Eastern North Carolina — The NBA regular season tips off next week and once again we will have several players from Eastern North Carolina hooping it up at basketball’s highest level. Former Farmville Central star Terquavion Smith has been told that he will spend most of this upcoming season with the 76ers G-League team in Delaware.
Smith has looked good when given the chance. In three preseason games, he is averaging 4.5 points in 7 minutes per game. The 76ers have a loaded roster of veterans so there wouldn’t be much playing time in Philadelphia early in the year. New 76ers head coach Nick Nurse signed Smith to a 2-way contract so they can get him lots of playing time in Delaware where he will have a chance to get better and be ready when the Sixers need him.
The Delaware Blue Jackets don’t open their season until November 10th so Smith will be around the 76ers when they start the NBA regular season next week.
High School Football
Northside of Beaufort County football coach Keith Boyd texted us to say they are moving their game with Lejeune from Friday to Thursday to avoid any forecasted rain. They will have Senior Day festivities in Yeatesville before the 7 p.m. kickoff. Northside can clinch at least a share of the Coastal Plain League title with a win.
North Pitt and West Craven will play in Chip on Thursday. The Eagles are tied for first place with Southwest Edgecombe in the Eastern Plains Conference. Check on Twitter for any further schedule changes: https://twitter.com/BrianNorth4
College Football
Big game in our state this weekend: The Western Carolina Catamounts are 5-1 and ranked 8th in the FCS. They host 4th-ranked Furman for first place in the Southern Conference. Former Southwest Onslow star Caleb Carter was starting at left guard until he broke his leg in their last game. He had helped the Cats turn around the program and win their past 5 games.
The big game in Culawee kicks off at 2:30.
NC Central plays its MEAC opener Thursday at Morgan State. The Eagles are 5-1 so far this season.
Hockey
The Carolina Hurricanes are back to their winning ways in San Jose.
The Canes scored four unanswered goals in the final 11 minutes to get the come-back win.
Carolina continues its West Coast road trip when they play in Seattle on Thursday night at 10 p.m.
Baseball
Greenville will have a brand new Collegiate Summer League Baseball team in 2024 and they are trying to find a nickname for the Coastal Plain League team. They are down to 5 finalists: Ballhogs, Booty, Garden Gnomes, Scallywags, Peglegs.
You can vote online until Oct. 27 at CoastalPlain.com. The winning name will be unveiled on a later date once a logo is created. The fan who submitted the winning entry will get gifts including a personalized jersey.
The new team will start playing May 24 at Guy Smith Stadium, which will be renovated.
