HighSchoolOT is previewing the upcoming girls basketball season with its annual watch list across the state’s six area codes.

The 252 area code refers to the ENC counties of Pitt, Craven, and Carteret as well as Lenoir, Greene, Wilson, Nash, Edgecombe, Beaufort, Martin, Pamlico, Jones, Vance, Warren, Halifax, Northampton, Bertie, Hertford, Gates, Camden, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Dare, Currituck, Chowan, Washington, Beaufort, Tyrrell, and Hyde. In our preseason rankings, South Central is the top-ranked girls basketball team in the 252. The Falcons are also the No. 18 team in the statewide rankings.

Here’s what you need to know about HSOT Watch Lists:

• Unlike previous years, there was no set number of athletes on each one.
• The Watch List organizes athletes by county and then lists them alphabetically.
• Being on the HSOT Watch List does NOT factor into future awards, like HSOT All-State and HSOT Honors.
• Last year’s all-state team and final rankings are listed at the bottom of this story, as is this year’s preseason rankings.
• Sometimes transfers happen in the offseason and we are unaware. If that’s the case with any athlete below, please notify us at [email protected]

See which players made the HSOT All-State team from last winter.

Tyrrell, Hyde, Washington, Camden, Perquimans, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, and Pasquotank counties

• Jasmine Felton, Northeastern (senior)
• Lailana Harris, Perquimans (junior)
• Riley Parker, Currituck County (senior)
• Aubrey Phanton, First Flight (junior)
• Ellie Spear, Holmes (senior)

Gates, Northampton, Bertie, Warren, Hertford, Vance and Halifax counties

• Camaya Adkins, Northwest Halifax (senior)
• London Barber, Gates County (sophomore)
• Alyssa Bullock, Vance Charter (sophomore)
• Shaniah Daniels, Roanoke Rapids (junior)
• Ja’Kiyah Evans, Vance County (senior)
• Kemorriya Evans, Southeast Halifax (senior)
• Michaela Hodge, Northampton County (senior)
• Jaliyah Mitchell, Hertford County (senior)

Edgecombe, Wilson and Nash counties

• Jamaria Freeman, Fike (junior)
• Kira Jones, Rocky Mount (sophomore)
• Natasha Marshall, Beddingfield (junior)
• MacKenzie Moore, SouthWest Edgecombe (sophomore)
• Aaliyah Whitehead, SouthWest Edgecombe (junior)
• Diamond Wilson, North Edgecombe (sophomore)

Jones, Pamlico, Carteret, and Craven counties

• Torvonyah Heggie, West Craven (senior)
• Tanzania Locklear, East Carteret (senior)

Greene, Martin, Beaufort, Lenoir, and Pitt counties

• Sabraya Baker, South Central (senior)
• Brooklynne Evans, South Central (sophomore)
• Mariah Jones, Northside-Pinetown (senior)
• Zamareya Jones, North Pitt (senior)
• Zihanna Lightfoot, Martin (sophomore)
• Arlisha Mason, Greene Central (junior)