Cabarrus County 2024 Players to Watch
In this article:
A rare lull has taken place on the high school basketball calendar across North Carolina. That lull, course, coincides with the start of the academic calendar where volleyball and football are the sports that take centerstage, athletic-wise. As one would…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingA rare lull has taken place on the high school basketball calendar across North Carolina. That lull, course, coincides with the start of the academic calendar where volleyball and football are the sports that take centerstage, athletic-wise.
As one would guess, North Carolina is arguably the premier basketball state in the country. That means talent is abound across all classes – including among the state’s rising juniors.
One of those areas that is filled with talent is right outside of Charlotte in the Concord-Kannapolis area. We unveiled our players to watch this upcoming season among the rising seniors and here is our list among rising juniors.
Booker always makes sure her team stays on the same page. She recently completed a stellar AAU season with Tennessee-based ETA Thunder Campos 2023. A few weeks ago, she announced she received an offer from Hawaii’s Chaminade University. She makes things difficult for opponents as a ball handler and ball distributor. Her floor-running skills can particularly be seen as a transition player. Scoring and picking up steals are two other attributes to her overall game. The offer she recently got from the Silverswords will be far from the last offer Booker receives before she makes a commitment.
As our 2023 list displayed, the Cougars are loaded with talent and that is the case with its 2024 class as well. McCorkle recently completed a productive AAU session with Team Curry 16U and now has an offer from Queens University. McCorkle is a gifted ball handler who can play worthwhile minutes as either a guard or a wing. She also displays proficiency as a 3-point shooter and can complete 3-point plays the hard way. Defensively, she seems to be one step ahead of what the other team appears to be doing. Our guess is her offer from Queens will not be the last offer she receives before she commits.
Gidney ran the grassroots circuit with Team United 17U Calhoun and is a multi-sport athlete who adds volleyball and track to her athletic resume. She will take to the court with a Ragin’ Bulls team that should have plenty of veteran players. Gidney can connect on midrange jumpers and presents problems near the basket with her determination to score. Her work around the rim also includes grabbing rebounds and she will deliver in the open floor as a ball distributor and all-around hustler. Gidney helped the 4A Ragin’ Bulls to a 19-9 record (10-2 in conference play).
Highlights
Collins has been one of the players to watch when thinking about the county’s newest school. She averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game in 2021-22 for the 4A Wolverines. Collins is a combo guard with many of the attributes seen in frontcourt players – including an affinity to bolster a team’s rebounding efforts. But she also showcases her talents with the ball in her hands and can create extra possessions for her teammates with the steals she compiles. Collins is accurate as a 3-point shooter and can get out in transition and convert on high-percentage opportunities.
Hilsenroth was a new addition to North Carolina’s Prep Girls Hoops 2024 rankings prior to the start of last season. The Trojans’ standout displayed exactly why she belonged on that 2024 list. When one presents a 6-foot-1 frame as she does, it opens the door for matchup advantages in the low post. She compliments her scoring capabilities by what she accomplishes not only as a rebounder but also as a shot blocker. Among those rebounds that Hilsenroth can haul in are on the offensive glass and she will turn those into two-point putbacks. She also has ran track and field throughout her athletic career. Hilsenroth played a major role in Northwest’s 17-6 record (10-4 conference) last season.
Highlights
The Wolverines are one of those teams where any one of four or five players could finish a game as the clubhouse leader in points. Shaw is one of those four or five. She can play productive minutes as either a point guard or as a wing. Shaw runs the floor with efficiency in transition and has no issues getting through a slew of defenders to finish at the cup. She can drain her 3-point attempts, will call for the ball on offense and plays with a heads-up attitude which enables her to come away with steals. Shaw also will find spacing near the rim which will eventually enable her to convert on high-percentage shot opportunities in the painted area. She currently has offers from Stetson, North Greenville and Chowan.