit with his energy and athleticism which is causing many high level college programs to seek interest. It'll be important for the Falcons to try and force turnovers and rebound the ball well, but don't rely on the outside shot in what has a chance to be a high-scoring affair.

The key for Independence will be keeping Flora from getting second shots and out in transition. This is something they've traditionally done quite well.

3:00 PM - - Vance (3-2) vs. Carmel Christian (5-4)

After a 1-2 start in November, Vance has bounced back with 2 consecutive wins coming into this event. Carmel Christian, meanwhile, is sitting at 2-0 in their conference. Coach Josh Coley's Cougars have been battle-tested with a schedule that includes Northside Christian Academy, Asheville Christian, Davidson Day, Hickory Christian Academy, and Christ the King. They were 3-2 in those games.

Coach Brian Frasier's Cougars are coming off a big win over Hunter Huss 65-42 Tuesday night. Junior, 5-foot-10 guard Marcus Neal (19pts), lit up the Hunter Huss defense along with. Junior Justin Freeman (10pts), junior guard Cameron Hamilton (7pts) and senior guard Delvin Team (4.3RPG) who is leading the team in rebounding, gives them options when teams try to pressure the ball.

The Cougars have made 63 out 103 free throws averaging about 20 per game through their first 5 games. Carmel Christian averages 68.4 points per game on 50% shooting from the field. You counter that along with the 31.0 rebounds per game and an eye popping 9.0 steals per game, and you will see that this can be a very interesting game. Vance is a very team oriented squad that does an excellent job of sharing the basketball (10.5APG) along with a more defensive-minded approach to getting easy transition buckets by averaging (14.3SPG).

Sophomore 5 foot 10- point guard Rafael Jenkins (12.6PPG), 6 foot 2 inch- freshman shooting guard Myles Pierre (16.8 PPG, 4.6RPG, & 2.9SPG) and sophomore small forward 6 foot 6 inch- Brett Swilling (11.4PPG, 3.7RPG) are the main factors that do damage with Swilling and Pierre both averaging at or around 4 boards a contest from the perimeter. Add in the fact that Pierre is a thief of the ball if you try to put it on the floor around him. The scoring and size that they have on the perimeter can poses issues for many teams, even the better ones in a very competitive conference.

Vance's depth and balanced scoring has been a big factor for them behind steady play, junior Marcus Neal (7.4PPG) and junior Justin Freeman. They have subs that can come in without much of a drop-off in the team's overall play. Carmel Christian wants to push the pedal to the metal and make this a game played in the 70's because they are used to winning those and playing with great confidence.

4:30 PM - - Victory Christian (1-4) vs. Gray Collegiate (4-0)

Gray Collegiate comes into the event riding a 4 game winning streak. Coach Dion Bethea's group comes in ranked 3rd in the SC state rankings and are always in the Championship conversation.

Victory Christian is off to a slow start at 1-4 but don't let their record fool you into thinking that they are not a very good team that could easily be in the title run come the end of the season. Coach Marcus Dilligard no longer has the services of last year's big man, Ebuka Izundu. He could really use his 21 PPG, 15RPG. And 6BPG with this year's squad. They return some scrappy players who seem to be working well on learning to play together as a unit. It will be interesting to watch them this season and see how the development of the young players and some of the inexperienced returning players step up into leadership roles.

Gray Collegiate features arguably the most heralded freshman wing player in the Southern region in 6 foot 6 Juwan Gary (12.0PPG), currently ranked as one of the nation's top players in the Class of 2019 by some national scouting services. Make no mistakes about it, the true leader of this squad is 6 foot 1 senior point guard Xavier Miller (22.3PPG). This floor general intrigues programs at the next level standing at 6-foot-1 with a great stroke and a knack for scoring. Then there's Khalil Robinson, the quiet, unassuming type who plays with so much savvy and poise for such a young player.

6:00 PM - - Phillip O Berry (5-0) vs. Legacy Charter (11-3)

The storylines are limitless for this one. You have two teams coming in that are well coached and are used to performing at high levels in front of raucous crowds. Coach BJ Jackson's Legacy Charter squad comes into the event as the number rank 1 team in the state of South Carolina. They've lost only three games this season all to some very stiff nationally ranked teams.

