Top returners and schedules for all Fayetteville-area NCHSAAA girls' basketball teams
The 2023-24 high school basketball season is officially underway. Here's a look at all 10 of Fayetteville's NCHSAA girls' basketball teams, with top returning players, coaches' outlooks, complete schedules and more.
Jack Britt
Last season: 19-8 overall, 11-4 United 8 (3rd place)
Last 5 seasons: 74-40 (65%) overall, 29-18 (62%) conference
Coach: Nattlie McArthur
Top returning players: Zahara Gerald, Alexia White
Potential breakout players: Dezariyah Clark, Chloe Mathis, Aaliyah Mcrae, Keara Duncan
Coach's outlook: "We have a mix of veterans and younger players in this group, I believe this season will be a good year for us. The girls are having fun and learning at a high rate, and they're very coachable."
2023-24 schedule
Nov. 17 — at Hoke
Nov. 21 — at Pinecrest
Nov. 27 — vs. Red Springs
Nov. 29 — at Pine Forest
Dec. 1 — vs. E.E. Smith
Dec. 5 — Red Springs
Dec. 8 — vs. Scotland
Dec. 15 — vs. Douglas Byrd
Jan. 5 — at Lumberton
Jan. 9 — vs. Purnell Swett
Jan. 12 — at Seventy-First
Jan. 16 — at Cape Fear
Jan. 19 — vs. Gray's Creek
Jan. 23 — at South View
Jan. 26 — at Douglas Byrd
Jan. 30 — vs. Lumberton
Feb. 2 — at Purnell Swett
Feb. 6 — vs. Seventy-First
Feb. 9 — vs. Cape Fear
Feb. 13 — at Gray's Creek
Feb. 16 — vs. South View
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BOYS' BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Top returners and schedules for all Fayetteville-area NCHSAA boys' basketball teams
Douglas Byrd
Last season: 2-14 overall, 1-13 United 8 (8th place)
Last 5 seasons: 12-89 (12%) overall, 9-59 (13%) conference
Coach: Devon Murphy
Top returning players: Shania McLucas, Jazmine Burns
Potential breakout players: Jamiyah Carroll, Evon Murphy, Sheryraye Johnson
Coach's outlook: "We are expecting a competitive season with the addition of our freshman class and our returners that we will heavily lean on. We just have to iron out the wrinkles."
2023-24 schedule
Nov. 17 — at St. Pauls
Nov. 20 — vs. Red Springs
Nov. 21 — at Southern Lee
Nov. 28 — vs. St. Pauls
Dec. 1 — vs. Scotland
Dec. 4 — vs. Union Pines
Dec. 5 — at Scotland
Dec. 12 — at Red Springs
Dec. 15 — at Jack Britt
Jan. 5 — vs. South View
Jan. 9 — vs. Gray's Creek
Jan. 12 — at Cape Fear
Jan. 16 — at Lumberton
Jan. 19 — vs. Purnell Swett
Jan. 23 — vs. Seventy-First
Jan. 26 — vs. Jack Britt
Jan. 30 — at South View
Feb. 2 — at Gray's Creek
Feb. 6 — vs. Cape Fear
Feb. 9 — vs. Lumberton
Feb. 13 — at Purnell Swett
Feb. 16 — at Seventy-First
Cape Fear
Last season: 25-5 overall, 13-1 United 8 (1st place), state playoffs East Region finalist
Last 5 seasons: 61-51 (54%) overall, 40-31 (56%) conference
Coach: Brian Graham
Top returning players: Jayda Angel, Kayia Starling, Teralyn Harris, Sydney Britt
Potential breakout players: Elisabeth Kirkland, Keyana Gage
Coach's outlook: "Defense, take care of the little things, and play fast!
2023-24 schedule
Nov. 25 — vs. Green Level at Raleigh Thanksgiving Invitational
Nov. 28 — vs. Red Springs
Dec. 1 — at Triton
Dec. 8 — at Red Springs
Dec. 15 — vs. Lumberton
Dec. 19-21 — at TBA holiday tournament
Jan. 5 — at Purnell Swett
Jan. 9 — at Seventy-First
Jan. 12 — vs. Douglas Byrd
Jan. 15 — at North Pitt
Jan. 16 — vs. Jack Britt
Jan. 19 — at South View
Jan. 23 — at Gray's Creek
Jan. 26 — at Lumberton
Jan. 30 — vs. Purnel Swett
Feb. 2 — vs. Seventy-First
Feb. 6 — at Douglas Byrd
Feb. 9 — at Jack Britt
Feb. 13 — vs. South View
Feb. 16 — vs. Gray's Creek
Gray's Creek
Last season: 3-19 overall, 2-13 United 8 (7th place)
Last 5 seasons: 20-81 (20%) overall, 14-57 (20%) conference
Coach: Brandon Locklear
Top returning players: Daneja Purdie, Naria Wright, Layla Fox
Potential breakout players: Layla Fox, Naria Wright
Coach's outlook: "It's my first year coaching varsity, and there's lots of youth on this team and only one senior. We're focused on skill development and fundamentals with the hopes that we can build the program from the ground, up."
