One of NC’s best cuts list, Wake Forest still pushing, Moravian Prep lands another stud and more.

One of NC’s Best Cuts List 

HoopSeenNC’s #2 ranked player in the 2020 class, Isaiah Todd has trimmed his list to five schools.  North Carolina, Michigan, Kentucky, Memphis and Kansas rounded out his list. Todd recently announced his intentions to transfer to Word of God in Raleigh, North Carolina moving over from Trinity Academy in Durham. 

This recruitment feels a lot like the 2013 class for North Carolina when Kennedy Meeks, at the time the number one center in the country and Isaiah Hicks both committed to Roy Williams. I could see Todd making the Tar Heels his choice and teaming up with Day’Ron Sharpe as members of North Carolina’s 2020 class, the same way Hicks and Meeks chose the Tar Heels in 2013.  Kentucky is also a very serious option for Todd and we can now not count out Juwan Howard at Michigan, who recently offered. 

Moravian Prep Lands Another Top Prospect 

Josh Hall. Jahmari Harvey. Norance Berry. Javarzia Belton. Now add HoopSeenNC’s #4 prospect in Shakeel Moore. The ultra-athletic Moore spent last year at Piedmont Classical in Greensboro. He played the spring and summer with Team CP3 on the Nike EYBL circuit and has a long list of suitors. He is one of the more physically gifted players in the 2020 class and is known for his highlight reel dunks. Moravian Prep is going to be must see basketball this season down in Hickory, North Carolina. 

Ja’Dun Michael Picking up Steam 

On our HoopSeen stage at The Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions, Justin Young called me over and asked where I had Ja’Dun Michael ranked in our 2021 HoopSeenNC rankings. I said number two, which followed with a fist bump from Young. A lot of coaches will be doing fist bumps if they can secure this rapidly rising guard from the middle of the state. 

Cincinnati is the latest to offer the 6-foot-5 guard from The Burlington (NC) School who spend this spring and summer playing with Team Loaded NC on the 17U squad. Michael had this to say about the offer from The Bearcats. “ It means a lot to know that a big school like Cincinnati believed in me enough to offer me a scholarship especially considering that it’s not common for them to offer lots of players.” He also holds offers from Hampton, UNC-Greensboro, Appalachian State, Middle Tennessee State, Hofstra, Penn State, Providence, Texas A&M, Depaul, Elon, Old Dominion, and South Florida. 

Wake Forest Still Pushing 

Most national analysts thought this past season would be the end of Danny Manning’s era at Wake Forest but the biggest factor was the high buyout number for Manning. With another year to get the Deacons back in the top-tier of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Manning has landed a 6-foot-5 point guard from adidas Gauntlet member Garner Road Basketball Club Djimon Bailey and most recently an under-recruited 6-foot-10 forward in Jaylon Gibson. Gibson spent the last part of the spring and summer playing with the UC27 Dreamchasers and chose the Demon Deacons over Houston, Providence, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Elon, East Carolina, Iowa, Texas A&M, and South Florida. I think Gibson has a chance to be a guy in two years that a lot of coaches will be asking how they missed on him. 

Hayes Eyeing Re-Class

2021 Point Guard Camren Hayes of Greensboro (NC) Day and Team CP3 recently picked up an offer from Texas Tech and there is a lot of speculation that Hayes will move into the 2020 class. 

The quick twitch lead guard was impressive the last time our staff saw him during the June evaluation period team camps. Hayes is a top-50 level recruit in either class that would not hurt himself by choosing to jump into the 2020 class. 

Mars Hill Grabs Future Guard 

Reggie Walton, a 5-foot-11 guard for Team Trezz who will spend a year at Hargrave Military Academy made his pledge to Mars Hill University as a member of the 2020 class. The dynamic guard is a perfect fit for Vic Finora and Alex Biggerstaff at Mars Hill. Walton shined on our HoopSeen stage at the Tip-Off and The Best of the South