Triad Area Best Teams in 2021

With the loss of the playoffs and championship games this season it is time to turn to next season and hope we get the chance to resume the game we all love. Here are the top pre-season picks for Best teams in the Triad area for the upcoming season. If you can get out and watch them all play next season they will surely be worth the trip as they are as talented as any teams in NC.   Southeast Guilford- Last season 30-1/12-0 Conference The best team in the triad over the last two seasons with 30 plus wins and 2 state championship appearances winning one and didn’t get to defend this year. For most teams it would be hard to replace a bona fide superstar in [player_tooltip player_id="116867" first="Kennedi" last="Simmons"] but this team can and will. The fact is they will again be the best team and will again have the best player in [player_tooltip player_id="116901" first="Raven" last="Preston"] especially in the Triad and maybe in the state. Preston is hands down the most complete and versatile player in the state and has to be one of the best in the nation. There is nothing she can’t do on either end of the floor and when you add to that her confidence and grit from winning and playing in so many big games she is a superstar. But she is just part of the puzzle also returning is Makayla Poole who is the glue for the team and does whatever is needed and just has no off button. She anchors the defense, controls the paint, and grabs any and all rebounds on both ends and is one of the best finishers in the lane in the area. Add to those two proven players such as Sydney Roberts honorable mention All-Area player, Mya Lewis a combo guard that shoots the ball extremely well, Nyree Bell a 5’11” big and Milliayna Redd a scoring guard who also shoots well and is a defensive stopper and you start to understand why they will be the best team in the area and in the state which could lead to another 30 win season and an appearance in the state championship game and don’t be surprised if they are cutting down the nets when it is all said and done they are just that good.   Greensboro Day School- 27-4/8-0 Conference It is impossible to leave off a team that won 27 games last season and was undefeated in the conference and is not losing any players from that team. Hard to believe that a team that had as much success as they had last season gets to do it all again with the same players each a year older, stronger, more mature, and experienced. To prove that this team will be the one to beat in their conference and in the state they are returning a nucleus of players that will be seniors next season who have been there and done that and are ready to finish their career with a state championship and they are talented enough to do just that. Leading the team will be a proven set of senior guards in 5’9” First Team All-Area versatile wing Je’ Bria Fullwood who averaged a double-double last season and was the conference POY she has the skills to just take over the game on both ends of the floor and 5’6” Second Team All-Area combo guard Hailey Blackwell who can play either guard spot and is comfortable scoring going to the basket, in transition or shooting the jumper she is a defensive specialist and anchors and leads the team’s defensive schemes. Adding to these two special guards the paint is manned by 6’4” Honorable Mention All-Area center Paula Graichen who is athletic and is a force in the paint on both ends along with her size and inside play she also possesses the ability to step out and make the mid-range shot to make her even more difficult to contain. Solid role players make up the rest of their roster and all these players have gained a year more experience both in the system as well as playing together so they are more than capable of contributing when called upon. This team is going to start out the season as favorites and so they should and anything short of a berth in the state championship game will be a tough pill to swallow and very surprising to us all.   Dudley High School- Last season 20-8/9-1 Conference This team has been one of the best in the Triad for years and next season doesn’t look to be any different. Though they lose 3 seniors they return a solid nucleus in the 9 players they return off this season’s 20 win team. Leading the team will be Quinzia Fulmore a 6’3” 3rd team All-Area center that has improved each year and is ready to make an impact and lead this team and expectations are she will be a double-double average player this season. With her size and athleticism she will control the painted area on both ends of the floor and give offensive players venturing into the lane difficulty trying to shoot over her length. While she is controlling the lane area they have two quality guards with good size in 5’7” Marissa Wooten who shoots the ball well and is special in transition and 5’6” Anayah Underwood a guard with solid skills and an excellent defender. The rest of the returning players include another big in 5’10” Imani Thomas who is developing into a solid big and Chelsie Powe the only freshman on this year team who will be ready to contribute. They will be athletic and apply a lot of pressure to any team so expect this team to have an even better season this year and be a difficult out when the state playoffs roll around.   Northern Guilford High School- Last season 21-7/12-2 Conference One of the powerhouse programs in the area in the last few years with multiple 20 plus win seasons and many deep runs into the state playoffs and appearance in the state championship game. They have produced many college players including Division 1 prospects. Next season is poised to produce another stellar year after the loss of only 2 seniors and a strong returning cast. Leading that cast will be Taylor Haynes an Honorable Mention All-Area combo guard that is dead eye knock down 3 point shooter and has solid all-around skills and a high basketball IQ. Also returning is Milan Gordon a 5’9” guard who can play many positions and also is a good shooter and great in transition and getting to the basket with either hand. Leading a trifecta of bigs over 5’10” is Jadyn Newsome an Honorable Mention All-Area player who averaged 12 points this season with a solid post game that is evolving and a nice mid-range shot that makes her difficult to contain. She is a good passer for her size and moves really well for her size. Rounding out this talented trio is 5’10” Megan Abbott a developing talent and 6’0” Abby Mulry another solid big that is getting better each game and each practice. With this core of talented players returning and a few more reserves big things will be expected of this team and at least on paper they look more than capable of living up to or exceeding those expectations.   Bishop McGuinness High School- 24-5/8-2 Conference A small school that has put together a solid program and with the influx of young talent they will be one of the most talented teams in the area and state. A loss sometimes is not the worst thing for a young team as it makes them hungry, it gives them the experience of a big game and it teaches them what it takes to get to that next level and that is the case here with this young team that lost a close game in the East Regional Finals last year. Losing only 1 senior next year and returning the majority of their scorers and starters make them a sure bet to be back in the Regional Finals again next season. Leading the returning players is a talented sister duo who made an immediate impact upon arriving last season as freshmen. The Chappell sisters are the reason this team is going to be on the map for the next few years as they are super talented and skilled and now with a year of experience big things are expected this season. Charley is a 5’6” Honorable Mention All-Area guard that exhibits good skills and an above-average basketball IQ for her age who shoots it well and controls all the action while Tate is a 5’10” Honorable Mention All-Area versatile player who has excellent offensive skills both inside the paint and as a shooter and like her sister is ahead of other players her age in her understanding of the game. Together these two led their team last season and are set to do the same this season with a talented supporting cast to assist led by Michelle Petrangeli a 5’9” Honorable Mention All-Area guard who will provide quality veteran leadership to this young team as well as being a solid player with the ability to play inside and out and is also a quality shooter, Alaila Kreuter another quality veteran player who can do it all including score the ball when needed, she is an excellent defensive player and plays the game with a quiet confident attitude which will serve well when you have such a young team finally they have another developing big in 5’10” Katie Deal. These girls are the real deal and expect them to return to and avenge their loss in the East Regional and don’t be surprised at all if they are hanging up a state championship banner in their gym when the season is over and done with.