2024 Hoggard Holiday Classic Boys Preview
Daily Schedule
Friday, December 27
Noon: Cape Fear Academy (8-6) vs. Laney (5-2) in James Hebbe Gym
1:30 p.m.: East Bladen (4-5) vs. Croatan (6-2) in James Hebbe Gym
3 p.m.: Ashley (5-3) vs. Cary (4-6) in in Sheila Boles Gym
4:30 p.m.: New Hanover (6-2) vs. Pine Lake Prep (8-1) in Sheila Boles Gym
6 p.m.: First Flight (4-2) vs. South Mecklenburg (5-6) in James Hebbe Gym
7:30 p.m.: Hoggard (7-1) vs. Franklin Academy (8-3) in Sheila Boles Gym
Saturday, December 28
Noon: Cape Fear Academy vs. Croatan in Sheila Boles Gym
1:30 p.m.: East Bladen vs. Franklin Academy in James Hebbe Gym
3 p.m.: Ashley vs. Pine Lake Prep in James Hebbe Gym
4:30 p.m.: New Hanover vs. First Flight in Sheila Boles Gym
6 p.m.: Laney vs. South Mecklenburg in James Hebbe Gym
7:30 p.m.: Hoggard vs. Cary in Sheila Boles Gym
Monday, December 30
11 a.m.: Cape Fear Academy vs. Pine Lake Prep in James Hebbe Gym
12:30: Laney vs. Cary in Sheila Boles Gym
3:30 p.m.: Hoggard vs. First Flight in Sheila Boles Gym
3:30 p.m.: Ashley vs. Croatan in James Hebbe Gym
Event outlook
***Click here to view a record book from the event***
Fans that like to see the ball go in the hoop could be in for a fun three days. Nine of the 12 teams in this year’s field average more than 60 points. The top three – Croatan (79.5), First Flight (77.8) and New Hanover (76.0) – all average more than 75.
The opening day has several intriguing matchups, including the first game between Cape Fear Academy (8-6) and Laney (5-2). Despite being less than 10 miles apart, the programs haven’t met in at least two decades.
Defending 4A runner-up New Hanover (6-2) meets Pine Lake Prep (8-1) at 4:30 p.m. The Pride advanced to the third round of the 2A playoffs a season ago and currently have the No. 3 RPI in the 2A West. New Hanover as the No. 8 RPI in the 4A East, but that number will certainly rise as the season goes on.
Four other teams have top-10 RPIs – Hoggard (No. 5 in 4A East), Laney (No. 7 in 4A East), First Flight (No. 8 in 3A East) and Croatan (No. 9 in 3A East).
Both the single-game and tournament scoring records that were set by Will James Jr. of Holly Springs last season will likely be challenged. James Jr. scored 41 points against Ashley and had 87 points in three days.
First Flight senior Mason Dobie is a scoring machine, who is going to surpass 2,000 career points very soon. He is averaging 33.5 points through six games, including a pair of 40-point performances. Dobie knocked down an incredible 11 3-pointers in the season opener against Hunt.
Dobie will put his skills on display against a pair of local teams – New Hanover (Saturday) and Hoggard (Monday). The Wildcats and Vikings are tied with Holly Springs for most all-time wins in the event with five.
Trey Jones from Croatan is another 1,000-point scorer in the field. The senior is averaging 22.9 points, including a season-high 30 against East Carteret on December 3.
Team stats and 15 players to watch
Team points per game
Croatan: 79.5
First Flight: 77.8
New Hanover: 76.0
Pine Lake Prep: 69.1
Hoggard: 67.5
Franklin Academy: 63.7
Cape Fear Academy: 63.4
Cary: 60.8
South Mecklenburg: 60.8
Ashley: 55.1
Laney: 53.9
East Bladen: 47.0
Team points per game against
Laney: 45.0
Cape Fear Academy: 48.6
East Bladen: 49.6
Hoggard: 49.8
Ashley: 50.8
Pine Lake Prep: 53.0
New Hanover: 53.5
Franklin Academy: 54.3
Croatan: 55.8
Cary: 59.5
South Mecklenburg: 64.5
First Flight: 65.2
15 Players to watch
Senior guard Rodmik Allen, New Hanover: Two-time reigning Coastal Preps Co-Player of the Year is one of the best guards in the state. He’s averaging 16.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.7 steals. Allen has continued to improve as a shooter and is making 36 percent of his 3-pointers this season (15 of 42).
Sophomore guard Kareem Anderson, Cape Fear Academy: The youngster gets downhill as well as any player in the area. Through 14 games, Anderson is averaging 13.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists. He’s shooting 53 percent on 2-point shots (76 of 143).
Senior forward Nolan Billings, New Hanover: Billings has only reached double figures in three of the Wildcats’ six games, but he’s shooting 60 percent (35 of 60) from the field. Expect the Wildcats to get him some more touches on the block this weekend.

New Hanover’s Nolan Billings. [Tim Hower/Coastal Preps]
Senior guard Mason Dobie, First Flight: Through six games, Dobie is averaging an incredible 33.5 points while shooting 56 percent from the field (67 of 120). According to MaxPreps, the only player in the state averaging more points in Lincolnton’s LJ Smith (35.5). He opened the season by scoring 49 points in an 84-64 win over Hunt and followed that up with a 45-point performance in a three-point loss against Wilson Prep.
Junior guard Jim Gatehouse, South Mecklenburg: The 6-foot-4 wing is one of three players on the team who averages double figures. He leads the Sabres at 16.2 points and is second in rebounds at 5.1. Gatehouse shoots 39 percent from 3-point range (27 of 69) and 83 percent from free throw line (45 of 54).
Freshman guard Gary Grear, Pine Lake Prep: Grear has made an immediate impact by averaging 11.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. When he gets to the free throw line, he doesn’t miss (25 of 27).
Senior guard Nate Jarrell, Ashley: It’s been a great start to the season for the veteran, who has surpassed the 15-point mark in five of Ashley’s eight contests. Jarrell is averaging 15.3 points and 2.1 assists.

Ashley’s Nate Jarrell. [Tim Hower/Coastal Preps]
Junior guard Colin Lamb, Laney: Leads the Buccaneers in points (12.0), rebounds (5.4), assists (3.0) and steals (2.3). Lamb is shooting 45 percent from the field (35 of 78). He has scored 35 points and made 15 of 28 shots over the past two games.
Sophomore guard Kannon McBride, Croatan: Along with Trey Jones, give the Cougars a really solid 1-2 punch. McBride scored a career-high 29 points in back-to-back wins over Havelock and East Carteret. He’s shooting 50 percent from the field (56 of 111) and is averaging 19.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.1 assists.
Sophomore guard Hunter McGrath, Hoggard: Talented shooter has already made 65 3-pointers in just 35 career games. He’s averaging 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.4 steals this season. McGrath scored a career-high 24 points in a 57-42 victory over West Brunswick on December 13.
Senior guard Jonathan Peery, Cary: Has increased his scoring averaging from 5.6 as a junior to 15.5 this season. Peery is shooting 47 percent from the field (44 of 94) and 34 percent from 3-point range (15 of 44). He’s coming off a career-high 26 points in a 72-71 win over Apex on December 13.

Cary’s Jonathan Peery. [Tim Hower/Coastal Preps]
Junior forward Will Seward, Hoggard: The 6-foot-5 forward is a Swiss Army Knife who can do a little bit of everything. Through eight games, he is leading the team in points (14.5) and rebounds (6.5), while shooting 54 percent from the field (51 of 95).