SNELLVILLE, Ga. — Carmel Christian (N.C.) isn’t new to the national scene, so the team isn’t focused on establishing itself as a national power.
The goal for the Cougars is maintaining that status.
Carmel finished the 2021-22 season ranked No. 23 in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national rankings after winning the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 4A state title, its third in five years.
The Cougars didn’t open the 2022-23 season in the Power 25, but is right in the mix making a compelling early season case. The team started the year 6-0 with its sixth win coming Friday night against No. 24 Calvary Christian (Fla.) at Holiday Hoopsgiving Atlanta.
Jaeden Mustaf shoots a free throw during Carmel Christian’s 76-69 win over Calvary Christian at Holiday Hoopsgiving Atlanta on Nov. 25, 2022.
Jaeden Mustaf (23), Bryce Cash (22) and Khamani Wertz (15) combined for 60 points while keeping Memphis signee Carl Cherenfant and four-star guard Jaylen Curry from finding a groove offensively. The talented Calvary Christian duo went 17 of 43 from the field for 48 points, 10 of which came at the free throw line.
“This is probably one of the best teams we’ve ever had defensively,” Carmel Christian head coach Joe Badgett said. “When you can take Jaylen [Curry] and Carl [Cherenfant] and have them taking volume shots, that’s saying something.”
The Cougars held Curry, Cherenfant and No. 24 Calvary Christian to 10 points in both of the first two quarters and led 36-20 at halftime. Their largest lead came in the opening minute of the second half, as a pair of quick makes put them ahead by 21 points.
Calvary Christian went on a massive run after that and forced overtime, but Carmel locked back in defensively and stifled the Eagles’ hopes of pulling off the comeback win, leaving with a 76-69 victory over a top 25 team.
“We just had to get settled down,” Badgett said.
Carmel Christian head coach Joe Badgett speaks with a referee in the team’s win over Calvary Christian on Nov. 25, 2022.
Carmel hopes to be heading for the same result as last season with a state title in tow, but the process will look quite a bit different if they do.
The team’s big three of Mustaf, Cash and Wertz is playing together for the first time this fall after each transferred to the Charlotte-area school during the offseason.
Mustaf is the most-recruited prospect out of the bunch. The 6-foot-4 junior holds offers from Maryland, Georgetown, Florida State and more. Cash, who has an offer from Appalachian State, and is “the most under-recruited kid in the country,” according to Badgett. Wertz is still working toward his first college offer.
In addition to the Cougars having new personnel, they also have a new look schematically. Last year’s squad led by Cade Tyson, who is now at Belmont University, was an offensive-minded group that, in the words of Badgett, could “get buckets.”
The 2022-23 Cougars will grind down opponents with their energy on defense.
“This year’s team has a different makeup, but I really like this team mainly because they will get after you defensively,” Badgett said. “It’s what wins state championships. You got to guard, and this team can really guard.”
Carmel lost Saturday for the first time this season with a 10-point defeat at the hands of Southern California Academy, a team featuring recent Texas Longhorns signee AJ Johnson.
Losing is never the goal for any team, but dropping an early-season game to a fellow national power won’t keep Carmel from achieving the ultimate goal of defending its state title. Especially when it comes on the heels of beating another national power.
“We’re going to be battle-tested by the time it counts,” Badgett said.
Here are photos from Shiloh High School. Scroll to the top of the page for Calvary Christian-Carmel Christian game highlights:
