Fayetteville, NC - The Southeast Invitational held by Underrated Athletes was one of the top events in the NC area this winter. It was held at Fayetteville Academy in Fayetteville, NC and packed out with talent across the board. Vertical Academy vs Carolina Basketball Academy was the game of the weekend as it packed out the gym from top to bottom. With superstars like Mikey Williams & Trey Parker making his homecoming to Fayetteville it was bound to be a show. Coming off a stellar 4-0 showing at the Big Shots Boo Williams Legacy Classic, CBA showed their grit in defeating Vertical Academy 101-100 in overtime with a 3 pointer at the buzzer by guard Randy Crosby.  

Liberty Heights Varsity, Winston Salem Christian, Carolina Basketball Academy, Vertical Academy, The Rock school, TD Prep, NC GBB and Northwood Temple were some of the top teams in attendance.

Here are the Top Ten standouts from The Southeast invitational:

Randy Crosby | G 6'0 | 2022 | Carolina BAsketball Academy

Crosby came up huge in the biggest moments of the weekend as he nailed in a 3 pointer at the buzzer to lift CBA over Vertical Academy. Crosby is a tough nosed guard who can get hot quickly on offense. He shoot it well from beyond the arc and drives it well to the paint. He scored 22 points over Vertical Academy and 10 of those came in overtime. 

Trey Parker | G 6'2 | 2023 | Vertical Academy 

Parker is one of the top prospect in the state of NC if not the nation. He is an electric guard that fly's high above the rim but also can score it from just about anywhere 35 feet and in. He is a true shot maker with a great handle. The 2023 prospect is a high major talent. Parker exploded for 37 points in their loss against CBA.

Mikey Williams | G 6'2 | 2023 | Vertical Academy

The 5 Star guard had fresh legs with his return to the court. In his first game back in weeks Mikey poured in 26 points and made big plays when they mattered most. Williams is an athletic guard that can score on all three levels. Williams makes tough shots again and again & utilizes his midrange game extremely well. There is no spot on the floor that he cant get to. The duo of Williams and Parker is a tough back court to handle. 

Jaquantae Harris | G 5'11 | 2023 | Northwood Temple

Harris is one of the top available PG's in NC's class of 2022. He was super dominant against Lake Norman Christian finishing with 25 points. Harris is a lefty power guard that gets to his spots very well. A sneaky athletic PG that can finish above the rim while also pouring it in from beyond the arc. MM+ talent that colleges should be all on coming in to the winter break. 

Aliou Cisse | F 6'7 | 2022 | Carolina Basketball Academy 

Aliou Cisse has been making a name for himself after averaging 19 ppg at the Boo Williams Legacy Classic. He followed that tournament up with 22 point and 10 rebound performance against Vertical Academy. The DI prospect has a handful of offers from JMU, NC A&T, Towson, and others. Cisse is a dual threat forward that finishes through the contact and plays above the rim. He is super lengthy and can defend 2-5. 

Zach Bell | G  6'3 | 2022 | TD Prep

Zach Bell entered The Southeast invitational just exploding for 25 pts, 6 Rbs, and 4 Ast in the Wootens Top 150. Bell was one of the top players for TD Prep as they defeated NC GBB. He posted 15 points and 6 boards and completely controlled the game, making plays for himself and others. The 6'3 guard played very aggressively, taking defenders off he bounce and finishing above & through defenders. Super explosive guard who holds a TCU offer.

Takai Simpkins | G 6'3 | 2022 | Liberty Heights Varsity

Takai Simpkins is a top available PG in NC's 2022 class and showcased that at the Southeast Invitational. He scored 21 points in game 1 against The Rock School and helped lead his team to a 2-0 weekend. Liberty Heights Varsity is one of the top schools in NC and a huge part of that is due to Simpkins. He is a super athletic guard that is able to get past his initial defender & get into the paint. Simpkins is a true point guard that plays hard on both ends off the floor, plays well in transition, and makes plays for himself & others.

Jackson Greene | F 6'7 | 2022 | TD PREP

Jackson Green of TD Prep was the leading scorer in their big win over NC GBB as he scored 20 points and collected 10 boards. The 6'7 forward was dominant inside the paint, grabbing offensive boards and finishing through contact all weekend. He averaged 18 points over the weekend. Greene plays super patient, understanding when to attack and when to play his role. Super high motor and can stretch out to knock down the three.

TJ Hurley | G 6'4 | 2022 | The Rock School

TJ Hurley was one of the top shooters at The Southeast Invitational. He is an unsigned senior and has all of the tools to help any program in the nation. Hurley is a 6'5 SG that is extremely smart, doesn't force the issue and lets the game come to him. He is a knockdown shooter and is a sneaky good passer. He understands how to use his shot to his advantage and plays at a good pace. Holds multiple MM offers. 

Darryl Houston | G 6'2 | 2022 | Carolina Basketball Academy 

Darryl Houston is one of the top players for a super talented CBA team and has proven that in back to back weekends. Houston was a top player at Boo Williams Legacy Classic and did not slow down at The Southeast Invitational. Houston is a super quick PG that can play on and off the ball. He controls the game from start to finish and is bound to make a play when the ball is in his hands. The 6'2 guard is crafty around the rim and uses his athleticism to score above or around defenders. Houston shoots it well off the catch & is very efficient. Holds offers/interest from UMES, NJIT, Miami OH, Ole Miss, and others.

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