2023-24 schedule
Nov. 17 — at West Johnston
No. 21 — vs. Pine Forest
Dec. 1 — vs. Union Pines
Dec. 5 — at Union Pines
Dec. 15 — at Purnell Swett
Jan. 5 — vs. Seventy-First
Jan. 9 — at Douglas Byrd
Jan. 12 — vs. Lumberton
Jan. 16 — vs. South View
Jan. 19 — at Jack Britt
Jan. 23 — vs. Cape Fear
Jan. 26 — vs. Purnell Swett
Jan. 30 — at Seventy-First
Feb. 2 — vs. Douglas Byrd
Feb. 6 — at Lumberton
Feb. 9 — at South View
Feb. 13 — vs. Jack Britt
Feb. 16 — at Cape Fear
Pine Forest
Last season: 12-13 overall, 7-7 All American (5th place), state playoffs first round
Last 5 seasons: 61-50 (55%) overall, 40-30 (57%) conference
Coach: Kayla Pless
Top returning players: Tahlia Glover, Chloe Wilson
Potential breakout players: Daisha Washington
2023-24 schedule
Nov. 20 — vs. South View
Nov. 21 — at Gray's Creek
Nov. 29 — vs. Jack Britt
Dec. 1 — at Topsail
Dec. 5 — vs. Westover
Dec. 8 — at Western Harnett
Dec. 19-21 — Holiday tournament
Jan. 5 — vs. Terry Sanford
Jan. 9 — at E.E. Smith
Jan. 12 — at Triton
Jan. 13 — at Trinity Christian
Jan. 16 — at Harnett Central
Jan. 17 — at Richmond Senior
Jan. 19 — vs. Overhills
Jan. 24 — at Purnell Swett
Jan. 26 — at Westover
Jan. 30 — vs. Western Harnett
Feb. 2 — at Terry Sanford
Feb. 6 — vs. E.E. Smith
Feb. 9 — vs. Triton
Feb. 13 — at Harnett Central
Feb. 16 — at Overhills
Terry Sanford
Last season: 23-6 overall, 12-2 All American (2nd place)
Last 5 seasons: 67-34 (60%) overall, 48-21 (70%) conference
Coach: Chris Goodman
Top returning players: Breonna Roaf, Ameya Brown, Jayla Brantley, Rebecca Kaba
Potential breakout players: Jaidiah Blake, Amya Harrington, Zaniya Reddick, Nina Spraggins
Coach's outlook: "The ultimate goal is to win a ring. That's what all of our players want and I am confident we will be a force to be reckoned with this year. Although our team lost a lot with the departure of Miya Gile-Jones (Fordham University) and Harmony Martin (NC Wesleyan) the mix of solid returners and some hungry newcomers is shaping together to become a special team.
2023-24 schedule
Nov. 18 — at North Pitt
Nov. 24 — at Rolesville
Dec. 5 — at Overhills
Dec. 8 — vs. Triton
Dec. 9 — at Camden
Dec. 19-29 — TBA holiday tournament
Jan. 5 — at Pine Forest
Jan. 9 — vs. Harnett Central
Jan. 12 — vs. Westover
Jan. 15 — vs. Grace Christian
Jan. 18 — at E.E. Smith
Jan. 19 — vs. Western Harnett
Jan. 26 — vs. Overhills
Jan. 30 — at Triton
Feb. 2 — vs. Pine Forest
Feb. 6 — at Harnett Central
Feb. 9 — at Westover
Feb. 13 — vs. E.E. Smith
Feb. 16 — at Western Harnett
Seventy-First
Last season: 5-17 overall, 3-12 United 8 (6th place)
Last 5 seasons: 66-50 (57%) overall, 39-26 (60%) conference
Coach: Brandie Ingram
Top returning players: Mariyah Massey, Paris Barber
Potential breakout players: Deonna Stephens, Alani Wilkerson, Jewel Gully, Kariana Williams
Coach's outlook: "We have the ability to play hard, compete, and get better one game at a time. That's the expectation."
