Best high school basketball players in NC set for East-West All-Star Game in Greensboro

Paul McNeil Jr. asked his coach for the keys to the gym on Christmas Day as a ninth grader.

Most members of the boys’ basketball team at Richmond Senior High in Rockingham were at home with their families. Coach Donald Pettigrew heard from McNeil, who just wanted to put some shots up.

McNeil, now an N.C. State-bound high school graduate who scored 71 points in a game for the Raiders last season, spent about three hours in the gym on that Christmas as a freshman.

“He realized at an early age that to get where he wants to get, he had to work hard,” Pettigrew said. “He comes and works. His goal is to make it to the next level.”

Along with other standout basketball players from North Carolina, McNeil will be in action on Monday night.

All-Star teams including the top boys’ and girls’ basketball players from the east and west sides of the state will square off on Monday evening. Inside the Novant Health Field House at Greensboro Coliseum, the Girls’ All-Star Game tips at 6:30 p.m., with the Boys’ All-Star Game following around 8:30 p.m.

McNeil was one of three finalists for “Mr. Basketball,” awarded to the best high school boys’ basketball player in North Carolina. Fellow Wolfpack signee Zamareya Jones of North Pitt, among the finalists on the girls’ side for the “Ms. Basketball” title, is suiting up on Monday night as well.

Molly Burns, a recent star at Ardrey Kell who’s continuing her basketball career at USC Aiken, is the only player from the area named to the girls’ West team.

Chase and Carson Daniel of Central Cabarrus, Jalen Chambers of Mooresville and Santana Lynch of Lake Norman are on the boys’ West team.

East girls’ basketball team

Ziahmiya Adams, Vernon Malone

Tamia Darden, South Garner

Jasmine Felton, Northeastern

Zamareya Jones, North Pitt

Audra Hillman, Wake Forest

Laila Lewis, Rolesville

Laynie Smith, Chapel Hill

Kayla Starling, Cape Fear

Mikayla Taborn, Franklinton

Janna Tupuola, E.E. Smith

DeNaira Williams, E.E. Smith

Coach April Rose, Pamlico County

Coach Robert Duck II, South Central

West girls’ basketball team

Lauren Arnold, West Rowan

Sadie Badgett, North Surry

Molly Burns, Ardrey Kell

Alissa Cheek, Rosman

Ava Hairston, Mt. Tabor

Jasmine Harris, Northern Guilford

Kiersten Johnson, East Wilkes

Maslyn Mosbacher, Northwest Guilford

Audra Petty, Randleman

Hattie Sloyan, Page

Coach Angela Mayfield, Mt. Airy

Coach Scott Hartbarger, Franklin

East boys’ basketball team

Jayde Braswell, Hillside

Syncere Burnette, Wakefield

Ari Fulton, Westover

Tequan Holley, Bertie

Randall King, Northern Nash

Izeal Mallory, Northern Nash

Trey Manhertz, Green Level

Paul McNeil Jr., Richmond

Zack Noel, White Oak

Isaiah Upchurch, Southern Lee

Coach Henry Drake, Northern Nash

Coach Thurman Jordan, Rolesville

West boys’ basketball team

Jalen Chambers, Mooresville

Carson Daniel, Central Cabarrus

Chase Daniel, Central Cabarrus

Jamias Ferere, Southern Guilford

Richard Goods, Grimsley

Maurio Hanson Jr., Chambers

Jucqarie Love, Southern Guilford

Santana Lynch, Lake Norman

Jackson Sellers, Page

Jerquarius Stanback, Asheboro

Coach Darren Corbett, Grimsley

Coach Billy Phillips, TC Roberson

Schedule and ticket info for East-West All-Star Games

▪ Girls’ All-Star Game tips at 6:30 p.m.

▪ Boys’ All-Star Game afterward at roughly 8:30 p.m.

▪ Tickets available at EastWestAllStars.com. Novant Health Field House at Greensboro Coliseum