Yahoo Sports The Observer’s 2024 Mecklenburg County boys’ private high school basketball preview
Here is The Observer’s look at boys’ high school basketball in Mecklenburg County’s private schools ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Teams to watch
Carmel Christian: The Cougars return three senior starters from a team that won 18 games and advanced to the NCISAA 4A state quarterfinals a year ago. Carmel Christian will lean on its backcourt with the senior trio of Braylen Bowman (4 apg), Chandler Kennedy (8.2 ppg) and Bryce Slay (17.6 ppg, Marshall University commit). The Cougars will also get an immediate impact offensively from two transfers in 6-foot senior, Miles Leak (Piedmont transfer, 20.5 ppg) and 6-3 senior, Daniel Guandolo (Charlotte Christian transfer, 17.2 ppg). Carmel Christian has no true post player, but have the firepower with Guandolo, Leak and Slay to be a factor deep in the playoffs, again.
Charlotte Latin: The Hawks return three starters from a team that was up and down at 14-14 last season. Charlotte Latin will depend on its backcourt with seniors Titus Ivory (9 ppg) and James Jones (13 ppg) as well as sophomore Alex Dauska (9 ppg) giving them experience. The Hawks will need some younger players to emerge up front to get back above .500 and to finish in the top half of the CISAA conference standings.
Covenant Day: The Lions look to build on the best season in school history as they went 22-8 overall and advanced to the NCISAA 4A state semifinals last year. Covenant Day will lean on its senior backcourt duo of shooting guard Chris Rivens (11 ppg) and Tyree White (9 ppg) with junior forward, Landon Haggarty (4 ppg) also back in the lineup. If the Lions can find consistent production inside they have a chance to contend in the CISAA and be a factor in the playoffs.
Davidson Day: The defending NCISAA 2A state champions have a strong inside-outside combination with 6-5 senior, all-state shooting guard Isaiah Denis (North Carolina commit) to with 6-9 senior center Levon Jacobs. Davidson Day has the playmakers to repeat as Foothills’ Athletic conference and 2A state champions.
Providence Day: The Chargers return four starters from a 25-win team that was NCISAA 4A state runner-up a year ago. Providence Day has a balanced lineup with seniors in 6-4 shooting guard Jonah Lawrence (15.2 ppg), and 6-6, Trajan Thompson (12.3 ppg) on the wing. Meanwhile, senior forwards Nick Hailey (12.5 ppg) and Deuce Haynes (5.1 ppg) inside. Seniors Julian Johnson (4.7 ppg) and Braxton Winston (3.3 ppg) give the Chargers depth. Providence Day has the pieces to win the CISAA conference and make another run at state title this season.
Players to watch
J.D. Bowden, Ambassador Christian, Sr.: The 6-1 senior point guard (16.6 ppg) is one of three United Faith transfers with Dylan Deluca (13.1 ppg) and Logan Johnson (7 ppg) that will help get the Ambassador Christian program going in the right direction.
Isaiah Denis, Davidson Day, Sr.: The 6-5 senior and recent UNC commit, one of the top-ranked players in the state, back to lead the defending, NCISAA 2A state champions.
Nick Diaz, Charlotte Country Day, Sr.: The 6-2 senior (14 ppg) and backcourt mate senior Jerome Lowery (13 ppg) will have to lead a guard-dominant, Buccaneers’ team.
James Jones, Charlotte Latin, Sr.: The 6-3 senior (13 ppg) part of an experienced Hawks’ backcourt with senior Titus Ivory (9 ppg) and sophomore Alex Dauska (9 ppg).
Jonah Lawrence, Providence Day, Sr.: The 6-4 senior, all-state shooting guard is a versatile player averaging 15.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists as a junior.
Chris Rivens, Covenant Day, Sr.: The 6-3 senior shooting guard (11 ppg, 3 rpg) pairs with point guard Tyree White (9 ppg, 6 apg) to give the Lions a backcourt that control the tempo and pace of a game.
Bryce Slay, Carmel Christian, Sr.: The 6-6 senior shooting guard, Marshall University commit, had a breakout junior season leading Carmel Christian averaging 17.6 points per game.
Trajan Thompson, Providence Day, Sr.: The 6-6 senior (12.3 ppg, 4 rpg), a University of Denver commit, plays a key role on the wing in a balanced Providence Day attack.
Players on the rise
Dillon Mason, SouthLake Christian, Jr.: The 6-5 junior guard back to lead Eagles with seniors Pierre Gardner and Stone Myers also play key roles.
Levon Jacobs, Davidson Day, Sr.: The 6-9 center gives the Patriots an inside presence on both ends of the floor.
Miles Leak, Carmel Christian, Sr.: The 6-foot senior guard and Piedmont transfer (20.5 ppg) gives the Cougars a major scoring boost, along with Charlotte Christian transfer, 6-3 senior, Daniel Guandolo.
Tristan Nelson, Hickory Grove, So.: The 5-7 sophomore point guard looking to build on a breakout freshman season, where he averaged 10 points, three rebounds and two assists per game for the Lions.
Marshall Nicholson, Charlotte Christian, So.: The 6-1 sophomore (8 ppg) gives the Knights some experience in the backcourt with classmate Matty Carroll (6 ppg, 3 apg) also back in the lineup.
Preseason all-county team
▪ J.D. Bowden, Ambassador Christian, 6-1, Sr.
▪ Isaiah Denis, Davidson Day, 6-5, Sr.
▪ Nick Diaz, Charlotte Country Day, 6-2, Sr.
▪ Jonah Lawrence, Providence Day, 6-4, Sr.
▪ James Jones, Charlotte Latin, 6-3, Sr.
▪ Chris Rivens, Covenant Day, 6-3, Sr.
▪ Bryce Slay, Carmel Christian, 6-6, Sr.
▪ Trajan Thompson, Providence Day 6-6, Sr.
Preseason player of the year: Isaiah Denis, Davidson Day, 6-5, Sr., SG.
Notes
▪ Charlotte Latin point guard Emory Chaney will become the first eighth-grader in program history to play for the Hawks’ varsity team.
▪ Former Myers Park head coach Scott Taylor now takes over the brand new, Ambassador Christian basketball program.
▪ Northside Christian and United Faith will not have boys’ varsity team this season.
▪ Providence Day basketball coach Ron Johnson is two wins away from earning his 600th career victory in his 27-year coaching career.
Conference predictions
CISAA Conference
Providence Day; 2. Covenant Day; 3. Charlotte Latin; 4. Cannon School; 5. Charlotte Country Day; 6. Charlotte Christian.
Metrolina Athletic Conference
Concord Academy; 2. Gaston Christian; 3. Gaston Day; 4. Westminster Catawba; 5. SouthLake Christian; 6. Metrolina Christian; 7. Hickory Grove.
NCISAA Foothills’ Athletic Conference
Davidson Day; 2. Hickory Christian; 3. Statesville Christian; 4. University Christian; 5. Salem Baptist.
