Seven different basketball players from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will participate in the Carolinas Classic All-Star Game later this month.
Mecklenburg County’s representation includes Ashton Pierce (North Mecklenburg), Exzavier Young (North Mecklenburg), and Jim Gatehouse (South Mecklenburg), who will play in the boys game, while Imani Shelton (Ardrey Kell), Nykira Arrington (South Mecklenburg), Kiara Anderson (Mallard Creek), and My’Asia Young (Mallard Creek) will play in the girls game.
Ashton Pierce is a Sacramento State recruit and a 6-foot-3 guard. As a senior, he averaged 20 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for North Mecklenburg, according to the Charlotte Observer.
Exzavier Young, a teammate of Pierce’s at North Mecklenburg, stands at 6-foot-4. His statistics are not available on MaxPreps.
North Mecklenburg posted a 25-5 overall record this season, won the Meck Power Six Conference, and advanced to the regional finals in the state playoffs.
South Mecklenburg senior Jim Gatehouse will also participate in the boys all-star game. Gatehouse, who is listed at 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, averaged 20.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game this season. He was named the Greater Charlotte Conference Player of the Year.
Four CMS players will play in the girls all-star game.
Imani Shelton is a 6-foot-1 forward for Ardrey Kell who averaged 12.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game this season. She will play college basketball at the University of Massachusetts Amherst next season.
Nykira Arrington is a 6-foot-1 forward at South Mecklenburg, where she averaged 11.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.5 steals, and 2.3 assists per game this past season. She has signed to play college basketball at Queen’s University.
Kiara Anderson is a 5-foot-4 point guard for Mallard Creek. As a senior, she averaged 14.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.5 steals, and 2.5 assists per game. A four-year varsity player, Anderson has recorded 1,747 career points for the Mavericks.
Mallard Creek teammate My’Asia Young is a shooting guard for the Mavericks who averaged 11.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game this season.
The Carolinas Classic All-Star Game puts some of the top high school seniors in North Carolina up against their counterparts from South Carolina.
This year’s all-star game will be played on March 21 at Dorman High School in Spartanburg, S.C. The event includes a girls game and a boys game.
Here are the North Carolina rosters for both teams:
2026 Carolinas Classic Boys Basketball Roster
- Chaise Smith (Washington)
- Dionte Neal (Reidsville)
- Jyi Dawkins (Ben L. Smith)
- Aden Jeffries (Southern Durham)
- Ashton Pierce (North Mecklenburg)
- Exzavier Young (North Mecklenburg)
- Chad Graves (Northwood)
- Zy’vaun Puckett (Panther Creek)
- Kellum Brown (New Hanover)
- Jim Gatehouse (South Mecklenburg)
2026 Carolinas Classic Girls Basketball Roster
- Imani Shelton (Ardrey Kell)
- Nykira Arrington (South Mecklenburg)
- Laneigh Scales (Glenn)
- Tiara Thompson (West Rowan)
- Kate Schindler (Marvin Ridge)
- Oshauna Holland (Stuart Cramer)
- Khiara Culliver (Maiden)
- Kiara Anderson (Mallard Creek)
- My’Asia Young (Mallard Creek)
- Malia Graham (East Columbus)
