Charlotte Hoops Challenge Girls Preview
The Charlotte Hoops Challenge is in its 8th year and brings some of the top talent to the Charlotte area. While most come to see the high profile boy’s games, and rightfully so, the girls’ games are no longer just an undercard of the event. What CHC does with the matchups is a huge draw to the event. CHC gives us matchups of teams that otherwise would not play each other whether it be public, private, class or division. This year features some very high profile girls’ games and we wouldn’t be surprised to see numerous college coaches at the event.
Location: Phillip O. Berry Academy
Friday, November 24th
10:00am
Concord First Assembly vs Ardrey Kell
Preview: The first matchup of the event has private 2A Concord First Assembly against highly rated public 4A Ardrey Kell. CFA is a guard oriented team that is led by Presbyterian commit Shamani Stafford. They also have in the backcourt Jessyka Leak and Camille Small that can apply defensive pressure and score themselves. CFA does not have much size and will have to play outstanding defense if they want to keep this game close. CFA has made deep runs the last four years in the NCISAA 2A playoffs losing in the semifinals just last year but has some big shoes to fill with the loss of Zaria Wright (Toledo) to graduation. We expect Head Coach Bill Middlebrooks to rely heavily on his senior guards in this game and all year long.
Ardrey Kell has as much talent as any school in the area. They play with an attitude and will be one of the area’s best defensive teams. We’ve seen this team play and they are very physical. They are led by seniors Deniyah Lutz who has multiple college offers, Journey Muhammed and D’Shara Booker (Austin Peay). They have depth as well with underclassmen Kennedy Cash and Meghan Rogers to go along with incoming freshman and highly recruited Michelle Ojo. Ardrey Kell lost 7 games last year but 4 of them were by a total of only 12 points. This team is primed to make a run at the SoMeck7 Conference and a deep run in the state 4A playoffs.
11:30am
South Meck vs Providence Day
Preview: The second game of the day is a rematch from last year. South Meck takes on Providence Day who has won 8 straight private 3A championships and beat South Meck by 19 last year in this event. This year could be very different as public 4A South Meck is more experienced and deeper than in past years. This team is very balanced led by App State commit A’lea Gilbert who was dominate this past weekend in the Providence Day Super Scrimmage. Head Coach Cristie Mitchell has to be excited as she also returns guards Jadin Gladden, Naomi Gilbert, Shariah Gaddy, and Shakyra Harley, all of which seem ready for a big year. We have South Meck ranked #4 in the area and for good reason.
Providence Day is without a post presence in many years as they lost McDonalds All-American Janelle Baily (UNC) to graduation. Providence Day does return another UNC commit in Kennedy Boyd and will rely heavily on the senior until the younger players can get up to speed. Head Coach Josh Springer is one of the best coaches in the country and has a host of sophomore guards that seem ready to compete. One of those is MiLeia Owens, who had a terrific summer and we believe will have a breakout year. Andi Levitz, Kailey Smith, and Grace Goodwin round out a young talented core the Chargers will have for years to come.
7:00pm
Hickory Ridge vs Northwood Temple
Preview: The night cap for the girls’ games on day one has Hickory Ridge playing private 1A Northwood Temple. Hickory Ridge, the 3A NCHSAA state runner up, is now part of the 4A Southwestern Conference. Moving up in class should not be an issue as they have some of the top players in the state and college commits Gabby Smith (Western Carolina), Courtney Meadows (Georgetown), Rinnah Green (Charlotte), Alyssa Wagner (Lenoir-Rhyne), Nia Long (UNC) and Jierra Shears who also has multiple D1 offers. Sophomores Randi Neal and Jadah Shears give the Bulls depth as does highly recruited freshman Reigan Richardson (LBI #4 ranked 2021 player in NC/SC). Hickory Ridge can play many different styles but when they can play up tempo, they are at their best. Look for Hickory Ridge to apply pressure throughout the game and using their depth to try and wear out a very good Northwood Temple team.
