Skip to main content

The Carolina Corner with @JustinByerly

15, Apr 2020

The Carolina Corner with @JustinByerly

Here we are in the middle of April and I haven’t watched a live basketball game in person since the Western Regional finals in Hickory, North Carolina on March 7th.

The last few weeks of March and into April are the busiest time of the year for people like me in this profession. What has kept me busy during this time is the transfer market for players who are linked to North and South Carolina.

In this week’s Carolina Corner we take a look at WNC’s best unsigned senior, Justin Amadi decides, a couple of Carolina seniors make decisions, a look at the pipeline Florida State has in North Carolina and more.

Freeman is Freedom’s Next College Player

James Freeman

Morganton, NC

Class
2020
|
Position
SG
|
Height
6' 4"
|
National
NR
National Pos. Rank
NR
State
NR
State Pos. Rank
NR

Last year, Freedom High School was led by Fletcher Abee who is now at The Citadel. Fast-forward one year and James Freeman was one of the reasons for the continued success that the Patriots have had this year.

The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 19.5 points, 7.5 assists and 6.8 rebounds per game. He helped lead Freedom High School to the finals of the NCHSAA 3-A state title before it was canceled amidst COVID-19 worries.

One of the stats that stood out for Freeman was his ability to not turn the ball over, averaging a 3.53 assist to turnover ratio.

Playing in Western North Carolina, Freeman wasn’t able to showcase his game in front of numerous scouts and other forms of media during the season. He has offers from Lees-McRae at the Division II and Brevard College at the Division III level and offers from Caldwell Community College and Louisburg Junior College at the JUCO level.

Amadi Going with James Madison

Justin Amadi

Simpsonville, SC

Class
2020
|
Position
PF
|
Height
6' 6"
|
School Team
National
NR
National Pos. Rank
NR
State
9
State Pos. Rank
4

One of the most athletic players we saw on the HoopSeen stage this season was Justin Amadi for the Upward Stars program. The 6-foot-6 jumping-jack was a thrill to watch and would leave the crowd wanting more after ever rim-rattling dunk.

Amadi was the third piece to a brilliant Dorman High School squad this season which also featured seniors PJ Hall (Clemson) and Myles Tate (Butler). Amadi was a difference maker on the offensive side of the ball as well as the defensive side with his ability to change the game by blocking shots and rebounding.

Amadi had offers from Presbyterian, USC-Upstate, Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, North Texas, Nicholls State, Ball State, Kent State and Missouri State before choosing new head coach Mark Byington and James Madison.

Amadi was named one of our Top Overall Performers at our season-ending Best of the South in downtown Atlanta.

UNC-Wilmington Adds Another

Jamahri Harvey

Fayetteville, NC

Class
2020
|
Position
SG
|
Height
6' 5"
|
School Team
National
NR
National Pos. Rank
NR
State
NR
State Pos. Rank
NR

New Head Coach Takayo Siddle has added another of the state’s top unsigned guards with Jamahri Harvey choosing the Seahawks late last week. Harvey joins JaJuan Carr from Pender High School and St. John’s transfer Ian Steere over the past two weeks for the new staff.

Harvey was a standout with NC State signees Josh Hall and Shakeel Moore from Moravian Prep, considered one of the top teams in the Southeast from top to bottom. The 6-foot-4 guard can score from all spots on the floor and knows how to get the ball in the right hands on the offensive side. Coupled with his offensive game, Harvey showed signs of being able to defend at the next level in multiple games we saw him play this season.

Ballard Chooses Florida State

Florida State Head Coach Leonard Hamilton was born in Gastonia, North Carolina and attended Highland High School and played at Gaston Community College for two seasons. His connections to North Carolina have led Fayetteville’s Michael Joiner, Charlotte’s Ian Miller, Raleigh’s Anthony Richardson, Cherryville’s standout Terry Whisnant, Greensboro’s Montay Brandon, and West Charlotte’s Patrick Williams to Tallahassee.

His connections to the state this week also helped him land 7-footer Quincy Ballard from Quality Education Academy in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Ballard, originally from Syracuse, New York recently picked up offers from North Carolina State, Maryland, Cincinnati and hometown Syracuse jumped on board.

NC/SC Transfer List

Player  Old School  New School 
Andy Pack Elon  
Alex Caldwell SE Missouri State  
Asanti Price Georgia Tech  
BJ Mack USF  
Cartier Diarra  Kansas State Virginia Tech
Cam Allen UC-Bakersfield Towson
Charles Minlend San Francisco Louisville
Chevez Goodwin Wofford USC
Chris Martin Presbyterian   
Cress Worthy UNC-Asheville   
Damari Paris Eastern Michigan  
Davion Mintz  Creighton Kentucky 
DJ Myers Western Carolina   
Dontarius James Xavier  
Dontrell Shuler Charleston Southern  
Gabe Bryant Gardner-Webb  
Gerrale Gates New Orleans  
Harrison Curry Detroit  
Ford Cooper Missouri State  
Ian Dubose Houston Baptist Wake Forest 
Ian Steere St. John;s  UNC-Wilmington
Isaac Suffren Lafayette Howard
Isaiah Wilkins Virginia Tech  
Jalen Harris  Arkansas Georgetown
Jalen Johnson Tennesee ETSU
Jairus Hamilton Boston College Maryland
Jamarius Burton Wichita State Texas Tech 
JC Tharrington App State   
Jordan Bruner Yale Alabama
Justyn Hamilton Temple  
Keishawn Brewton Coastal Carolina  
KC Hankton St. Louis  
Kody Shubert Presbyterian   
Madison Monroe Oakland  
Mike Wynn Wake Forest  
Quan McCluney College of Charleston  
Qon Murphy  Houston Baptist New Hampshire
Quentin Jackson Temple  
Raquan Brown New Orleans  
Rayshawn Neal SC State  
Stephen Edoka UNC-Asheville  
Tahj Small Troy  
Trey Wertz Santa Clara Notre Dame
Trey McGowens Pittsburgh Nebraska
Trey Murphy Rice Virginia 

Justin Byerly
State Editor

Justin Byerly has spent the past 15 years covering North Carolina prep and grassroots basketball. He has previously worked with The Recruit Scoop and Rivals.com. In addition to that he has contributed to The USA Today, Charlotte Observer, The Asheville Citizen-Times and The Sun News. He has held The Justin Byerly Upstate/WNC Showcase the past two years and has helped student-athletes from North Carolina and South Carolina receive college scholarships. He owns The Byerly Report scouting service that has over 100 college subscriptions. Justin resides in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife Danielle and four children. 

Upcoming Events

Date
October 12, 2024
Venue
Suwanee Sports Academy
Who
Girls 6th-12th grades
Event Stature
Local
Entry Cost
$135
Date
October 13, 2024
Venue
Suwanee Sports Academy
Who
Boys 9th-10th grades
Event Stature
National
Entry Cost
$165
Dates
November 16, 2024 – February 16, 2025
Venue
Suwanee Sports Academy
Who
4th-8th grades
Event Stature
Local
Entry Cost
$1200