Two new teams, one led by an eighth-grader, join Observer’s Sweet 16 polls this week
This week, two new teams join The Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16 girls’ and boys’ high school basketball rankings.
The Sweet 16, which began in 1984, is the region’s oldest prep poll.
The Observer’s poll ranks high school basketball teams in counties covered by the media outlet. It takes into account strength of schedule, the overall strength of a classification, team success within that classification, and head-to-head competition between teams ranked in the Sweet 16. It does not consider how ranked teams would fare against each other — or other unranked teams — unless those teams actually meet.
Observer-area teams are in the following counties: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Union. Teams from York and Lancaster counties in South Carolina also are eligible.
▪ Concord Academy (16-2) joins the girls’ poll this week. The team has won seven straight games and is led by Justice Alexander, a 6-foot-1 eighth-grader who is averaging 20.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
▪ Covenant Day (14-6) joins the boys’ poll. Covenant Day has won 10 of its past 11 games, including a 63-57 upset of reigning NCISAA Division I state champion Christ School on Saturday. Covenant Day center Michael Marcus Jr,. a transfer from Carmel Christian, leads the team in scoring (12.9 points) and rebounding (7.2 per game).
Boys’ rankings
| Rk. | School | Cl. | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1. | Myers Park | 4A | 15-2 | 1 |
| 2. | North Mecklenburg | 4A | 13-3 | 2 |
| 3. | Central Cabarrus | 3A | 17-0 | 3 |
| 4. | Weddington | 4A | 15-1 | 4 |
| 5. | Lake Norman | 4A | 15-1 | 5 |
| 6. | Providence Day | IND | 17-6 | 10 |
| 7. | Cannon School | IND | 19-7 | 7 |
| 8. | Chambers | 4A | 11-6 | 11 |
| 9. | United Faith | IND | 17-6 | 9 |
| 10. | Covenant Day | IND | 14-6 | NR |
| 11. | Northside Christian | IND | 18-9 | 8 |
| 12. | Victory Christian | IND | 19-6 | 12 |
| 13. | South Mecklenburg | 4A | 14-2 | 7 |
| 14. | Ashbrook | 3A | 14-2 | 14 |
| 15. | Catawba Ridge | 4A | 17-2 | 15 |
| 16. | Hopewell | 4A | 11-3 | 16 |
Girls’ rankings
| Rk. | School | Cl. | Rec. | Prvs. |
| 1. | Lake Norman | 4A | 14-1 | 1 |
| 2. | Charlotte Catholic | 4A | 13-3 | 2 |
| 3. | Mallard Creek | 4A | 13-3 | 3 |
| 4. | Cannon School | IND | 14-7 | 4 |
| 5. | Independence | 4A | 14-4 | 5 |
| 6. | Myers Park | 4A | 17-0 | 5 |
| 7. | JM Robinson | 3A | 10-3 | 7 |
| 8. | East Lincoln | 3A | 15-1 | 8 |
| 9. | North Mecklenburg | 4A | 14-3 | 9 |
| 10. | Hickory Ridge | 4A | 14-2 | 10 |
| 11. | Marvin Ridge | 4A | 15-3 | 12 |
| 12. | Providence Day | IND | 15-6 | 13 |
| 13. | Ardrey Kell | 4A | 12-4 | 11 |
| 14. | Rock Hill South Pointe | 4A | 17-2 | 14 |
| 15. | Rock Hill | 5A | 17-3 | 15 |
| 16. | Concord Academy | IND | 16-2 | NR |
This story was originally published January 23, 2024 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Two new teams, one led by an eighth-grader, join Observer’s Sweet 16 polls this week."
