J. Mike Blake - HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫)

@HighSchoolOT Sr Contributor ✍🏻🎙️🎥. HS educator since ‘18! 2022 NCHSAA Media Person of the Year. 14-time NCPA winner. Covered games at 300+ NC high schools.

[J. Mike Blake - HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫) @JMBpreps]

This isn't just high school basketball.

This isn't just any team.

These are the Lady Braves.

An entire nation rests on these players' shoulders.

A story that took me almost a year ⤵️

[HighSchoolOT @HighSchoolOT]

HighSchoolOT's Jamboree is returning to Wake Forest High School on August 14, where state title contenders in four different classifications will face their biggest preseason test 7 days before the season.

The event is brought to you by the United States Army, Wake Orthopaedics, and Talk it Out NC. 99.9 The Fan will broadcast from the event, and personalities Tim Donnelly and Dennis Cox will be performing the coin toss.

Tickets are available now for $15 on https://t.co/FOjrOdz27p. The event begins at 6:00 p.m.

Two of Rivals' top 56 prospects in the country, Xavier Hasan of Cardinal Gibbons and A.J. Randle of Garner, headline a group of a dozen Division I prospects.

Cardinal Gibbons faces Josiah Sturdivant and host school Wake Forest, while Garner is set to face Northern Nash, a team considered by many to be the favorite in 6A.

Defending 1A state champion Wilson Prep and 2A East contender Warren County face off in the first game, while reigning 8-4 second-round playoff teams South Johnston and Franklinton will challenge one another in the second game after returning much of the talent from last season.

For more information on the matchups and purchasing tickets, see here: https://t.co/6df6gQHaHU

[HighSchoolOT @HighSchoolOT]

Press Box: Hear from the next Commissioner of the NCHSAA, Brad Alford https://t.co/k6T1PBLHac

[J. Mike Blake - HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫) @JMBpreps]

@EvanGerike Fantastic job man. Your readers were lucky to have you!

[HighSchoolOT @HighSchoolOT]

Q&A with Brad Alford, the new NCHSAA Commissioner

In an episode of Press Box, HighSchoolOT spoke with the next commissioner of the NCHSAA
https://t.co/cgn7jKo50a

[J. Mike Blake - HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫) @JMBpreps]

@MicOnTheBlockNC Wasn’t talking about schools

[J. Mike Blake - HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫) @JMBpreps]

I’m a believer that 90% of players who make this move end up in the same place as they would if they didn’t make the move.

Page, for example, has been stamped since he was a freshman. He could’ve moved to Australia — he’s still going to be awesome at the next level.

[HighSchoolOT @HighSchoolOT]

North Carolina's class of 2027 originally had two top 10-ranked basketball players in the country, but now both have left for prep schools in Florida

N.C. still has three players ranked in 247Sports' top 100: RJ Moore of Ambassador Christian, Geren Holmes of The Burlington School, and King Kendrick of Combine Academy.

Latest basketball player movement: https://t.co/hTCfL1iFLa

[J. Mike Blake - HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫) @JMBpreps]

NC has had this for 20+ years

Weird that TEXAS didn’t already. Last time I was there it was 100 degrees at pitch black 11 pm

[Texas UIL @uiltexas]

Starting August 1, schools will implement mandatory UIL Heat Protocols and Procedures for all outdoor athletic and marching band activities.

The protocols require the use of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) readings to monitor environmental conditions and inform activity modifications when needed.

Thank you to the coaches, directors, athletic trainers and administrators across Texas who put student safety first every day!

Learn more and access heat illness prevention resources ➡️ https://t.co/wGFrI6PkHu

[HighSchoolOT @HighSchoolOT]

The sixth-annual HighSchoolOT boys lacrosse all-state team features 25 players making a second or third appearance on the team, including four who were repeat first-team selections. HighSchoolOT's 2025-26 All-State teams are presented by Talk It Out NC and First Carolina Bank.

There is a 20-player first, second, and third team, each with at least two goalies, three defenders, two long-stick midfielders, three midfielders, two faceoff specialists, and three attackers. The final five spots on each team do not have position requirements, allowing for the possibility of three goalies or five defenders, etc. to make the same team. There are also 40 honorable mention spots that have no position requirements.

Reclassified players are only eligible until they reach their fifth year of high school, meaning no fifth-year seniors can make the team.

The following athletes now have multiple appearances on the HSOT all-state boys lacrosse team in their careers:

3-time selections (4):
Tre Parrett, Northwest Guilford**
Cole Stankavage, Ardrey Kell**
Jay Cohn, Athens Drive**
Tyson Blalock, Millbrook*

2-time selections (21):
Jacob Fedich, Green Level*
Camden Hughes, Durham Academy**
Curry Jennings, Durham Academy*
Jake Bisbee, Greensboro Day
Sean Brennan, Greensboro Day
Chubbs Slater, Hough*
Tyler Comstock, Middle Creek*
Ben Silver, Northern Guilford*
Chris Lemons, R.J. Reynolds
Caden Gulbransen, Apex
Jack Pisciotta, Davie County*
Alex Gregoloff, Hough*
Jameson Dow, Christ School
Ciaran Murphy, Cardinal Gibbons*
Joe Hauck, Mooresville*
Crandall Wilkins, Charlotte Country Day
Owen Timperman, Charlotte Country Day
Lucas Shields, Laney
James Flanagan, Northwood
Barrett Swinson, Topsail*
Jonathon Barbee, Apex Friendship
*-career first-team selections

[J. Mike Blake - HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫) @JMBpreps]

@buck_coach Absolutely! Smoothest wing around. And youngest in his class is 🤯

[J. Mike Blake - HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫) @JMBpreps]

@buck_coach I mean it as a compliment bc I think he’ll thrive no matter where his HS stops are. But he’s probably in that 10% I’m talking about where a change of scenery is needed.

