Eastern Plains 2-A Conference Preview

The public school basketball season is just around the corner as programs across North Carolina begin to prepare for a shortened campaign. In the Eastern Plains 2-A conference, several teams will have a shot to make the playoffs in a limited field. After all, all six conference members made to the state playoffs last season and they all finished with double digit wins. Who are some of the contenders in a conference that has excellent girls basketball? Prep Girls Hoops NC takes a look at the top players and teams in the EPC. <strong>Farmville Central</strong> The Jaguars should be favored to win the Eastern Plains 2-A conference after another great season in 2019-2020. They won their second consecutive regional title and were named co-state champions of the 2-A division. Farmville Central finished with a 25-3 record and returns all but one starter from last years squad led by high major 2022 prospect [player_tooltip player_id="116895" first="Amiya" last="Joyner"]. Joyner holds offers from several ACC and SEC programs and is sure to have an excellent junior year. The Jaguars also have Catabwa commit [player_tooltip player_id="201026" first="Janiya" last="Foskey"] in the frontcourt along with 2022 standout [player_tooltip player_id="116892" first="Journee" last="McDaniel"] and 2023 guard Kalyn Baker. <strong>North Pitt</strong> North Pitt has been one of the states most consistent programs winning state titles in 2016 and 2018 with star guards that went on to play in the collegiate ranks. The Panthers have another one that’ll likely do the same in 2024 standout Zamareya Jones who already holds offers from ECU and Ole Miss. Jones and 2022 prospects J’Nadia Maye and Aquarius Pettaway form yet another excellent trio for North Pitt, one of many teams looking to end Farmville Central’s run atop this conference. <strong>SouthWest Edgecombe</strong> Another program that wins every year is SouthWest Edgecombe and they’ll certainly have another good season in 2021. They’re led by 2021 guard Jada Battle who is starting to pick up offers from quality JUCO programs across NC like Louisburg and Fayetteville Tech. Expect her to have a big season for the Cougars as they look to challenge near the top of this conference. <strong>North Johnston</strong> The Panthers are another team that made the 2-A state playoffs last season after making a great run to close last season. They’re led by 2021 guard Arial Pearce and while they may not have the depth, this team plays with a lot of energy on both ends and will give some teams trouble. <strong>Nash Central</strong> Nash Central returns nearly their entire rotation from last seasons 7-19 team, but most of their wins came in conference play. They will be led by 2023 prospect Destiny Anstead who led the Bulldogs in scoring and rebounding last year as a freshman. This team will need her to have another big campaign if they want to be a player in a difficult conference to win games in. <strong>Beddingfield</strong> The Bruins finished second in the conference last year, but will have to replace standout post player Makayla Everette. They’ll return a slew of 2023 prospects, including Daneesha Briggs, that’ll have to grow up quickly if they want to get back to their 18-8 mark from last season.