Paul McNeil Jr. asked his coach for the keys to the gym on Christmas Day as a ninth grader.
Most members of the boys’ basketball team at Richmond Senior High in Rockingham were at home with their families. Coach Donald Pettigrew heard from McNeil, who just wanted to put some shots up.
McNeil, now an N.C. State-bound high school graduate who scored 71 points in a game for the Raiders last season, spent about three hours in the gym on that Christmas as a freshman.
“He realized at an early age that to get where he wants to get, he had to work hard,” Pettigrew said. “He comes and works. His goal is to make it to the next level.”
Along with other standout basketball players from North Carolina, McNeil will be in action on Monday night.
All-Star teams including the top boys’ and girls’ basketball players from the east and west sides of the state will square off on Monday evening. Inside the Novant Health Field House at Greensboro Coliseum, the Girls’ All-Star Game tips at 6:30 p.m., with the Boys’ All-Star Game following around 8:30 p.m.
McNeil was one of three finalists for “Mr. Basketball,” awarded to the best high school boys’ basketball player in North Carolina. Fellow Wolfpack signee Zamareya Jones of North Pitt, among the finalists on the girls’ side for the “Ms. Basketball” title, is suiting up on Monday night as well.
Molly Burns, a recent star at Ardrey Kell who’s continuing her basketball career at USC Aiken, is the only player from the area named to the girls’ West team.
Chase and Carson Daniel of Central Cabarrus, Jalen Chambers of Mooresville and Santana Lynch of Lake Norman are on the boys’ West team.
Ziahmiya Adams, Vernon Malone
Tamia Darden, South Garner
Jasmine Felton, Northeastern
Zamareya Jones, North Pitt
Audra Hillman, Wake Forest
Laila Lewis, Rolesville
Laynie Smith, Chapel Hill
Kayla Starling, Cape Fear
Mikayla Taborn, Franklinton
Janna Tupuola, E.E. Smith
DeNaira Williams, E.E. Smith
Coach April Rose, Pamlico County
Coach Robert Duck II, South Central
Lauren Arnold, West Rowan
Sadie Badgett, North Surry
Molly Burns, Ardrey Kell
Alissa Cheek, Rosman
Ava Hairston, Mt. Tabor
Jasmine Harris, Northern Guilford
Kiersten Johnson, East Wilkes
Maslyn Mosbacher, Northwest Guilford
Audra Petty, Randleman
Hattie Sloyan, Page
Coach Angela Mayfield, Mt. Airy
Coach Scott Hartbarger, Franklin
Jayde Braswell, Hillside
Syncere Burnette, Wakefield
Ari Fulton, Westover
Tequan Holley, Bertie
Randall King, Northern Nash
Izeal Mallory, Northern Nash
Trey Manhertz, Green Level
Paul McNeil Jr., Richmond
Zack Noel, White Oak
Isaiah Upchurch, Southern Lee
Coach Henry Drake, Northern Nash
Coach Thurman Jordan, Rolesville
Jalen Chambers, Mooresville
Carson Daniel, Central Cabarrus
Chase Daniel, Central Cabarrus
Jamias Ferere, Southern Guilford
Richard Goods, Grimsley
Maurio Hanson Jr., Chambers
Jucqarie Love, Southern Guilford
Santana Lynch, Lake Norman
Jackson Sellers, Page
Jerquarius Stanback, Asheboro
Coach Darren Corbett, Grimsley
Coach Billy Phillips, TC Roberson
▪ Girls’ All-Star Game tips at 6:30 p.m.
▪ Boys’ All-Star Game afterward at roughly 8:30 p.m.
▪ Tickets available at EastWestAllStars.com. Novant Health Field House at Greensboro Coliseum
