Highest-rated Class of 2026 Men's Basketball Recruits From North Carolina

zhengzaishuru // Shutterstock

Highest-rated Class of 2026 men's basketball recruits from North Carolina

From the roaring crowd to squeaking sneakers on the hardwood, high school basketball is a beloved American pastime.

The sport's school roots date back to its 19th-century beginnings. After all, James Naismith invented basketball as a physical education activity. The concept of a state championship for high school basketball soon followed. Illinois, for example, held a state championship as early as 1908. Other states with early high school basketball championships include Indiana (first championship in 1911) and Wisconsin (1916).

Now, the sport is etched into the ethos of the American high school. Over 900,000 student athletes play on their high school basketball team, according to 2023-24 school year data compiled by the National Federation of State High School Associations. That figure represents over 18,000 schools competing across all 50 states, grinding out games in high school gyms on dark winter nights.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated Class of 2026 basketball recruits from North Carolina using data from 247Sports. Athletes are ranked by their 247Sports Composite ranking.

You may also like: Highest-rated Class of 2025 football recruits from North Carolina

1 / 10

Zamrznuti tonovi // Shutterstock

#10. Rivers Knight (PF)

- National rank: #196 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #36
- Offers: High Point, Illinois, LSU, Mississippi State, VCU
- High school: Combine Academy (Charlotte, NC)

2 / 10

Andrew Angelov // Shutterstock

#9. Justin Caldwell (PF)

- National rank: #186 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #34
- Offers: Maryland, Charlotte, East Carolina, Hampton, High Point
- High school: Berean Baptist Academy (Fayetteville, NC)

3 / 10

Svet foto // Shutterstock

#8. Dionte Neal (PG)

- National rank: #155 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #16
- Offers: Appalachian State, College of Charleston, Hampton, High Point, North Carolina A&T
- High school: Reidsville (Reidsville, NC)

4 / 10

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#7. Yohance Connor (CG)

- National rank: #146 (3 stars)
- Position rank: #12
- Offers: Arizona State, Auburn, Central Michigan, Coastal Carolina, High Point
- High school: Combine Academy (Charlotte, NC)

5 / 10

sportoakimirka // Shutterstock

#6. Kobe Edwards (PG)

- National rank: #136 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #14
- Offers: Appalachian State, College of Charleston, East Carolina, High Point, Illinois
- High school: Greenfield School (Wilson, NC)

You may also like: Teen drug use varies by state. Here's how North Carolina compares.

6 / 10

matimix // Shutterstock

#5. Markus Kerr (SG)

- National rank: #116 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #17
- Offers: Appalachian State, Charlotte, College of Charleston, High Point, Mississippi State
- High school: Chambers (Charlotte, NC)

7 / 10

KAMPUS // Shutterstock

#4. Josiah Sanders (SF)

- National rank: #100 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #37
- Offers: Appalachian State, California, College of Charleston, East Carolina, George Mason
- High school: Berean Baptist Academy (Fayetteville, NC)

8 / 10

TMP - An Instant of Time // Shutterstock

#3. Kohl Rosario (SG)

- National rank: #96 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #14
- Offers: Baylor, Duke, Texas A&M, Kansas, Florida State
- High school: Moravian Prep (Hudson, NC)

9 / 10

Brocreative // Shutterstock

#2. Kendre Harrison (C)

- National rank: #95 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #10
- College: Oregon
- Offers: Oregon, Akron, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn
- High school: Reidsville (Reidsville, NC)

10 / 10

hxdbzxy // Shutterstock

#1. Cole Cloer (SF)

- National rank: #33 (4 stars)
- Position rank: #14
- Offers: North Carolina, Florida, Georgetown, Illinois
- High school: Caldwell Academy (Greensboro, NC)

You may also like: How enrollment of students with disabilities compares in North Carolina