Maadwest Elite Charlotte Media Guide
The LaMelo Ball Invitational | March 28–29, 2026
The Event
The LaMelo Ball Invitational is the largest basketball event in North Carolina history. Presented by RISE Events, the tournament returns for 2026 across three venues in the Charlotte metro — Carolina Courts in Indian Trail, Cox Mill High School in Concord, and West Charlotte High School in Charlotte. Last year's event drew 364 teams from eight states and three countries. This year, organizers expect 400+ teams competing across 2nd through 12th grade divisions, boys and girls, with a three-game guarantee and bracket play following pool games.
MaadWest Elite Charlotte opens Saturday at 5:00 PM against CLT Flight at Carolina Courts. Bracket play will be announced after Saturday night's pool games.
Team at a Glance
MaadWest Elite Charlotte is running a nine-man roster that pulls from six North Carolina prep programs across three graduating classes. The squad averages 6'5" in height with three players standing 6'8" or taller, headlined by a 6'11" Clemson signee. Every senior on the roster has a D-I destination locked in, and the underclassmen aren't far behind — sophomore center Xavier Hall already holds offers from LSU and NC State.
The class breakdown shakes out to four seniors (2026), one junior (2027), and four sophomores (2028). It's a balanced mix of college-bound leadership and young, high-upside talent that gives this group a rare combination of experience and long-term ceiling.
The top scorers are Jyi Dawkins (32.6 PPG at Ben L. Smith) and Jaleel Smith (30.0 PPG at Hunter Huss) — an ESPN Top 20 point guard in the 2028 class who just led the Huskies to a 5A State Championship.
Three players are signed or committed at the D-I level: Will Stevens (Clemson), Elton James (Georgia Southern), and Bradley Floyd (Austin Peay). Xavier Hall holds six D-I offers as a sophomore. Five of nine roster spots belong to players with D-I interest or better.
Player Profiles
Jaleel Smith | PG | 6'1" | 175 lbs | Class of 2028
Hunter Huss — Gastonia, NC
ESPN Top 20 PG (2028 Class) | 5A State Champion
25-26 Varsity: 30.0 PPG | 7.1 RPG | 4.9 APG | 4.9 SPG | 27 GP
The headliner — and a state champion. Smith recently led Hunter Huss to a 103-69 victory in the NCHSAA 5A State Championship, capping a sophomore season where he averaged 30 points a night. He jumped from 22.2 PPG as a freshman to 30.0 as a sophomore, crashes the glass at 7.1 RPG, and disrupts passing lanes at a 4.9 SPG clip. He also ranks 8th nationally with 235 free throws made this season — a volume number that speaks to how often he attacks the rim and gets to the line. He's the engine of this roster, and he's coming in with a ring.
Jyi Dawkins | G | 6'4" | 178 lbs | Class of 2026
Ben L. Smith — Greensboro, NC
Senior Captain
25-26 Varsity: 32.6 PPG | 13.1 RPG | 5.2 APG | 4.2 SPG | 1.6 BPG | 27 GP
A 6'4" senior captain who averaged a near triple-double this season. Does everything — scores in bunches, rebounds like a forward, and runs the show in transition. Dawkins is the most complete stat line on the roster and arguably the most productive player on any team at this event. His 13.1 RPG as a guard is a staggering number that speaks to his motor and physicality.
Chase Smith | F | 6'8" | Class of 2028
Queen's Grant — Matthews, NC
25-26 Varsity: 16.1 PPG | 8.1 RPG | 2.3 APG | 1.5 SPG | 1.1 BPG | 35 GP
Prototypical modern forward at 6'8" with a clear year-over-year scoring jump — from 12.9 PPG as a freshman to 16.1 as a sophomore across 35 games. Rebounds in bunches and is developing as a passer. Smith has the frame and production profile to draw serious attention from college programs this weekend. Career numbers across 69 games: 14.5 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.3 BPG.
Will Stevens | C/PF | 6'11" | 215 lbs | Class of 2026
Davidson Day — Davidson, NC
Clemson Signee | Senior Captain
247Sports Rating: 90 | Composite: 0.9368 | National: #145 | Center: #19 | NC: #5
21 D-I Offers — Signed with Clemson. Also offered by Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Cincinnati, Mississippi State, and others.
Signed with Clemson out of 21 offers. A budding stretch-big per 247Sports — shot 40% from three and 73% from the free throw line on the 3SSB circuit. Soft hands extending to the arc, good post footwork with both hands, and an intriguing short-roll passer who makes quick decisions and reads. At 6'11", he's the biggest body on this roster and a legit rim protector who averaged 1.8 blocks and 6.2 rebounds per game on the circuit. He's still growing into his frame, but the skill level and basketball IQ are already college-ready.