[J. Mike Blake - HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫) @JMBpreps]

Montrezl Harrell was briefly hooping on two channels at the same time — a TBT replay (UL alumni) on FS1 and the Big3 on CBS Sports Network.

Played his HS ball (first 3 years at least) at 1A North Edgecombe out in Leggett, NC

[J. Mike Blake - HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫) @JMBpreps]

Of the 10% that don't end up the same, I think it's 50/50 on who ends up better off and who ends up worse.

I've seen guys who needed a change of scenery in the worst way.

I've also seen guys whose development is stunted b/c they became a role player on a super team too early.

[HighSchoolOT @HighSchoolOT]

Brad Alford will lead the next era of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

The association announced on Thursday morning that Alford has been chosen to fill the role of Commissioner, which opened with the retirement of Que Tucker. He will be the eighth head of the NCHSAA in history.

Alford will begin a transition period with the Association on August 24, working alongside current Commissioner Que Tucker before officially assuming the role on October 1, 2026, upon Tucker's retirement. The transition process will allow Alford and Tucker to work together during the final weeks of Tucker's tenure to ensure a seamless leadership transition

Tucker, who announced her retirement earlier this year, will officially conclude her service as Commissioner on October 1 after more than four decades of service to education-based athletics in North Carolina.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome Brad Alford as the next Commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association,” NCHSAA President Mark Garrett said. “We were fortunate to have an exceptionally talented and competitive pool of candidates, but Alford set himself apart through his depth of experience and clear vision for the future of the NCHSAA."

Alford is no stranger to the NCHSAA. He spent nearly 15 years with the association, beginning as an intern in 2010 before serving in increasingly senior leadership roles, most recently as Assistant Commissioner for Sports, Championships, and Compliance. During his tenure with the Association, he helped oversee championship operations, sport administration, compliance, governance, and major statewide initiatives.

The leader currently serves as Director of the Office of Athletics for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), where he oversees statewide governance and administration of interscholastic athletics for North Carolina's public schools. He also serves as the State Superintendent's designee for interscholastic athletics and represents NCDPI on the NCHSAA Board of Directors. He began that role in 2025.

Read more: https://t.co/Lhy1fNw4Rm

[J. Mike Blake - HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫) @JMBpreps]

Brad Alford will be the @NCHSAA commish

Only the SIXTH different leader in the last 78 YEARS and fourth in the last 40
https://t.co/ap91u8qSEH

[J. Mike Blake - HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫) @JMBpreps]

@MPhillips331 @AndrewMarchand It wasn’t a contender until he bought it, to be fair.

[HighSchoolOT @HighSchoolOT]

The sixth-annual HighSchoolOT girls lacrosse all-state team features 43 players making a second, third, or fourth appearance on the team, including five who were repeat first-team selections. HighSchoolOT's 2025-26 All-State teams are presented by Talk It Out NC and First Carolina Bank.

There is a 20-player first, second, and third team, each with at least two goalies, four defenders, and 10 offensive players. The final four spots on each team do not have position requirements, allowing for the possibility of three goalies or five defenders, etc. to make the same team. There are also 40 honorable mention spots that have no position requirements.

[HighSchoolOT @HighSchoolOT]

The sixth-annual HighSchoolOT boys lacrosse all-state team features 26 players making a second or third appearance on the team, including four who were repeat first-team selections. HighSchoolOT's 2025-26 All-State teams are presented by Talk It Out NC and First Carolina Bank.

There is a 20-player first, second, and third team, each with at least two goalies, three defenders, two long-stick midfielders, three midfielders, two faceoff specialists, and three attackers. The final five spots on each team do not have position requirements, allowing for the possibility of three goalies or five defenders, etc. to make the same team. There are also 40 honorable mention spots that have no position requirements.

[HighSchoolOT @HighSchoolOT]

North Carolina's biggest football jamboree is bigger than ever.

The first HighSchoolOT Jamboree of 2026 will be played at the 10,000-seat First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary on Saturday, August 8.

BUY TICKETS NOW: https://t.co/0u9G3PKL6a

The event, brought to you by State Employees Credit Union, Talk it Out NC, the United States Army, and Wake Orthopaedics, features three defending state finalists: Millbrook, Middle Creek, and Hunt.

Perennial contenders in the 8A, 7A, and 6A classifications round out the field. Cardinal Gibbons, J.H. Rose, Rolesville, Southeast Raleigh, Southern Durham, Union Pines, and Wake Forest fans can get an early look at their 2026 teams.

Varsity matchups will start at 5:00 p.m. For the first time, JV matchups will be conducted an hour before. The JV scrimmages will be played in the stadium adjacent to First Horizon Stadium.

Admission to the event is $15 per person. Concessions will be available during the event. Parking is free. Fans are welcome to tailgate after the parking lot opens at 3:00 p.m.

For more on this event and to buy tickets, see this page: https://t.co/0u9G3PKL6a

[J. Mike Blake - HighSchoolOT (300+ 🏫) @JMBpreps]

Prediction: in 20 years playing on turf will be something only done in high schools and small colleges where $ to maintain it across multiple programs is too much

[Dennis Cox @TheFanRookie]

“It shows it can be done, right?” -Carolina Panthers guard Robert Hunt when asked about seeing NFL stadiums bring in grass fields for the World Cup, saying he prefers to play on natural grass.

[HighSchoolOT @HighSchoolOT]

Full team here: https://t.co/Pn4pMMEeBB