The N&O All-Metro boys and girls basketball teams and final top 15 rankings
Julius Barnes, who led Garner to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A boys basketball championship, leads The News & Observer 2015 All-Metro basketball team.
The 5-foot-8 senior point guard’s play in the title game reflected the experience gained in more than 100 high school varsity starts for the Trojans. He hit two crucial three-point baskets when Garner fell behind 51-50 after leading by as many as 18 points.
Barnes’ free throwing shooting and playmaking helped seal the win.
“We became a real team, but there is no question that Julius was our leader,” said Garner coach Eddie Gray. “When the pressure was the hottest, he played his best.”
Barnes exemplifies the 16 boys and girls named to this year’s club. All the players led winning teams.
Chapel Hill’s Raziyah Farrington helped the Tigers to a state 3A championship as a junior and led the club back to the finals in 2015. Amber Richardson and Jade Phillips were keys to Southeast Raleigh reaching the 4A title game the past two years.
All but one of the 15 N.C. High School Athletic Association players selected for the team played in a state playoff third round playoff game. All but one of the 16 players played on a team that won at least 20 games.
Southeast slips past previous No. 1 Chapel Hill in the final N&O high school girls basketball rankings while Garner claims the N&O boys ranking title.
N&O All-Metro basketball teams
Boys
Name | School | Year. | Ht. | PPG | RPG* | Accomplishments |
Kentrell Barkley | Northern Durham | Sr. | 6-6 | 23.6 | 11.6 | East Carolina recruit was two-time league POY and can play from point to the post; outstanding defender. |
Julius Barnes | Garner | Sr. | 5-8 | 14.2 | 7.1* | Point guard was Garner’s go-to guy during 28-1 Trojans march to state 4A championship. |
Rob Brown | Millbrook | Sr. | 6-9 | 15.0 | 6.0 | Brown is career leading scorer at Millbrook and led team with unselfishness and sacrifice, according to coach. |
Chris Clemons | Millbrook | Sr. | 5-9 | 24.0 | 4.0* | Wildcats coach Scott McInnes said Campbell recruit is the best scorer that he has ever coached. |
Jay Huff | Voyager Academy | Jr. | 6-10 | 15.8 | 7.7 | Led Vikings to 29-3 record and to the state 1A quarterfinals. |
Jerome Robinson | Broughton | Sr. | 6-4 | 18.7 | 3.9* | Boston College recruit was most impressed with academic opportunities with Eagles. |
Bobby Stenborg | Cleveland | Sr. | 6-4 | 21.4 | 9.0 | Lenoir-Rhyne recruit led Rams to the third round of the 3A state playoffs. |
Demetrius Troy | Word of God | Sr. | 6-0 | 28.0 | 5.0* | UNC-Greensboro recruit led club to 33-3 record with a season-high of 53 points. |
*Assists per game
Girls
Name | School | Year | Ht. | PPG | RPG* | Accomplishments |
Kai Crutchfield | Millbrook | Soph. | 5-9 | 10.5 | 3.5* | Extremely quick guard helped Wildcats to a 24-2 season and has committed to N.C. State. |
Kalia Ealey | Broughton | Sr. | 5-7 | 27.0 | 8.0 | N.C. State recruit had 1,900 career points and made her teammates better. |
Raziyah Farrington | Chapel Hill | Sr. | 5-7 | 16.4 | 4.3 | Coach Sherry Norris lists Western Carolina recruit among the top five players she has coached. |
Grace Hunter | Athens Drive | Sr. | 6-0 | 30.8 | 7.9 | UNC-Charlotte recruit dominated play throughout the season and scored 50 in regional semis. |
Mone’ Jones | Riverside | Sr. | 6-3 | 23.0 | 7.5 | Virginia recruit paced 22-3 Pirates run to third round of the playoffs. |
Jade Phillips | Southeast Raleigh | Sr. | 6-0 | 16.0 | 12.0 | Syracuse recruit helped the Bulldogs advance to state 4A title game. |
Amber Richardson | Southeast Raleigh | Sr. | 5-11 | 14.0 | 7.6 | N.C. State recruit helped lead 26-4 Bulldogs to state 4A championship game. |
Tainashia Vines | Bunn | Sr. | 5-8 | 19.8 | 10.9 | University of North Carolina track recruits was a driving force for a 25-1 Wildcats team. |
*Assists per game
Final N&O rankings
Boys basketball
Rk. School | Rec. | Prv. |
1. Garner | 28-1 | 1 |
2. Millbrook | 26-3 | 2 |
3. Word of God | 29-3 | 3 |
4. Broughton | 23-3 | 6 |
5. Cleveland | 23-4 | 5 |
6. Northern Durham | 19-8 | 9 |
7. Knightdale | 19-7 | 8 |
8. Voyager Academy | 29-3 | 4 |
9. Jordan | 20-5 | 7 |
10. Ravenscroft | 20-6 | 10 |
11. Apex | 17-9 | 11 |
12. Cary | 18-7 | 12 |
13. East Wake | 17-7 | 13 |
14. Cardinal Gibbons | 17-9 | 14 |
15. East Chapel Hill | 13-12 | 15 |
Girls basketball
Rk. School | Rec. | Pvs |
1. Southeast Raleigh | 26-4 | 2 |
2. Chapel Hill | 24-3 | 1 |
3. Athens Drive | 22-6 | 3 |
4. Broughton | 20-7 | 4 |
5. Millbrook | 24-2 | 5 |
6. Riverside | 22-3 | 6 |
7. Hillside | 21-4 | 7 |
8. Ravenscroft | 25-5 | 8 |
9. Bunn | 25-1 | 9 |
10. Northwood | 22-5 | 10 |
11. Corinth Holders | 19-7 | 11 |
12. East Wake | 18-7 | 12 |
13. Cardinal Gibbons | 19-7 | 13 |
14. Apex | 16-8 | 15 |
15. Roxboro Community | 28-4 | 14 |
This story was originally published April 11, 2015 at 7:10 PM with the headline "The N&O All-Metro boys and girls basketball teams and final top 15 rankings."