2026 Mid-Carolina 4A/5A/6A Conference Football Preview: Storylines, Predictions, Players to Watch

2026 Big Seven 4A/5A Conference Football Preview: Storylines, Predictions, Players to Watch

Welcome to HighSchoolOT's 2026 football season preview for the Big South 5A/6A Conference. The league features Carrboro, Cedar Ridge, J.F. Webb, Orange, Seaforth, and South Granville. J.F. Webb made a major jump in 2025 to become conference champions but the graduation of a pair of productive seniors will make things challenging for the Warriors as they try to go back-to-back. A...

Rockingham's Doug Robertson talks about his team ahead of new season 2026 Preseason Interview

The 2026 North Carolina High School Football Preseason Interviews are brought to you by Talk it Out NC. Talk it Out NC's mission is to reduce underage drinking by fostering open, honest, and ongoing conversations between adults and young people. Just like winning a big game, preventing underage drinking takes teamwork. Parents and teens can visit https://www.TalkItOutNC.org for resourc...

Jeff Craddock talks about young Tarboro team trying to repeat 2026 Preseason Interview

Pinecrest football and Nick Eddins keep momentum rolling into new season 2026 Preseason Interview

Garrett Mills ready to lead 'Dogs in return to Thomasville as head coach 2026 Preseason Interview

Providence Grove is young in 2026 under Cody Moran but looking to compete 2026 Preseason Interview

Chuck Cannon and Wilkes Central gearing up for another football season 2026 Preseason Interview

Corvian Community football and Chris Amill continue to build a contender 2026 Preseason Interview

TC Guyer looking forward to Year 1 with Cherokee football 2026 Preseason Interview

Fifteen players from North Carolina high schools taken in the 2026 MLB Draft

With Day 2 of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft now concluded, here's where former N.C. high school players have ended up. In total, we've counted only 15 North Carolina natives that were drafted — about half the totals from each of the last three years. (If we missed someone, let us know at highschoolot@wral.com). This year's draft stopped a ni...

2026 Coastal 5A/6A Conference Football Preview: Storylines, Predictions, Players to Watch

Welcome to HighSchoolOT's 2026 football season preview for the Coastal 5A/6A Conference. The league features Croatan, Dixon, Havelock, Northside-Jacksonville, Richlands, Swansboro, and West Carteret. The Coastal ended in a three-way tie for first in 2025 with Havelock, Croatan, and Northside-Jacksonville at the top. Now, the Monarchs have returned the vast majority of a groundbr...

Get a 25% discount on HSOT photo purchases with the promo code "SUMMER"

Now through August 1, State Employees Credit Union is offering a special, limited-time offer on HighSchoolOT photo purchases at <a href="...

NCCA announces soccer rosters for East-West All-Star games

On Friday, the North Carolina Coaches Association announced the rosters for the 2026 East-West All-Star girls soccer game. The NCCA also lists the rosters for the boys game, w...

Fourteen players from North Carolina high schools taken in the 2026 MLB Draft

With Day 2 of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft now concluded, here's where former N.C. high school players have ended up. In total, we've counted only 14 North Carolina natives that were drafted — about half the totals from each of the last three years. (If we missed someone, let us know at highschoolot@wral.com). This year's draft stopped a ni...

NC Softball Coaches release largest all-state team ever as more than 500 make the list

If you thought going to eight classifications would be the impetus for the N.C. Softball Coaches Association to trim down the size of its all-state teams, you couldn't be more wrong. The association released the largest all-state team in its history — or of any coaches association for that matter — with 550 players in all. With 400 N.C. High School Association programs, t...

Mariners select North Brunswick alumnus Trevor Lucas 129th overall in MLB Draft

Trevor Lucas is changing coasts. The North Brunswick alumnus and UNC-Wilmington third baseman was taken 129th overall in Saturday's fourth round of the 2026 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners. Lucas was a first-team All-CAA infielder this year, starting all 58 games for the second straight season with a .312 batting average with 12 doubles and 12 RBIs. As a freshma...