Elton James | PF | 6'8" | 200 lbs | Class of 2026
W-S Christian National — Winston-Salem, NC
Georgia Southern Signee
25-26 Varsity: 11.3 PPG | 30 GP | Career: 69 GP
15 D-I Offers — Signed with Georgia Southern.
A well-traveled 6'8" power forward who's played at Oak Hill Academy and Legion Collegiate Academy before landing at W-S Christian National. James jumped from 7.7 PPG as a junior to 11.3 as a senior and brings 69 career varsity games of experience. His prep school background and D-I signing give this roster another player who's been tested against high-level competition.
Geren Holmes | SG | 6'5" | Class of 2027
The Burlington School — Burlington, NC
25-26 Varsity: 18.6 PPG | 3.9 RPG | 1.8 APG | 1.8 SPG | 0.2 BPG | 25 GP
The lone junior on the roster — and he's producing like a lead guard. Holmes put up 18.6 PPG with active hands on defense in his first varsity season at The Burlington School. At 6'5" with a full season of starter-level production, he's a high-upside two-way wing with two more high school seasons ahead of him. A breakout weekend at the LaMelo Ball Invitational could put his name on a lot of recruiting boards.
Bradley Floyd | SG | 6'5" | 185 lbs | Class of 2026
W-S Christian National — Winston-Salem, NC
Austin Peay Commit
247Sports Rating: 88 | Composite: 0.9037 | National: #206 | SG: #32 | NC: #10
25-26 Varsity: 14.3 PPG | 28 GP | Career: 67 GP
12 D-I Offers — Committed to Austin Peay. Also offered by Florida State, Appalachian State, Charlotte, San Jose State, and others.
A 247Sports-rated combo guard who jumped from 10.5 to 14.3 PPG as a senior across 67 career games. Floyd pairs with Elton James to give MaadWest two W-S Christian National products with D-I futures. His length at 6'5" and his offer sheet — headlined by a Florida State offer — speak to the tools and upside that college coaches see.
Xavier Hall | C | 6'10" | 245 lbs | Class of 2028
Davidson Day — Davidson, NC
247Sports Rating: 89 | Composite: 0.9403 | National: #72 | Center: #10 | NC: #4
6 D-I Offers — Cincinnati, LSU, Mississippi State, NC State, Virginia Tech, and others.
A top-75 national recruit in the 2028 class as a sophomore. At 6'10" and 245 pounds, the physical tools are obvious, and the offer sheet — LSU, NC State, Virginia Tech — confirms the upside that college coaches are projecting. Limited varsity data so far (1 GP at Davidson Day, where he posted 12 points, 6 rebounds, and a block in 25 minutes), but the AAU and camp evaluations have pushed his composite to 0.9403. When paired with Stevens, MaadWest can run out a frontcourt that most college programs would envy.
Sherod McCormick III | PG | 5'10" | 160 lbs | Class of 2028
Davidson Day — Davidson, NC
25-26 Varsity: 5.0 PPG | 1.0 APG | 1.0 SPG | 1 GP
Don't let the modest varsity stats fool you. Phenom Hoops profiled McCormick as a strong floor general who ran point for CP3 on the AAU circuit before transitioning to Davidson Day. He controls tempo, makes quick reads, attacks off the bounce, and sets up teammates for easy baskets. Described as a guard who plays at his own pace with a blend of creativity, scoring impact, and playmaking, McCormick is an emerging point guard in North Carolina's 2028 class with room to grow into a much bigger role.
What to Watch
Twin Towers Frontcourt — Clemson signee Will Stevens (6'11") and top-75 national recruit Xavier Hall (6'10") give MaadWest a frontcourt combination most AAU teams — and some college programs — can't match. Stevens stretches the floor from three; Hall is a physical rim presence holding offers from LSU and NC State. If they share the floor, the paint becomes a no-fly zone.
Backcourt Firepower — Jaleel Smith (30.0 PPG) and Jyi Dawkins (32.6 PPG) combine for over 60 points per game at the high school level. Smith is a nationally ranked sophomore; Dawkins is a senior averaging a near triple-double. Defenses have to pick their poison.
The X-Factor: Geren Holmes — A 6'5" junior putting up 18.6 per game in his first varsity season. The youngest class-of-2027 player on this roster with a full season of production under his belt. A breakout weekend at a 400-team national event could be the recruiting catalyst.
