Charlotte still producing big-time talent

Virginia Tech freshman Dorenzo Hudson’s 14 points at Richmond last week established him as another Charlotte native to watch closely as his ACC career unfolds.

The former Marshville Forest Hills player lists Charlotte as his place of birth, and his emergence further establishes Charlotte as one of the most prominent producers of high-quality guards in the ACC. Look at the results from Sunday alone:

- K.C. Rivers, who played his first two years of high school basketball at Independence High, scored a team-high 24 points as Clemson fell 90-88 in overtime to North Carolina.

- Charlotte Latin product Anthony Morrow led Georgia Tech with 16 points in its defeat of Presbyterian.

- Freshman point guard Demontez Stitt of Butler High scored 11 points, including go-ahead free throws with 13 seconds remaining, for Clemson against North Carolina.

The Charlotte area hasn’t produced as many high-impact post players in recent years. Wake Forest’s Jamie Skeen might be the best big guy from the area in the ACC. But if you include players from throughout the state, you could put together a team capable of winning the ACC.

Clemson’s James Mays (Garner), Miami’s Anthony King (Durham) and Jimmy Graham (Goldsboro) and Boston College’s Shamari Spears (Salisbury) would give an N.C.-based team plenty of muscle. Concord’s Ish Smith and Yadkinville’s L.D. Williams would add quickness and athletic ability to the backcourt.

North Carolina high school talent has gotten a bad reputation recently because the state hasn’t produced a McDonald’s All-American since Chris Paul in 2003. But that doesn’t mean the state – or the Charlotte area – isn’t producing good players. – Ken Tysiac