First-year Cannon School boys basketball coach Jim Baker, rear, has the Cougars ranked third in the Independent Tribune Cream of Cabarrus Rankings and a threat to reach the state tournament. Among the team's key players are, from left, Sean Nix, Jake Baker and Evan Ingram.
CONCORD – In terms of the recent historical success of their boys basketball programs, Central Cabarrus and the Cannon School have been the most decorated in their respective classifications in Cabarrus County over the last few years. While plenty of contrasts can be made between their public- and private-school pedigrees, both the Vikings and Cougars have won back-to-back state titles within the last five years.
Jake Baker primarily came of the bench for an extremely talented Central Cabarrus team that won the Class 3A state championship the past two seasons but now is a starter averaging nearly nine assists per game at Cannon School.
Lester Barnes | Special to the Independent Tribune
Cannon's DJ Nix (23), Christian Reeves (32), and Karon Boyd (24) pose for a picture after winning the 2020 state championship trophy. DJ Nix is the older brother of current Cannon star Sean Nix, and all three are now college players: DJ Nix (Cornell), Reeves (Clemson) and Boyd (East Tennessee State).
Lester Barnes | Special to the Independent Tribune
Central Cabarrus coach Jim Baker pumps his fist into the air as his players rush to celebrate winning the state championship at N.C. State's Reynolds Coliseum last year.
First-year Cannon School boys basketball coach Jim Baker, rear, has the Cougars ranked third in the Independent Tribune Cream of Cabarrus Rankings and a threat to reach the state tournament. Among the team's key players are, from left, Sean Nix, Jake Baker and Evan Ingram.
Central Cabarrus coach Jim Baker pumps his fist into the air as his players rush to celebrate winning the state championship at N.C. State's Reynolds Coliseum last year.
Jake Baker primarily came of the bench for an extremely talented Central Cabarrus team that won the Class 3A state championship the past two seasons but now is a starter averaging nearly nine assists per game at Cannon School.
Lester Barnes | Special to the Independent Tribune
Cannon's DJ Nix (23), Christian Reeves (32), and Karon Boyd (24) pose for a picture after winning the 2020 state championship trophy. DJ Nix is the older brother of current Cannon star Sean Nix, and all three are now college players: DJ Nix (Cornell), Reeves (Clemson) and Boyd (East Tennessee State).
Lester Barnes | Special to the Independent Tribune
