Season Preview: 2027 Centers to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven months can travel fast in the high school and AAU basketball universe. When a new season is on the verge of tipping off, it can feel as if state champions were crowned yesterday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the last several days, Prep Girls Hoops has previewed the upcoming season across North Carolina by putting a lens on many of the brightest names in the statewide scene. As of late, we have placed an emphasis on the Hoop State's sophomore class – particularly guards and forwards.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, we turn our attention to those who do a great deal of their work next to the basket.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["691830"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671eaf987a012"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It was in summer of last year when the offers began rolling in for this talented young standout for 4A North Meck. The list of schools that have already have Joseph on their radar reads like a who's who. UNC-Wilmington, North Carolina A&amp;T, UNC-Charlotte, Furman, Wake Forest and Marquette have all offered Joseph. The Vikings compiled a 23-6 record in 2023-24 along with a 12-3 mark in the 3A/4A Queen City Conference. Joseph saw playing time in all 29 games that North Meck played in last season and averaged a double-double of 16 points and 10.1 rebounds in addition to 4.4 blocks and 2.6 steals a contest. While she can play as a traditional big, she also can give a team minutes as a four. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["755828"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671eaf987a06b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">South Garner HS is one of the newer high schools in North Carolina as it was completed a mere six years ago. Moore has been playing at the high school level since she was in the eighth grade. Last season in her freshman campaign for the 4A Titans, she also averaged a double-double with 11.8 points and 10.2 rebounds in 26 matchups. Moore played a major role in South Garner having the most successful season in its short history as the Titans put together a 19-8 record and a 10-4 mark in the 4A Greater Neuse River Conference. She was a major reason why the Titans qualified for the 4A state tournament for only the second time in its young history – and only were defeated by eventual state champion Rolesville. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["890685"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671eaf987a0b8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Last season, Stamper was in the state championship spotlight with 1A Cherokee. In the Braves' 1A state contest against East Columbus, Stamper lifted her team to victory with a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds. She keeps a full athletic plate as she also competes in volleyball, softball and track and field alongside basketball. For the season, Stamper wore Cherokee's uniform in all 30 games the Braves were involved in. Stamper posted average numbers of 10 points and 8.3 rebounds along with 2.6 steals and 1.3 blocks. Cherokee finished 2023-24 with a 29-1 record and did not drop a contest against a North Carolina team all season. The lone loss was against Choctaw Central in December.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["890646"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671eaf987a0fc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Humphrey has already worn several uniforms throughout her grassroots career. Her AAU career has seen her run with North Carolina GEMS, Carolina Hornets United and Team Hickory. One of the premier young interior defenders in the Hoop State, Humphrey posted average numbers of 9.2 rebounds, 6.6 points and 1.9 blocks last season. Stuart W. Cramer has been playing plenty of winning basketball as of late. Following a 22-win campaign for the Storm in 2022-23, Humphrey helped her Stuart W. Cramer assembling to a 24-6 record, a 13-1 record in the 3A Big South conference and a berth in the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->