The Millbrook Men’s Basketball Program will host their third annual Millbrook Winter Showcase event on Saturday December 3rd, 2016 from 12:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Twelve teams stocked with some of the top high school talent in the Carolinas will be making the trip to the “City of Oaks” for what is expected to be the most talent-laden field to date.
Included in this year’s field are the 2016 NCHSAA 2A State Champions, and the 2016 SCHSL 3A State Champions. Seven players in this year’s showcase have already committed to play collegiately at the Division-I level, and thirteen have combined to obtain over 72 Division-I offers from over 55 different schools including four ACC programs, four SEC programs, and three BIG XII programs. The #10 player in the Class of 2019 will also be showcased in the event.
Admission is $10, and it will grant access to all six games. As always, the Millbrook Winter Showcase is powered by Millard Kirk of Re/Max, and Phenom Hoop Report; both are in their third year of helping put on the event.
Game One, 12:30 PM. Freedom Christian (NC) vs. Southern Durham (NC)-
Southern Durham is fresh off of a second place finish in the HighSchoolOT.com Triangle Tip-Off Tournament where they fell by one point in the championship game to Millbrook. The Spartans are expected to be a powerhouse in the 3A ranks lead by the strong guard play of Jomaru Brown (17.0 PPG), and Antonio Daye (15.3 PPG). High-flying big man, Rashad Dixon will also be on display for coach Kendrick Hall’s team along with 6’7 Tyriq Burrus who scored fourteen points against EE Smith in his first game back from the gridiron.
Freedom Christian has been a staple in the Millbrook Winter Showcase for all three years, and they return a division-I commit in 6’8 forward Milos Supica. Supica has signed off to Quinnipiac University, and he is expected to be a key contributor for coach Dan Pruessner, and the Patriots who enter 1-3 on the season.
Game Two, 2:00 PM. Myrtle Beach Christian (SC) vs. Neuse Christian (NC)-
Back for a third straight Millbrook Winter Showcase are the Lions of Neuse Christian Academy. Lead by UNC Greensboro commit Kaleb Hunter, head coach Scottie Richardson’s high octane offense will make the trip up Falls of the Neuse Road to battle Richmond signee Bryce Schneider, and Myrtle Beach Christian.
6’3 sophomore Michael Green leads the Saints in scoring through their first eight games of the season, with 6’2 senior Justin Busby right on his heels. Busby enters the Millbrook Winter Showcase holding offers from Army, and VMI. Maurice Wilcox is a junior guard to look out for on Neuse Christian as he dropped 37 points just a night ago for the 1-3 Lions.
Game Three, 3:30 PM. Farmville Central (NC) vs. East Chapel Hill (NC)-
Guards will rule the roost at 3:30 PM as Tyler Maye, and the reigning 2A State Champion Farmville Central Jaguars will take on Carter Collins and the East Chapel Hill Wildcats. Standing 6’3, Maye was a force to be reckoned with last year as his 23.6 PPG helped lead Farmville Central to a 28-0 record, and since he has picked up offers from UNC Charlotte, Kennesaw State, Winthrop, High Point, and New Hampshire.
East Chapel Hill returns their top six scorers and rebounders from a season ago headlined by 6’2 senior point guard Carter Collins. With over 1,100 career points already under his belt including 22.7 PPG last season, Collins who is already off to a fast start with 22.8 PPG this season, has signed with Davidson College. Nick DeCapite is also averaging in double figures for the 4-2 Wildcats.
Game Four, 5:00 PM. West Florence (SC) vs. AC Flora (SC)-
Supremacy in the Palmetto State is on the line at 5:00 PM when West Florence (SC) takes on the reigning SCHSL 3A State Champions in AC Flora. If you’re looking for high-major star power, this is the game for you.