Phillip O Berry is no stranger to success. Coach Maurice Jones has guided the Cardinals to five straight wins so far this season.

Legacy Charter has several different weapons that can do damage, namely key performers senior SG Mohamed Touray and junior big man Nicolas Claxton. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard Touray is a proven scorer and a dual threat from either guard position. It is quite common for him to often hit for 15-20 points each game within the flow of the team's offense. Claxton, a 6-foot-10 center, is a game-changer on the inside and Berry may really miss a big interior presence in this matchup. Claxton can slam it down with authority as well as reject shots at the rim and get double-digit rebounds.

While the 1-2 punch in the backcourt of junior Kusegi Cureton and sophomore Jamarius Burton, both drawing college looks and interest, get most of the attention for Berry and rightfully so, you don't want to forget about junior Michael Roberts. The 6-foot-4 junior has a pair of double digit scoring outings so far this season and from the looks of it, more are on the way. Opposing defenses will have to watch out for him, particularly when he's hovering around that three-point line.

What will be interesting to watch is how Legacy Charter defensively tries to contain the perimeter tandem of Cureton, Burton, and Roberts as well as how Berry compensates for not having a true post presence to battle Claxton. Legacy Charter have quite a few bodies at the guard spot they can use, such as junior Iziah James and senior Jashaun Smith, who erupted for 23 points in the win over Genesis Academy. The Cardinals will have to get solid play from Tevin Heath and Webster Filmore on the boards to keep Claxton in check.

7:30 PM - - Paul VI (1-0) vs. Word of God (1-4)

Ever since this matchup was announced, folks have had it circled on the calendar. What's not to like about it? Paul VI comes in ranked in the USA Today's Top 25 national rankings again this year and playing their traditional jammed back schedule which includes play in arguably the nation's best high school boys' basketball conference, the WCAC.

There's no lacking for star power in this one. A pair of five-star 2016 players with plenty of flash and dash will be on display as the marquee headliners; Louisville signee V.J. King for Paul VI and Rivals.com's 2016 #8 ranked player Rawle Alkins for Word of God. Paul VI also has Pittsburgh signee Corey Manigault who is a presence on the interior. VJ King is a former Charlotte native and prep basketball player at United Faith prior to entering ninth grade. The 6 foot 7 inch wing is off to a great start to the season with a very impressive 3 quarter outing last night against Cesar Chavez DC (31pts, 8 rebs. 4 ast. & 1 stl).

Word of God will turn to 2017 big man Brandon Huffman, who is a 6 foot 9 inch post player that is generating a lot of Division 1 attention this year, to be a rim protector and force inside.

The Panthers come in hungry with something to prove to themselves. Coming off a very disappointing lost last year in the VA Independent School State Championship game and WCAC Conference tourney, they are looking for redemption. In many ways, the big surprise this year may be the play of junior small forward Myles Douglas who should settle right in as their second leading scorer behind VJ King.

It's a guard-heavy lineup for Word of God with many different dimensions with senior Rawle Alkins, senior Jalen Harris, and junior talent Blake Harris and budding sophomore Isaiah Tatum. But Paul VI counters with firepower in the backcourt as well.

Besides King, juniors Aaron Thompson and Myles Douglas have dynamic upsides, and 6 foot 6 inch- Sophomore Brandon Slater is a dangerous threat off the dribble. On the inside, 6-foot-9 senior center Corey Manigault is a big man that commands attention. The individual matchups are endless in this battle.

Word of God has to be encouraged by the fact that they have faced some high level talent several times already this year and this will be Paul VI's first real big test of the season. Let us not be misled by the Holy Rams current record. Of course, Paul VI is a different animal and the highest ranked team in the national polls so far that they have faced, so it's not the same ball of wax. This figures to be a game of runs, and whichever team can impose its will defensively from keeping the main star (that's King and Alkins) for the other team under control probably gets the edge.