By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The amount of high school basketball talent in the state is deep and widespread, and Salisbury senior Jayden “Juke” Harris is near the top of the list.

Nominations for the McDonald’s All-America games were released on Tuesday. There were 724 players on the list (boys and girls), with Texas (69 nominations), California (66) and Florida (64) leading the way. There were 22 athletes from North Carolina on the list — 12 boys and 10 girls.

Players are nominated by coaches, ADs, principals or members of the selection committee.

The teams will be announced on Jan. 23. The games will be played in Houston on April 2.

Not surprisingly, Harris made the list of nominees. He’s averaging 30.3 points per game for the Hornets (13-3) as a senior.

He matched his career high of 45 on Friday and has scored 2,113 points during his high school career. He’s played the last three seasons at Salisbury, two for coach Bryan Withers and this season for Albert Perkins.

Of the 12 boys nominated from North Carolina, nine are ranked among the top 87 players nationally by Rivals.

The highest-rated player in the state is Drake Powell, a 6-foot-6 guard from Northwood in Pittsboro.

Powell, who signed with UNC, is ranked eighth in the country, so his chances of being chosen for the McDonald’s game are excellent. Twenty-four boys and 24 girls will be picked.

Jayden Quaintance, a 6-foot-10 Kentucky recruit who plays for Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, has a great chance to be picked for the game. He’s ranked 11th in the county.

The third-ranked player from North Carolina also has a great chance to suit up for the all-star game in Houston. That’s North Meck’s Isaiah Evans, a 6-foot-6 small forward who signed with Duke,

Austin Swartz, a 6-foot-4 guard who signed with Miami, plays for Cannon School in Concord. He’s ranked 45th nationally and was impressive when Salisbury played Cannon School.

Rakease Passmore, a 6-foot-5 athlete recruited by Kansas, is ranked 49th nationally. He plays for the Combine Academy in Lincolnton.

Paul McNeil Jr, a 6-foot-6 forward from Richmond Senior, is ranked 60th in the nation. He signed with N.C. State.

Sir Mohammed, a 6-foot-6 guard who signed with Notre Dame, is ranked 66th nationally. He plays for Myers Park, the Charlotte school that is rated as the state’s best 4A team.

Harris is ranked 70th nationally by Rivals. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard is a Wake Forest signee.

Bishop Boswell, a 6-foot-4 point guard, gives Myers Park two players in the national top 100. He’s ranked 87th in the country and signed with Tennessee.

The other three male nominees from North Carolina are Trinity’s Dominic Payne, a 6-foot-2 point guard, and the Bishop McGuinness duo of 6-foot-9 Cal Barrett and 6-foot-2 point guard John Campbell.

One of the girls on the nomination list is Jay M. Robinson’s 6-foot-4 Ella Hobbs, an Ohio State recruit.

In addition to Hobbs, the girls nominees include Cannon School’s Kierra Morrow, an Elon recruit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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