The Carolina Corner with @JustinByerly
In this installment of The Carolina Corner, we take a look at the upcoming weekend of Martin Luther King, Jr. tournaments, where does UNC-Wilmington look next, ACC sends staffs out for NC prep standouts, and more.
UNC-Wilmington Moves in New Direction
CB McGrath took over for Kevin Keatts at UNC-Wilmington in April, 2017 and now two and a half years later he has been let go of his duties as head coach. McGrath was an assistant at North Carolina under Roy Williams for 14 years before getting his first head coaching job. He went 26-58 during his time there and had the Seahawks at 5-14 this season.
Looking forward at this new hire for the athletic department at UNC-Wilmington two names that would have to be in consideration would be NC State assistant coach Takayo Siddle and Kentucky assistant Joel Justus. Siddle spent some time with Kevin Keatts at UNC-Wilmington as an assistant before heading to NC State. Siddle was previously an assistant at Gardner-Webb before his time with Keatts.
Justus was a 2004 graduate from UNC-Wilmington and was previously an assistant at Elon University from 2004-2008 and also was the head coach at Davidson Day.
Assistant Coach Rob Burke has been named the interim head coach and UNC-W athletics department has said a national search will look at McGrath's replacement. UNC-Wilmington may go for a coach that has some head coaching experience on this one though, just have to wait and see.
The Seahawks 2020 recruiting class consisted of Marcus Elliott, a 6-foot point guard from Holly Springs HS that played on the AAU circuit with Garner Road Basketball Club.
ACC programs take a look at NC prospects
Last night, North Carolina sent staff members to Cannon School to see 2022 point guard Jaden Bradley, regarding as our #1 prospect in the class. Bradley holds offers from some of the top programs in the country.
Also on the Carolina radar is DJ Nix, a 6-foot-6 small forward that can stretch the floor with his deep-range from beyond the three-point line. Nix was one of the top performers at The Charlotte Hoops Challenge back in late November.
North Carolina also had Hubert Davis and NC State sent head coach Kevin Keatts to Millbrook High School in Raleigh to see 2021’s Eric van der Heijden and Will Felton, both forwards for the top-ranked 4-A team in the state. Ole Miss recently offered Eric van der Heijden and Felton sports some top mid-major offers.
Virginia Tech’s Mike Young will be in this week to see Granville Central’s Terence Harcum who recently took an unofficial visit to Virginia Tech this past weekend. He is one of the top scoring guards in the state. Young will also see South Granville’s Bobby Pettiford. The 6-foot- point guard is starting to get some higher level interest and the Hokies are getting a good feel for what the state has in the 2021 class.
Amadi’s Recruitment Picking Up Steam
A guy that spent some time on the HoopSeen stage this season, Justin Amadi has seen his recruitment pick up over the past month. The 6-foot-6 ultra-athletic forward from Dorman (SC) High School had one of the best Decembers in recent memory. He helped lead Dorman to a Chick-Fil-A Classic tournament title and a Beach Ball Classic title, the first SC team to do in 32 years.
Amadi played on our HoopSeen stage with Upward Stars Upstate during The Best of the South and The Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions. He also played with the Adidas Guantlet Upward Stars team coached by Curtis Wheeler.
One of the most athletic players in the southeast, Amadi thrives at playing above the rim, blocking shots and rebounding. He can knock down the mid-range shot and can defend.
He recently picked up an offer from North Texas and Coastal Carolina to go along with Charleston Southern, USC-Upstate, Presbyterian and South Carolina State. North Texas had an in-home visit about a week ago, "The in-home visit was good by Coach Brauer, the assistant from North Texas." He tells HoopSeen that Wake Forest and Holy Cross have also been in contact.
MLK Day Showdowns
The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday tournament time of the year is here. With some big match-ups throughout the state. The Big Shots MLK Tourney Town Showcase at Ben L. Smith HS in Greensboro will be one that college coaching staffs are at to check out some in-state talent.
11:00 AM Moravian Prep Regional vs. Salem Baptist
12:30 PM Winston Salem Prep vs. Piedmont Classical
2:00 PM Moravian Prep National vs. Faith Assembly
3:30 PM Westover vs. Eastern Guilford
5:00 PM Salisbury vs. Reidsville
6:30 PM Smith vs. Gray Collegiate (SC)
8:00 PM High Point Christian vs. Wesleyan Christian
Phenom Hoops will host an event over the weekend, The Carmel Christian MLK Classic in Charlotte and The HoopState Network will host The Kinston MLK Classic at famed Kinston High School. Here are the schedules for both.
Carmel Christian MLK Classic
1:30 PM Asheville Christian Academy vs. Cardinal Newman (SC)
3:00 PM Covenant Day vs. Myers Park
4:30 PM AL Brown vs. Concord First Assembly
6:00 PM Cannon vs. Davidson Day
7:30 PM Vance HS vs. Carmel Christian
Kinston MLK Classic
12:00 PM Trinity Academy vs. Ashley HS
1:45 PM First Flight HS vs. Cox Mill HS
3:00 PM Greenfield School vs. The Burlington School
5:15 PM Pender HS vs Leesville Road HS
7:00 PM Moravian Prep vs. Word of God
8:30 PM Kinston HS vs Farmville Central HS