2023-24 schedule
Nov. 21 — at Fairmont
Nov. 25 — at Westover
Nov. 28 — vs. Hoke
Nov. 30 — at Overhills
Dec. 5 — at Fairmont
Dec. 8 — at Hoke
Dec. 15 — at South View
Dec. 19-21 — TBA holiday tournament
Jan. 5 — at Gray's Creek
Jan. 9 — vs. Cape Fear
Jan. 12 — vs. jack Britt
Jan. 16 — at Purnell Swett
Jan. 19 — a Lumberton
Jan. 23 — at Douglas Byrd
Jan. 26 — vs. South View
Jan. 30 — vs. Gray's Creek
Feb. 2 — at Cape Fear
Feb. 6 — at Jack Britt
Feb. 9 — vs. Purnell Swett
Feb. 13 — vs. Lumberton
Feb. 16 — vs. Douglas Byrd
E.E. Smith
Last season: 26-2 overall, 14-0 All American (1st place)
Last 5 seasons: 116-12 (91%) overall, 67-3 (96%) conference
Coach: Latanya "Dee" Hardy
Top returning players: Danauje Brooks, Jahriell Murchison, Janna Tupuola
Potential breakout players: Rayanna Cogdell
2023-24 schedule
Nov. 17 — at Atlantic Collegiate Academy Basketball
Nov. 18 — at North Raleigh Christian
Nov. 21 — at Hillside
Nov. 25 — at Willow Spring
Dec. 1 — at Jack Britt
Dec. 5 — at Triton
Dec. 19 -21 — TBA holiday tournament
Dec. 27 — vs. TBA
Jan. 5 — at Harnett Central
Jan. 9 — vs. Pine Forest
Jan. 12 — at Western Harnett
Jan. 16 — vs. Terry Sanford
Jan. 19 — vs. Westover
Jan. 26 — vs. Triton
Jan. 30 — at Overhills
Feb. 2 — vs. Harnett Central
Feb. 6 — at Pine Forest
Feb. 9 — vs. Western Harnett
Feb. 13 — at Terry Sanford
Feb. 16 — at Westover
South View
Last season: 16-12 overall, 9-5 United 8 (4th place)
Last 5 seasons: 59-54 (52%) overall, 43-28 (61%) conference
Coach: Travis Lemanski
Top returning players: Unity Youngblood, Nahmiah Aekins
Potential breakout players: Jayla Blue, Adalyah-Green Boyd, Miriah Smith, Zakiera Gaillard, Laila Beard, Jordynn Parnell, Zarah Lewis
Coach's outlook: "We have a lot of young ladies returning from last year's team which should make us very competitive once again this season. We are looking forward to another successful season!"
2023-24 schedule
Nov. 20 — at Pine Forest
Nov. 21 — vs. Union Pines
Nov. 29 — vs. New Hanover
Dec. 5 — vs. Hoke
Dec. 15 — vs. Seventy-First
Dec. 19-21 — TBA holiday tournament
Jan. 3 — vs. St. Pauls
Jan. 5 — at Douglas Byrd
Jan. 9 — at Lumberton
Jan. 12 — at Purnell Swett
Jan. 13 — at Wayne Country Day
Jan. 16 — at Gray's Creek
Jan. 19 — vs. Cape Fear
Jan. 23 — vs. Jack Britt
Jan. 26 — at Seventy-First
Jan. 30 — vs. Douglas Byrd
Feb. 2 — vs. Lumberton
Feb. 6 — vs. Purnell Swett
Feb. 9 — vs. Gray's Creek
Feb. 13 — at Cape Fear
Feb. 16 — at Jack Britt
Westover
Last season: 6-15 overall, 4-10 All American (6th place)
Last 5 seasons: 52-60 (46%) overall, 33-37 (47%) conference
Coach: Anthony Bennett
Top returning players: R'mani Robinson, Tytiana Dowden
Potential breakout players: Ja'Naisha Carney, Princess Canady, Dahilyana Baldwin
Coach's outlook: "We have a great group of young ladies that has a lot of potential. We have to be persistent in our work and doing the things needed consistently."
2023-24 schedule
Nov. 10 — at South Garner
Nov. 18 — at Wilson Fike
Nov. 25 — at Seventy-First
Dec. 1 — vs. Rocky Mount
Dec. 5 — at Pine Forest
Dec. 8 — vs. Harnett Central
Dec. 9 — at Trinity Christian
Dec. 15 — at Rocky Mount
Dec. 19 — at Richmond Senior
Jan. 5 — at Triton
Jan. 9 — vs. Overhills
Jan. 12 — at Terry Sanford
Jan. 12 — at Grace Christian
Jan. 16 — vs. Western Harnett
Jan. 19 — at E.E. Smith
Jan. 22 — vs. Scotland
Jan. 26 — vs. Pine Forest
Jan. 30 — at Harnett Central
Feb. 2 — vs. Triton
Feb. 6 — at Overhills
Feb. 9 — vs. Terry Sanford
Feb. 13 — at Western Harnett
Feb. 16 — vs. E.E. Smith
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville high school girls basketball season preview for 2023-24
