Raleigh high school basketball tradition continues with John Wall Holiday Invitational
North Carolina teams’ fortunes in the 52nd John Wall Holiday Invitational — December 26-30 at Broughton High School and William Peace University — will rise and fall per the performances of pivot men. Reidsville, the winner of the 2023 Devonte’ Graham Bracket, will compete in this year’s Day’Ron Sharpe Bracket. The Rams’ December 26 opener (8 p.m.) against Farmville Central will offer another edition of the last two N.C. 2A state finals — won by the Jaguars in 2023, and Reidsville in 2024.
Kendre Harrison, the Rams’ 6-8 junior pivot man — now committed verbally to Oregon basketball and football — is back at Reidsville, and could be the “X” factor in this matchup. Farmville Central’s lone loss this year is to West Bladen, whose 6-8 pivot man Chase Williams had 25 points in the Dec. 10 contest, 66-62.
WILKINS NEXT FOR PACK
Zymicah Wilkins, a 6-9 pivot man, is the latest NC State signee to visit Holliday Gymnasium for the Triangle area’s holiday hoops showcase. Wilkins helped Christ School (Arden) to a 2023 Invitational runner-up finish to Myers Park (Charlotte) in overtime of the Day’Ron Sharpe Bracket. This year, the Greenies are in the four-team T.J. Warren Bracket. Christ School will meet Knightdale on Dec. 27 at 3:30 p.m.
Wilkins (13 points, nine rebounds per game through 10 games) is among four Greenies scoring in double figures, with another player averaging eight points per game. Wilkins netted his points average in Christ School’s 70-60 win (Nov. 23) over Caldwell Academy of Greensboro, including 6-8 junior wing Cole Cloer. Caldwell Academy will battle Davidson Day on Dec. 26 at 2 p.m. for the opportunity to meet the Reidsville-Farmville Central winner.
CLAYTON’S DOUBLE POST
Clayton senior pivot men Andrew Grimes (6-8, bound for Liberty), and Preston Copeland (6-9, headed to Ball State), affirmed Clayton’s interior credentials to contend for this year’s 4A state championship in the Comets’ 65-59 win Dec. 14 over state runner-up New Hanover. Clayton will meet John Marshall, a perennial Virginia power, Dec. 26 at 3:30 p.m. in the Coby White Bracket.
NORTHERN NASH YOUNG, INTRIGUING
Northern Nash’s top seven scorers are juniors or sophomores. C.J. Rosser, a 6-9 sophomore, leads the way with nearly 16 points and eight rebounds per outing through this season’s first eight games. Rosser’s frontline support includes another 6-9 pivot man, junior Chris Silver.
The Knights will face Grace Christian on Dec. 27 at 6:30 p.m. for an opportunity to meet the Christ School-Knightdale winner Dec. 28 at 3:30 p.m.
PROTECTING THE BASKETBALL
Reidsville junior Dionte Neal returns as the court general for the Rams’ Holiday Invitational title defense. Neal has a better than 5:1 assists-to-turnovers ratio for his career, and is averaging a double-double (points-assists), again, through this season’s first five games. Neal is averaging 21 points and 11 assists through 61 career games, with two state finals appearances and one title.
KING SEEKING ANOTHER CROWN
Ashton King, who helped Myers Park to last year’s Day’Ron Sharpe Bracket championship, is averaging 24 points per game through eight games for Millbrook of Raleigh. The Wildcats will meet Highland School (VA) Dec. 26 at 5 p.m.
Millbrook, alongside Clayton in the Coby White Bracket, is in a draw with Green Level (Cary) and Southern School of Energy and Sustainability. Green Level, a 2024 state quarterfinalist, is led by 6-9 pivot man Isaac Ericksen, who has signed with Illinois State. Southern School of Energy and Sustainability’s Jackson Keith, a 6-4 wing committed to Butler, paces the Spartans — undefeated through six games — with 24 points and seven rebounds per outing.