Northwood Temple has its share of high profile players as well and handling the pressure will be up to two of the best guards in the state, Kendal and Ciara Moore. Both players were selected to try out for USA Women’s U16 National team and Kendal has already committed to play for NC State. They also have some experience as well with seniors Shenell Davis and Arielle Wilson. Davis can score, defend and was the Eagles top rebounder from last year based on MaxPreps statistics. Wilson at 6’6” has multiple D1 offers and is considered a WNBA prospect by some. We’ve seen Wilson play the last couple of summers and spoke with AAU Coach Dorian Williams of Hoop Dreams Athletics to get more insight on this highly rated prospect. He said she can shoot the three, put the ball on the floor, and block shots. He also stated she is very unselfish and that her passing skills are often overlooked. Northwood has four players that could average over 10ppg. With so many highly regarded/rated players in this game, look for it to be one of the best games of the day.
Saturday, November 25th
10:00am
Providence Day vs Butler
Preview: Saturday only has two girls’ games but matchups you won’t want to miss. The first game of the day has private 3A Providence Day against Butler from the public 4A Southwestern Conference. Butler who lost their leading scorer to a transfer will have to find ways to score and that will fall heavily on guards Destiny Lewis and Payton Sutton. They will also need to get good all-around play from Michaela Dixon and freshman Nia Nelson. Butler usually applies a lot of pressure to get transition baskets and we expect more of the same this season. This team resembles Providence Day in many ways, but there size down low may be the difference they need to pull off a big upset win.
Providence Day better be ready to compete and we believe they will. Having Kennedy Boyd and MiLeia Owens in the backcourt, handling the pressure should give the Chargers an opportunity for some transition baskets. Head Coach Josh Springer has one of his biggest challenges ahead this season and we expect some different wrinkles from his team this year. Without a true post player, don’t be surprised to see multiple lineups, and different sets from what your use to seeing the Chargers run until Coach Springer gets the continuity he wants. We still have the Chargers ranked #7 in the area, so overlooking them would be a big mistake.
The Charlotte Hoops Challenge is in its 8th year and brings some of the top talent to the Charlotte area. While most come to see the high profile boy’s games, and rightfully so, the girls’ games are no longer just an undercard of the event. What CHC does with the matchups is a huge draw to the event. CHC gives us matchups of teams that otherwise would not play each other whether it be public, private, class or division. This year features some very high profile girls’ games and we wouldn’t be surprised to see numerous college coaches at the event.
Location: Phillip O. Berry Academy
Friday, November 24th
10:00am
Preview: The first matchup of the event has private 2A Concord First Assembly against highly rated public 4A Ardrey Kell. CFA is a guard oriented team that is led by Presbyterian commit Shamani Stafford. They also have in the backcourt Jessyka Leak and Camille Small that can apply defensive pressure and score themselves. CFA does not have much size and will have to play outstanding defense if they want to keep this game close. CFA has made deep runs the last four years in the NCISAA 2A playoffs losing in the semifinals just last year but has some big shoes to fill with the loss of Zaria Wright (Toledo) to graduation. We expect Head Coach Bill Middlebrooks to rely heavily on his senior guards in this game and all year long.
Ardrey Kell has as much talent as any school in the area. They play with an attitude and will be one of the area’s best defensive teams. We’ve seen this team play and they are very physical. They are led by seniors Deniyah Lutz who has multiple college offers, Journey Muhammed and D’Shara Booker (Austin Peay). They have depth as well with underclassmen Kennedy Cash and Meghan Rogers to go along with incoming freshman and highly recruited Michelle Ojo. Ardrey Kell lost 7 games last year but 4 of them were by a total of only 12 points. This team is primed to make a run at the SoMeck7 Conference and a deep run in the state 4A playoffs.
