These eight former N.C. high school basketball players qualified for the Final Four
N.C. State extended its Cinderella run into the Final Four with the help of a half dozen players that once suited up on high school courts in North Carolina.
Between the Wolfpack, and the Alabama Crimson Tide, a total of eight athletes will take the floor in Phoenix with roots to the Old North State.
Alabama
Davin Cosby, Word of God Christian Academy
Cosby, a freshman, appeared in 22 games this season for the Crimson Tide and posted an average of 3.6 points per game in 171 total minutes. Prior to his senior year of high school in 2022-23, he transferred out of his hometown of Richmond, VA to play a semester for Word of God where he averaged over 20 points a night. Prior to his second semester, he enrolled early at Alabama.
Jarin Stevenson, Seaforth/Northwood
Stevenson has seen some significant minutes for 'Bama in what would have been his senior season of high school. Another early enrollee, the 6-foot-11 forward enters the Final Four fresh off of the best performance of his young career, 19 points and 3 boards in 25 minutes of action against Clemson. Stevenson helped Northwood High School finish as a state runner-up during his freshman year of high school before helping open the new Seaforth High School alongside his parents who at the time took on the inaugural coaching duties for the Hawks. This season, Stevenson is averaging 5.5 PPG and 2.7 REB.
N.C. State
D.J. Horne, Trinity Christian School/Cary/Leesville Road
Horne has taken center stage for the Wolfpack right in his own backyard. The graduate student has become a fixture in the backcourt after stops at Illinois State and Arizona State. This season, he is averaging 16.8 PPG and shooting at a 43.8% clip from the field. In the Sweet Sixteen, Horne scored 19 against Marquette and followed it up with 20 in the Elite Eight against Duke.
As a high schooler, Horne played his first two seasons at Leesville Road and helped guide the Pride to the 4A state championship runner-up finish as a sophomore in 2017. After that postseason run, Horne transferred across Wake County to Cary High School where he led the Imps to a 13-12 overall record. His senior season was played in Cumberland County at Trinity Christian School where he scored in double figures in 17 of his 25 games for the Crusaders.
K.J. Keatts, GRACE Christian/Broughton
The son of head coach Kevin Keatts, K.J. followed a two year career at Broughton High School with an average of 3.2 PPG in 52 games at GRACE Christian in Raleigh. With the Eagles, he finished twice in double figures; 13 against Arendell Parrott as a junior and 10 against Greenfield as a senior. He has appeared in 15 career games in his two seasons with the Wolfpack.
Alex Nunnally, Cary Academy
Nunnally graduated high school as one of the Chargers' most prolific sharp-shooters. Originally signed with Division III Juniata College out of high school, he opted to run with the Pack starting in 2021-22. As a senior at Cary Academy, Nunnally averaged 15.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range. During his prep career, he broke Trey Murphy III's program records for three-point baskets in a single game and in a single season. He has appeared in 23 career games at N.C. State.
Breon Pass, Reidsville
One of the most decorated multi-sport athletes at one of the state's most decorated athletic departments, Pass joined the Wolfpack with plenty of championship pedigree. He was the 2021 North Carolina High School Athletic Association Male Athlete of the Year after starting on the court and the gridiron for the Rams. His 2,219 career points scored is a school and county record. He averaged 32.6 points and 12.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game as a senior, and was named both HighSchoolOT All-State and Male Athlete of the Year at HighSchoolOT Honors. A three-time football state champion, Pass finished his high school football career with 118 receptions for 2,194 yards and 48 touchdowns. He was also a HighSchoolOT All-State performer in football.
This season, Pass is averaging 1.2 PPG in 30 games. It includes a season-high 6 points in the ACC Tournament win over Louisville that sparked N.C. State's magical postseason run.
M.J. Rice, Durham Academy
Rice has not hit the floor for the Wolfpack since mid-January but he made an early impact with 37 points in 79 minutes played. He transferred back home to North Carolina after playing his true freshman season at Kansas where he averaged 2.2 points in 23 games. A highly-rated recruit since his freshman year of high school, Rice starred for two years at Durham Academy before transferring to national powerhouse Oak Hill Academy as a junior, and non-scholastic startup Prolific Prep in California for his senior year.
Jordan Snell, Panther Creek
Another member of the Wolfpack that is no stranger to championship environments, Snell helped Panther Creek to a Cinderella championship run of its own in 2022. The double digit seeded Catamounts finished state runner-up at the 4A level thanks to 10.8 PPG from Snell. His senior season included 11 games with three or more three-point baskets made. At N.C. State, he has appeared in 16 career games. In his first career collegiate appearance, he registered a three against Austin Peay.
