The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball tournaments got underway with the Men’s First Four on Tuesday and Wednesday and the Women’s First Four scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Following is a list of Greensboro-area players competing for national championships, based on current rosters.
Men’s
Howard (18-16), No. 16 West Seed, played Wagner in First Four on Tuesday
Bryce Harris, 6-4, G, Jr., Putnam Science: The Brentwood, New York native, who played his high school junior season at Greensboro Day, is a headliner for Howard, averaging a team-high 16.6 points, with a team-leading 55.3 field goal percentage. Also a 39.1% three-point shooter and has 30 double-doubles in a first team all-conference season. Starter in all 34 games this season and a key piece in the Bison winning the MEAC tournament as the No. 4 seed. Had season-high 28 points in a win over Morgan State. In high school, a first team News & Record all-area selection and Co-PTAC Player of the Year in 2020 as a junior at Greensboro Day along with teammate Cam Hayes.
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Mississippi State (21-13), No. 8 West Seed
Shakeel Moore, 6-1, G, Sr., Moravian Prep: The former four-star recruit led Piedmont Classical to three consecutive CAASC state championships before transferring to Moravian Prep for his senior season. Began college career at NC State before moving to MSU for the 2021-22 season. Started the final 15 games for the Bulldogs last season as a junior and averaged 9.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game overall. Has started in 22 of 32 games played this season, averaging 8.0 points, fourth on the team.
North Carolina (27-7), No. 1 West Seed
Rob Landry, 6-4, G, Sr., NC School of Science & Math: The Greensboro native went to Greensboro Day, prior to transferring to NCSSM and joining UNC-Chapel Hill as a walk-on. His father, Pearce Landry was a Page graduate and both have reached the final four as Tar Heels. Landry led Greensboro Day to an NCISAA 3A state championship in 2017. Has appeared in five games this season at UNC in limited action.
NC State (22-14), No. 11 South Seed
Breon Pass, 6-0, G, Jr., Reidsville: Was a basketball and football standout for the Rams and Division I recruit for both sports. Was part of three consecutive Reidsville football state championships from 2018-2020. The NCHSAA 2021 Male Athlete of the Year finished his high school basketball career owning 13 school and county records, with his 2,219 points being a school and county record. Had season-high 22 minutes played on March 12 against Louisville, where he also had a season-high six points. Named the 2021 HSXTRA Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
TCU (21-12), No. 9 Midwest Seed
Tyler Lundblade, 6-7, G, So., Greensboro Day: Played his senior season at GDS, where he was a McDonald’s All-American nominee who averaged 10.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and hit 45% from three in 2020-21. Helped GDS to a 24-6 record and an NCISAA 4A semifinals appearance. Has appeared in six games at TCU this season.
Women’s
Ole Miss (23-8), No. 7 Albany I Seed
KK Deans, 5-8, G, GS, Connections Academy/Westridge Academy: Started in six games for the Rebels prior to a season-ending knee injury. Had three double-digit scoring games, including a game against Temple, where the Greensboro native had a season-high 16 points and season-high eight assists and seven rebounds. A former five-star recruit by ESPN after playing high school ball at Westridge in Kernersville. Played first three college seasons at West Virginia and led Mountaineers in scoring as a junior with 14.5 points per game, then led Florida in scoring as a senior at 14.1 points per game.
Virginia Tech (24-7), No. 4 Portland 3 Seed
Cayla King, 6-0, G, GS, Northwest Guilford: King is the Hokies fourth-leading scorer at seven points per game and second in assists at 2.4 per game this season. She holds the program record for 3-pointers in a game with nine, against Mount St. Mary’s on Nov. 7, 2022. She is a three-time ACC All-Academic Team. A two-time NCHSAA 4A state champion for 2017 and 2018 and was named Most Outstanding Player for both games for Northwest. The 2017 title was the first girls basketball state championship in program history.
Elizabeth Kitley, 6-6, C, GS, Northwest Guilford: Kitley is a three-time ACC Player of the Year, a four-time All-ACC first-team selection and three-time ACC All-Defensive team member. The Summerfield native holds the conference’s records for rebounds and double-doubles. Her status for the NCAA tournament is questionable after suffering an undisclosed injury in the team’s regular season finale against Virginia on March 3. This season, Kitley leads the Hokies in points (22.8), rebounds (11.4) and blocks (2.1) per game. She ranks third in the nation in field goals and sixth in points per game as well as eighth in rebounds per game and double-doubles. Last season, she became the first VT athlete to be named first team All-ACC three times, All-Defensive twice and AP All-American twice. Became the program’s all-time leader in starts, minutes and double-digit scoring games this season. Father Ralph Kitley played at Wake Forest from 1986-1990. Kitley was the NCHSAA 4A state championship MVP in 2017 and 2018 for the Lady Vikings and News & Record HSXTRA Co-Player of the Year in 2018.