11:30am
Preview: The second game of the day is a rematch from last year. South Meck takes on Providence Day who has won 8 straight private 3A championships and beat South Meck by 19 last year in this event. This year could be very different as public 4A South Meck is more experienced and deeper than in past years. This team is very balanced led by App State commit A’lea Gilbert who was dominate this past weekend in the Providence Day Super Scrimmage. Head Coach Cristie Mitchell has to be excited as she also returns guards Jadin Gladden, Naomi Gilbert, Shariah Gaddy, and Shakyra Harley, all of which seem ready for a big year. We have South Meck ranked #4 in the area and for good reason.
Providence Day is without a post presence in many years as they lost McDonalds All-American Janelle Baily (UNC) to graduation. Providence Day does return another UNC commit in Kennedy Boyd and will rely heavily on the senior until the younger players can get up to speed. Head Coach Josh Springer is one of the best coaches in the country and has a host of sophomore guards that seem ready to compete. One of those is MiLeia Owens, who had a terrific summer and we believe will have a breakout year. Andi Levitz, Kailey Smith, and Grace Goodwin round out a young talented core the Chargers will have for years to come.
7:00pm
Preview: The night cap for the girls’ games on day one has Hickory Ridge playing private 1A Northwood Temple. Hickory Ridge, the 3A NCHSAA state runner up, is now part of the 4A Southwestern Conference. Moving up in class should not be an issue as they have some of the top players in the state and college commits Gabby Smith (Western Carolina), Courtney Meadows (Georgetown), Rinnah Green (Charlotte), Alyssa Wagner (Lenoir-Rhyne), Nia Long (UNC) and Jierra Shears who also has multiple D1 offers. Sophomores Randi Neal and Jadah Shears give the Bulls depth as does highly recruited freshman Reigan Richardson (LBI #4 ranked 2021 player in NC/SC). Hickory Ridge can play many different styles but when they can play up tempo, they are at their best. Look for Hickory Ridge to apply pressure throughout the game and using their depth to try and wear out a very good Northwood Temple team.
Northwood Temple has its share of high profile players as well and handling the pressure will be up to two of the best guards in the state, Kendal and Ciara Moore. Both players were selected to try out for USA Women’s U16 National team and Kendal has already committed to play for NC State. They also have some experience as well with seniors Shenell Davis and Arielle Wilson. Davis can score, defend and was the Eagles top rebounder from last year based on MaxPreps statistics. Wilson at 6’6” has multiple D1 offers and is considered a WNBA prospect by some. We’ve seen Wilson play the last couple of summers and spoke with AAU Coach Dorian Williams of Hoop Dreams Athletics to get more insight on this highly rated prospect. He said she can shoot the three, put the ball on the floor, and block shots. He also stated she is very unselfish and that her passing skills are often overlooked. Northwood has four players that could average over 10ppg. With so many highly regarded/rated players in this game, look for it to be one of the best games of the day.
Saturday, November 25th
10:00am
Preview: Saturday only has two girls’ games but matchups you won’t want to miss. The first game of the day has private 3A Providence Day against Butler from the public 4A Southwestern Conference. Butler who lost their leading scorer to a transfer will have to find ways to score and that will fall heavily on guards Destiny Lewis and Payton Sutton. They will also need to get good all-around play from Michaela Dixon and freshman Nia Nelson. Butler usually applies a lot of pressure to get transition baskets and we expect more of the same this season. This team resembles Providence Day in many ways, but there size down low may be the difference they need to pull off a big upset win.
Providence Day better be ready to compete and we believe they will. Having Kennedy Boyd and MiLeia Owens in the backcourt, handling the pressure should give the Chargers an opportunity for some transition baskets. Head Coach Josh Springer has one of his biggest challenges ahead this season and we expect some different wrinkles from his team this year. Without a true post player, don’t be surprised to see multiple lineups, and different sets from what your use to seeing the Chargers run until Coach Springer gets the continuity he wants. We still have the Chargers ranked #7 in the area, so overlooking them would be a big mistake.