Reds take East Forsyth alumnus Ethan Norby 122nd overall in MLB Draft

Professional baseball just doubled its number of Norbys from East Forsyth. Ethan Norby, younger brother of MLB player Connor, was selected 122nd overall in Saturday's fourth round of the 2026 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds. Norby, a left-handed pitcher, had a decorated college career at East Carolina. He ended with 313 strikeouts in his three seasons, fourth-most...

Athletics select Lake Norman Charter alumnus Jacob Dudan 83rd overall in MLB Draft

Lake Norman Charter has its first Major League Draft pick. Jacob Dudan was selected 83rd overall in Saturday's third round of the 2026 MLB Draft by the (soon-to-be-Las Vegas) Athletics. The right-handed pitcher is the first player from a North Carolina high school selected in this year’s draft. Dudan, who was an honorable mention HighSchoolOT all-state pick his sen...

Cary promotes Kenneth Kinsey to athletic director

Cary High School didn't have to look far to find its next athletic director. The Imps have pi...

2026 North Carolina high school athletic director changes

Every offseason brings several changes to athletic director positions throughout the state. Here is HighSchoolOT's list of every school that will have a new athletic director for the 2026-27 school year. Boomkark this page and come back often to see changes. Have a news tip or press release to send us? Are we missing something on this list? Send an email to hi...

The 2026 HighSchoolOT All-State Boys Tennis Team

The sixth-annual HighSchoolOT boys tennis all-state team features 25 players making a second or third appearance on the team, including four who were repeat first-team selections. HighSchoolOT's 2025-26 All-State teams are presented by Talk It Out NC and First Carolina Bank. There is a first, second, and third team with 10 players each and a 20-player honorable mention team. Pla...

Marcel Johnson picked to lead Knightdale football program

Marcell Johnson has been named the head football coach at Knightdale High School, returning to lead the program that he starred for. ...

2026 Mountain 5A/6A Conference Football Preview: Storylines, Predictions, Players to Watch

Welcome to HighSchoolOT's 2026 football season preview for the Mountain 5A/6A Conference. The league features A.C. Reynolds, Asheville, Enka, Erwin, North Buncombe, and T.C. Roberson. T.C. Roberson brings back the Mountain Athletic Conference offensive and defensive players of the year from last year’s MAC championship roster. In many ways, the Rams are better suited for a deep ...

HSOT Press Box: Catching up on the latest coach, player movement for 2026 football & basketball

Guest Laieke Abebe (https://x.com/StrikaNation24_), Ben McCormick, and Joel Bryant recapped some of the most attention-grabbing coaching changes and player transfer announcements ahea...

2026 Greater Charlotte 7A/8A Conference Football Preview: Storylines, Predictions, Players to Watch

Welcome to HighSchoolOT's 2026 football season preview for the Greater Charlotte 7A/8A Conference. The league features Garinger, Hopewell, Hough, Myers Park, South Mecklenburg, and West Mecklenburg. Hough projects to be one of the top teams in the nation, so it’s safe to say that the defending N.C. High School Athletic Association 8A state champions are not only the favorite to ...

NC Soccer HOF coach Paul Dinkenor on the conflict between club and high school soccer

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Panther Creek football and Sean Crocker looking to retool this fall 2026 Preseason Interview

Chandler Greer is "the guy after the guy" for A.C. Reynolds football 2026 Preseason Interview

Here are the winners of the 2025-26 HSOT Honors awards

The winners have been announced for the 2025-26 HighSchoolOT Honors awards presented by Talk It Out NC, First Carolina Bank, and Children's Advocacy Centers of North Carolina. HighSchoolOT Honors has been recognizing the top student-athletes, teams, and coaches in North Carolina high school sports <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/story/highschoolot-honors-ever...

