Back to all newsTop NC & SC senior high school players promise to battle it out on the hardwood
In just two weeks, the top senior high school boys and girls from North Carolina and South Carolina will face off in the 2025 Carolinas Classic All-Star Basketball Games. The event, hosted by the North Carolina Coaches Association and the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association and sponsored by House of Raeford Farms FLOCK, culminates at John T. Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC on Saturday, March 22.
“Once again the Carolinas Classic rosters are overflowing with talent”, said Greg Grantham, representative of the North Carolina Coaches Association and executive director of the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association. “The basketball action at the Classic has always been super competitive and exciting. This year promises to be no different”. Please find the most current rosters HERE.
The North Carolina Boys’ team features two McDonald’s All-American nominees, Chadlyn Traylor (North Mecklenburg High) attending the College of Charleston and Isaac Ericksen (Green Level High) on his way to Illinois State. Other notable NC boys include 6’10” Trent Steinour (Lake Norman High) headed to ACC basketball standout Clemson University and Jackson Keith (Southern Durham High) to Butler University of the Big East Conference.
Brian Sumpter (Keenan High), SCBCA AAA Player of the Year, leads the South Carolina boys along with T. J. Lewis (Blythewood High), a McDonald’s All-American nominee, and Abijah Franklin (Wren High), the 2024 AAA Player of the Year.
Kate Sears (Watauga High), NCBCA All-State first team and a McDonald’s All-American nominee, anchors the North Carolina Girls’ squad. Sears, committed to Virginia Tech, is one of three women going to ACC schools. The others are Caitlyn Jones (Rolesville High) to Wake Forest and Gabby White (Seaforth High) on her way to the University of Virginia. Jones and White as well as Amari Baldwin are also McDonald’s All-American nominees. Also worthy of mention is Tionna Pettus (Bessemer City High) who set a girls’ state all-time single game scoring record this season with 65 points.
The South Carolina Girls’ hoopsters feature Tamia Watkins (Andrew Jackson High) with over 3,000 career points and going to Elon University as well as four ladies slated to play their college ball in the state of Texas. Chi’Nya Isaac (Lower Richland High) heads to Texas A & M International; Skyla Tuthill (Ashley Ridge High) to Rice University; and twin sisters Molly and Emma Daugherty to Abilene Christian University. In addition, Michaela Fairwell (Dutch Fork High) travels across the country to the University of California – San Diego.
The Carolinas Classic All-Star Basketball Games will not only highlight basketball talent but will also give back to the community. Through the generosity of House of Raeford Farms FLOCK, all ticket proceeds benefit the SECU Family House in Wilmington, a facility providing convenient, safe, and affordable accommodations to family and loved ones of patients being cared for at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
Tickets to the games are available for purchase online and are $10 for adults and $5 for children and students. The girls’ game begins at 3:00 p.m. followed by the boys’ competition.
For more information and a full schedule of events, click here.