4A All-State performer, Jalen Cameron leads West Florence into the matchup after averaging 19.3 PPG last season. The 6’4 point guard is a four-year varsity member and he currently holds offers from Towson, and Maryland-Eastern Shore. Only a member of the Class of 2018, 6’5 Sharone Wright Jr., the son of former Philadelphia 76er first round pick, Sharone Wright Sr. currently holds a slew offers from California, Duquesne, Georgia, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, VCU, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Old Dominion, Auburn, UCF, and Kansas State. West Florence also features 6’9, 260 lb. Chris Wilson, and 6’7, 190 lb. Juan Perez up front.
After winning it all at the 3A level last year, AC Flora makes the jump to the 4A classification with four of their starters returning. 6’3 2017 guard James Reese currently holds offers from James Madison, and South Carolina State after scoring a team-leading 17 points in last year’s state championship game. 6’9, 235 lb. 2017 forward Deshawn Thomas currently fields offers from UNC Wilmington, Florida Gulf Coast, South Carolina State, and James Madison while his 6’7 2019 teammate, Christian Brown has already been offered by Kansas, Florida, Western Kentucky, College of Charleston, Tennessee, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Georgia State, Auburn, Clemson, Wake Forest, Oklahoma State, and Georgia Southern. Brown is a five-star recruit according to ESPN.com.
Game Five, 6:30 PM. Garner (NC) vs. Northwest Guilford (NC)-
Two of the top 4A teams in the state of North Carolina will clash at 6:30 PM when Eastern Regional Finalist, Garner takes on Western Regional Semi-Finalist, Northwest Guilford. Redemption is on the line for the Trojans who fell 90-80 to Northwest this June in the Powerade State Games of North Carolina Gold Medal Game.
6’5 2018 forward, Kenyon Burt averaged a double-double last year for Garner, and 6’4 2017 wing Alex Reed is a four-year starter who holds an offer from Western Carolina. Reed currently leads the Trojans in scoring with over 20 PPG including a game-high 27 in Garner’s most recent win at Millbrook. 6’5 2018 sharp-shooter Demetric Horton, and 6’0 explosive 2018 guard Trayvon Ferrell are other players to watch for on Eddie Gray’s 3-0 squad.
Northwest returns four of their top five leading scorers from a year ago headlined by 6’4 2018 guard Tre Turner. Turner, the brother of current Memphis Grizzlie PJ Hairston currently fields offers from North Carolina A&T, Appalachian State, Western Carolina, UNC Greensboro, and Yale. On the gridiron, Turner has also picked up numerous offers as a wide receiver from schools such as Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, NC State, West Virginia, UNC, Miami, Florida State, East Carolina, and South Carolina.
Running the point for the Vikings is 5’10 2017 guard Jalen Spicer who has been offered by Florida International, UNC Greensboro, North Carolina A&T, and Hampton. 6’5 2017 forward Reggie Davis turned in a dozen double-doubles, along countless jaw-dropping dunks last season. 6’4 2017 forward Thomas Hennigan who is committed to play football at Appalachian State.
Game Six, 8:00 PM. Orange (NC) vs. Millbrook (NC)-
To cap off the action-packed day of basketball at 8:00 PM will be host school, Millbrook against Orange High School. The Wildcats enter the matchup at 4-1 behind the lights out shooting of 6’5 senior Patrick Dorsey who is averaging just over 22 points per contest. The 2-2 Panthers are paced by one of the most exciting point guards in the state of North Carolina in Connor Crabtree who is averaging 26 PPG, and is signed to UNC Asheville. Orange also features 6’6 forward Logan Vosburg, a Roanoke College commit who is averaging a double-double this season.
Entering it’s third year, the Millbrook Basketball Winter Showcase has already seen some of the area’s top talent descend upon Raleigh for some of the most thrilling games of the year in the state. Previous athletes to compete in the Millbrook Showcase include, East Carolina’s Kentrell Barkley, Longwood’s Juan Munoz, Buffalo’s Quate McKenzie, Campbell’s Chris Clemons, and NC State’s five-star recruit, Dennis Smith Jr.. For more information on the Millbrook Winter Showcase, you can follow the Wildcats on social media via Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram at @MillbrookMBB, or you can visit their website at MillbrookBasketball.com