The 2026 HighSchoolOT All-State Boys Golf Team

The sixth-annual HighSchoolOT boys golf all-state team features 20 golfers making a second, third, or fourth appearance on the team, including six who were repeat first-team selections. HighSchoolOT's 2025-26 All-State teams are presented by Talk It Out NC and First Carolina Bank. The teams place 10 golfers on first, second, and third teams based on their scores from throughout ...

Jason Trousdale says Northern Durham football looks good this offseason 2026 Preseason Interview

Person football and Michael Johnson trying to take next step this season 2026 Preseason Interview

Donald Littlejohn inherits experienced team in Year 1 at Butler 2026 Preseason Interview

The 2026 HighSchoolOT All-State Boys Outdoor Track and Field Team

The sixth-annual HighSchoolOT boys outdoor track and field all-state team features 33 athletes who now have more than one appearance on the team, including six who now have multiple first-team selections. HighSchoolOT's 2025-26 All-State teams are presented by Talk It Out NC and First Carolina Bank. The all-state team is based on either N.C. High School Athletic Association or N...

2026 North Piedmont 6A/7A Conference Football Preview: Storylines, Predictions, Players to Watch

Welcome to HighSchoolOT's 2026 football season preview for the North Piedmont 6A/7A Conference. The league features Davie County, Lake Norman, Mooresville, North Iredell, South Iredell, and Statesville. Lake Norman returns a lot of talent and projects to finish near or at the top of the league. Defending champion Mooresville will certainly have a say in that, though. Davie Count...

The 2026 HighSchoolOT All-State Boys Volleyball Team

The inaugural HighSchoolOT boys volleyball all-state team features 10 players on the first and second teams, respectively, and 20 on honorable mention. HighSchoolOT's 2025-26 All-State teams are presented by Talk It Out NC and First Carolina Bank. These players represent the best across all classifications and associations just before the sport <a target="_blank" rel="noopener n...

The 2025-26 HighSchoolOT All-State Flag Football Team

The inaugural HighSchoolOT girls flag football all-state team features 10 players on the first and second teams, respectively, and 20 on honorable mention. HighSchoolOT's 2025-26 All-State teams are presented by Talk It Out NC and First Carolina Bank. These players represent the best across three seasons — some were in the fall of 2025, some in the winter, and some in the spring...

The 2026 HighSchoolOT All-State Girls Outdoor Track and Field Team

The sixth-annual HighSchoolOT girls outdoor track and field all-state team features 36 athletes who now have more than one appearance on the team, including 12 who now have multiple first-team selections. HighSchoolOT's 2025-26 All-State teams are presented by Talk It Out NC and First Carolina Bank. The all-state team is based on either N.C. High School Athletic Association or N...

2026 Southwestern 7A/8A Conference Football Preview: Storylines, Predictions, Players to Watch

Welcome to HighSchoolOT's 2026 football season preview for the Southwestern 7A/8A Conference. In 2025, the Southwestern was led by three front runners — Providence, Palisades, and Ardrey Kell — with Ballantyne Ridge, East Mecklenburg, and Rocky River all trying to find their footing. That pecking order should remain largely intact in 2026. Providence returns Division I ta...

2026 Cap 8A Conference Football Preview: Storylines, Predictions, Players to Watch

Last year, Millbrook broke through its Rolesville problem and looked dominant in a 28-7 win over the Rams to secure the first championship in the Cap 8A era. The Wildcats eventually played in the 8A state championship game and were shut out by Hough. 2026 presents another opportunity for Millbrook to stay ahead of Rolesville as the Wildcats return their Power 4 prospects and Rol...

2026 Central Piedmont 7A/8A Conference Football Preview: Storylines, Predictions, Players to Watch

Welcome to HighSchoolOT's 2026 football season preview for the Central Piedmont 7A/8A Conference. The league features East Forsyth, Northwest Guilford, Parkland, R.J. Reynolds, Reagan, and West Forsyth. The conference is a combination of the past Central Piedmont 4A Conference and the past Metro 4A Conference. There should be some battles in the league this season. Defend...