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2021 NC Rankings: Closer Look

27, Aug 2019

2021 NC Rankings: Closer Look

Last week, HoopSeenNC released our 2021 rankings, here. The class overall is another loaded group of prospects that will rival the 2018 class for the state. In this piece we take a look at the top of the rankings and breakdown their game and recruitment.

Carter Whitt

Raleigh, NC

Class
2020
|
Position
PG
|
Height
6' 1"
|
School Team
National
89
National Pos. Rank
18
State
NR
State Pos. Rank
NR

The lead guard for Team Loaded NC and Leesville Road High School is cool, calm and collected. Whitt doesn't make mistakes and he is able to facilitate with the best of point guards in the country. He has been playing up for a few years on his travel squad and plays like a guy that has been in the position before. He can get into the paint with a nice crossover or hesitation, he makes the right entry pass and he can defend. Up next for Whitt is an official visit to Boston College on September 13. He has offers from a good amount of ACC, Big 10, Big 12 and SEC schools. 

 

Bryce McGowens

Piedmont , SC

Class
2021
|
Position
SG
|
Height
6' 5"
|
School Team
National
32
National Pos. Rank
7
State
1
State Pos. Rank
1

New to the North Carolina rankings, Bryce McGowens transferred from Wren (SC) High School to Lincoln Academy in Winston-Salem to play under former Furman head coach and Cincinnatti assistant Larry Davis. McGowens is a true scoring guard that has really strong size at 6-foot-4 and is a consistent shooter from the outside. He is the younger brother of Pitt sophomore Trey McGowens and learned a little from his brother in getting away from home and playing on a team that plays a national schedule. McGowens is being recruited by the ACC, SEC, Big 10 and Big 12. 

 

Dontrez Styles

Kinston, NC

Class
2021
|
Position
SF
|
Height
6' 7"
|
School Team
National
60
National Pos. Rank
15
State
1
State Pos. Rank
1

Kinston is one of the all-time hotbeds for basketball in the state of North Carolina. Guys like Cedric Maxwell, Jerry Stackhouse, Reggie Bullock and Brandon Ingram all hailed from the town with a population of 22,000. Dontrez Styles has the making of the next one from the hallowed streets of Kinston. The 6-foot-6 wing is long and athletic, he can play and defend multiple positions, he is a solid rebounder and he is still growing. Georgetown, Ole Miss, NC State, Maryland, Clemson, St. John's, VCU and East Carolina have offered the Team CP3 wing. 

 

Ja'Dun Michael

Burlington, NC

Class
2020
|
Position
SF
|
Height
6' 6"
|
School Team
National
NR
National Pos. Rank
NR
State
6
State Pos. Rank
2

Ja'dun Michael has been one of the most impressive players we have seen over the course of the spring into summer. He is an explosive athlete that can attack the paint off the dribble and has a motor like a European sports car. Michael recently took an unofficial visit to Wake Forest and is scheduled to unofficially visit NC State this weekend. His current offer list is Texas A&M, Depaul, Providence, Cincinnatti, Penn State, USF, Old Dominion, App State, Elon, Middle Tennessee, UNC-Greensboro and Hofstra. 


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. 

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