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The Observer’s 2024 Iredell County boys’ high school basketball preview

jay edwards
·5 min read
Lake Norman senior center Trent Steinour.

Here is The Observer’s look at boys’ high school basketball in Iredell County schools ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Teams to watch

Lake Norman: The Wildcats need no extra motivation going into this season after a heartbreaking, overtime loss in the 4A state semifinals at North Mecklenburg ended a 28-win year. Lake Norman returns four starters from that team with 6-foot-10 senior center Trent Steinour (16 ppg, 11 rpg, 4.3 bpg, Clemson commit) and 6-foot-5 senior forward, Tre McKinnon (15.5 ppg, Appalachian State commit) back to lead the way. But the Wildcats also have a dynamic backcourt duo in senior Josh Yates (10.5 ppg) and junior, Nick Arnold (7.5 ppg) to make plays. Coach Grant Hodges and Lake Norman want nothing less than a shot to win a 4A state title this season.

Mooresville: The Blue Devils have a veteran team returning with four starters back in seniors Dylan Clark and Bryson Demby as well as juniors Eian Bailey and Christian Wilson. Mooresville also has experience off the bench with seniors Kaleb Oloyede and Kyri Wilson to go with juniors Nolan Ericson and Carson Schoen, which gives them the depth to finish in top half of the Greater Metro 4A conference and return to the playoffs.

Pine Lake Prep: The Pride will look to the three-time, all-conference backcourt duo of Joseph Bruce (9 ppg) and Ethan Morgan (7 ppg) to set the tone this season for a team that won 21 games last year. 6-3 freshman wing Gary Grear (one of top players in the state in the class of 2028), and senior guards Jamie Lawson and Noah Wonleh should provide depth for a Pine Lake Prep team looking to repeat as Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A conference champions and win their fourth league title in the past eight years.

Statesville: The Greyhounds were up and down last year at 13-13 overall, but did finish third in the Western Foothills’ 3A conference at 10-6 in league play. This season, Statesville will be a guard-heavy team again with three starters back in the senior backcourt trio of Kobe Brown (13 ppg, 6 rpg), Kevin Bryant (7.7 ppg) and Jay’Veon Lackey (8 ppg, 5 apg). The Greyhounds should also get an immediate impact from 6-foot freshman Paul Cauthen, which should allow to stay in the top half of conference standings and playoff position a second straight season.

Players to watch

Kobe Brown, Statesville, Sr.: The 6-foot senior guard (13 ppg, 6 rpg as a sophomore) returns after missing last year with an injury.

Dylan Clark, Mooresville, Sr.: The 6-8 senior forward (8 ppg, 10 rpg) nearly averaged a double-double as a junior.

Tre McKinnon, Lake Norman, Sr.: The 6-5 senior, Appalachian State commit (15.5 ppg, 5 rpg) gives the Wildcats another inside-out weapon.

Ethan Morgan, Pine Lake Prep, Sr.: The 6-3 senior (7 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg, 2 apg) and classmate, Joseph Bruce (9 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg, 3 spg) are both three-time, all-conference performers for the Pride.

Anthony Nesbit, Langtree Charter, Sr.: The 5-10 senior, all-conferecne point guard (12.7 ppg) back to lead a Lions’ team on the rise.

Trent Steinour, Lake Norman, Sr.: The 6-10 senior, Clemson commit (16 ppg, 11 rpg, 4.3 bpg), all-state pick, Greater Metro 4A conference player of the year can dominate a game on both sides of the floor.

Players on the rise

Paul Cauthen, Statesville, Fr.: The 6-foot freshman guard was the Iredell County middle school male athlete of the year in both basketball and football last year, and should make an immediate impact for the Greyhounds this season.

Gary Grear, Pine Lake Prep, Fr.: The 6-3 freshman guard, who attended the Phenom Freshman event, is ranked one of the top players in the state in the class of 2028.

Aidan Patterson, North Iredell, Sr.: The 6-2 senior (8 ppg) is the lone returning starter on a team that has experience with fellow seniors Landon Ford, Will Miller and Jack Weatherman, and junior Oliver Stamey, playing bigger roles this season.

Martynas Petrauskas, Langtree Charter, Sr.: The 6-7 senior forward gives the Lions an inside presence on a guard heavy team.

Preseason all-county team

  • Kobe Brown, Statesville, 6-0, Sr.

  • Joseph Bruce, Pine Lake Prep, 6-0, Sr.

  • Dylan Clark, Mooresville, 6-8, Sr.

  • Tre McKinnon, Lake Norman, 6-5, Sr.

  • Ethan Morgan, Pine Lake Prep, 6-3, Sr.

  • Trent Steinour, Lake Norman, 6-10, Sr.

Preseason player of the year: Trent Steinour, Lake Norman, 6-10, Sr., PF.

Notes

  • Lake Norman senior center Trent Steinour is 77 points from scoring his 1,000th career points of his high school career.

  • First-year Langtree Charter coach Jeffrey Asiamah believes he can help a Lions’ program that is 3-52 in the past two years to be much improved this season.

Conference predictions

Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A Conference

  1. Corvian Charter; 2. Lincoln Charter; 3. Pine Lake Prep; 4. Community School of Davidson; 5. Bradford Prep; 6. Christ the King; 7. Mountain Island Charter; 8. Langtree Charter.

Greater Metro 4A Conference

  1. Lake Norman; 2. Mooresville; 3. Hickory Ridge; 4. Cox Mill; 5. West Cabarrus; 6. A.L. Brown; 7. South Iredell.

NCISAA Foothills’ Athletic Conference

  1. Davidson Day; 2. Hickory Christian; 3. Statesville Christian; 4. University Christian; 5. Salem Baptist.

Western Foothills Athletic 3A Conference

  1. North Lincoln; 2. Hickory; 3. East Lincoln; 4. Statesville; 5. St. Stephen’s’ 6. North Iredell; 7. West Iredell; 8. Fred T. Foard.

NOTE: Did not receive preseason information from South Iredell, Statesville Christian, and West Iredell.