Published Nov 30, 2020
Early Season Prospect Watch
David Sisk  •  TarHeelIllustrated
Staff Writer

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High school basketball is underway in certain parts of the country. Although state sanctioned programs in North Carolina haven't tipped off yet, there are still a few notable underclassmen from the Tar Heel State who have already gotten their 2020-21 season off to a blazing start.

These four names are all underclassmen, have high major offers, and are names basketball fans throughout the region will be extremely familiar with before they graduate.

Class of 2022

Brandon White is a name North Carolina fans might want to put on their radar. The 6-foot-10 post player from Winston Salem Christian is getting a ton of college interest and has picked up offers from Maryland and North Carolina State in the past week. They join East Carolina, South Florida, Texas A&M, Tulsa, Virginia Tech, and Western Kentucky. The big man who has just tuned sixteen told Jacob Polacheck of Zagblog that Wake Forest is in heavy contact, but he is hearing from the Tar Heels more than anyone. He is also being contacted bt Cincinnati, Illinois, Louisville, and West Virginia.

White has gotten off to a strong start in the early part foo the season. He had 20 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks in a win over New Faith Christian He also had 18 points in a losing effort against Robert Dillingham and Combine Academy.

Class of 2023

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Mikey Williams needs no introduction. His much ballyhooed transfer from California to Lake Norman Christian School in Huntersville has not subsided with the beginning of the season. Plainly put, the 6-foot-1 sophomore has put the school on the national basketball map.

Their season began back on November 14, and they had played five games before going to Atlanta this past weekend for the Holiday Hoopsgiving. Saturday night's matchup against Kell High School out of Georgia has already gone viral and is being called by many the best high game nationally so far in the early part of the season.

Kell was led by 5-star senior guard, Scoot Henderson. Williams did not disappoint despite an 88-77 loss. He scored 26 in the heavyweight matchup of big-time point guards. Williams was 10 of 19 from the field and 3 of 8 from deep.

Williams legend is just beginning to grow. His 40-point barrage on November 21 against The Burlington School already had basketball fans in the state buzzing. He had three other outings of 19, 22, and 22 points respectively.

When Rivals does release its initial rankings for the Class of 2023, expect Williams to be in the top five. He already holds over thirty offers and picked up another from LSU last week. They join the likes of Arizona, Kansas, Oregon, Texas Tech, UCLA, and plenty of others.

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If Williams made headlines by moving to the state of North Carolina, Caleb Foster received his own share of ink by transferring out of state to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. The small school in the rural southwestern part of the state is a nationally known basketball factory. It also has already played seven games this season.

In seven blowout wins Foster is averaging 16.6 points, 5.6 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game. Early on, Foster has shot 60.9% from the field, a sizzling 63.6% from three-point territory, and 75 percent from the line. His most recent game, a 21-point performance in a 121-42 in over Vision Academy is his high water mark of the season so far.

The sophomore claims offers from Clemson, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest.

Robert Dillingham is another underclassman who is building quite the resume thanks to some big-time performances under the bright lights. He got the buzz going in a pre-season scrimmage against TSF with 28 second half points on the way to 40 for the game. He followed that up with 24 points and 4 assists versus Oak Hill, as well as another 24 point outing against Winston Salem Christian, and 15 points against Moravian Academy.

Dillingham already has a wide variety of offers that stretches from blue bloods to mid-majors. Kansas has issued an invite as well as Florida, Clemson, Pitt, Ole Miss, Wichita State, SMU, DePaul, South Florida, Middle Tennessee State, Winthrop, and Tennessee Tech.

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