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910Preps Best of Boys Basketball All Stars
(2025-2026)
Fayetteville Observer (James F. Moore Jr.)
Best of 910Preps All-Star Honorees

Best of 910Preps Boys Basketball All-Stars (Fayetteville Observer - 5/11/26)

Player of the Year
Justin Caldwell (Fayetteville Academy)

First team

  • Marcus "MJ" McDuffie, sophomore, Douglas Byrd — MJ's presence on Ireland Drive was heaven-sent this past season as he, his brother Malachi, and his father changed the entire Douglas Byrd culture in their first season in the maroon and gold. McDuffie had an even bigger season than his freshman year at E.E. Smith, becoming the NCBA District 4 Player of the Year, and the Eastern Sandhills Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He averaged 18.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.

    Nick Smith, sophomore, E.E. Smith — Nick played with pure craftiness and high-IQ basketball all season long. As part of the Golden Bulls' NCHSAA 6A East Regionals run, Smith averaged 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.3 steals per game, along with all-conference honors

    Karsten Swinney, senior, Freedom Christian — Karsten's high school career has been transcendent, and he will be remembered as one of the best scoring guards to ever come through Fayetteville. As a senior, the Mount Olive commit averaged 31.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, while crossing the 3,000 points threshold to become just the third NC high school basketball player to do so.

    Mason Walker, senior, Terry Sanford — Walker had one of the best breakout individual seasons in the area, and the Bulldogs benefited greatly from it. Though a Belmont Abbey baseball commit, he was put in the best situation possible with his new head coach, Jake Wohlfeil, as Terry Sanford won the Tri-County Conference with a strong performance this season. Walker averaged 16.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 steals and was named conference Player of the Year.

    Jackson Williams, junior, E.E. Smith — Williams was a force as a junior, and showed himself as one of the toughest players in the 910 with his refuse-to-lose mentality. The combo guard averaged 13.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 steals, and two assists per game.

Second team

  • Jayvon Foster, junior, Seventy-First — Foster stepped up and became a team leader for the Falcons as a junior, picking up a bulk of the scoring. He averaged  15.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and two steals per game for a first-team all-conference selection in the Eastern Sandhills.
  • Gaven Kraut, senior, Terry Sanford — Kraut showed that he was one of the best two-way players in the county, and made the old saying "great defense turns into better offense" come to life in his senior year. He averaged 11.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, three steals, and 2.5 assists per game, and earned Tri-County all-conference honors.
  • Bryce West, junior, Freedom Christian — West established himself as the best 3-point shooter in the area and put up huge numbers as a junior with his ability to get to any spot on the floor. He averaged 26.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.4 steals per game, and put his name on the list for a way-too-early Player of the Year candidate for next season.
  • Patrick Barber, junior, E.E. Smith — The 6-foot-4 wing for the Golden Bulls was a key addition, and a "Swiss Army Knife" to the team after they lost the McDuffie brothers. Barber averaged 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and a steal and a block per game.
  • Ja'Von Motta, junior, Trinity Christian — Motta, the Crusaders' newcomer, was a team leader in points for the Crusaders with 17.1 per game, and gave Trinity Christian a newfound scoring threat that was hard to guard each night. He also had 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.2 steals a game.

Third team

  • Christian Baynes, junior, Fayetteville Academy
  • Kingston Carlsen, senior, Fayetteville Academy
  • Baganley Donzo, sophomore Trinity Christian
  • Malachi McDuffie, sophomore, Douglas Byrd
  • Winston Waite, senior, Trinity Christian

Honorable Mention

  • Nick Cooreman Jr., senior, Fayetteville Christian
  • Ethan Durgadin, senior, Fayetteville Christian
  • DeRyian Mitchell, junior, Jack Britt
  • Tyler Moore, senior, Northwood Temple
  • Jeremiah Murchison, freshman, Kid Stars Rising Christian