This is the 2026 The Daily News All-Area Boys’ Basketball Team, which recognizes the area’s best high school players from this past season. Coaches were able to nominate their own players for first, second or third team.

FIRST TEAM

Dominic Hall, East Duplin: The sophomore averaged 12.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.1 steals and one assist per game to help the Panthers go 12-12 overall, end in a three-way tie for second in the East Central 3-A/4-A Conference, win the league’s tournament title and advance to the second round of the 4-A playoffs. Hall had 10 double-doubles. One of his best efforts came when he recorded 13 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in a 64-60 ECC tournament final victory over Clinton.

Zarion Hobbs, White Oak: The junior averaged 23.3 points, four rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals to lead the Vikings to an 18-7 overall record, second place in the Big Carolina 6-A/7-A Conference at 7-3 and advance to the third round of the 6-A playoffs. He had 21 games with at least 20 points, including five with at least 30. Hobbs scored 36 in a 65-62 loss to Northside and scored 34 in a 70-57 victory over Richlands. Hobbs was second team last year.

Dwight Hooker, Richlands: The junior averaged 16.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.9 steals in his first season with the Wildcats, who struggled to a winless season. Hooker scored 35 points in a 70-57 loss to White Oak and scored 26 points in an 86-53 loss to West Carteret.

Connor May, Swansboro: The junior averaged 17.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals in his first season with the Pirates, who went 17-9 overall, shared the Coastal 5-A/6-A Conference title at 9-3 and advanced to the second round of the 6-A playoffs. Despite missing seven games with an injury, May had 12 games where he scored at least 16 points. He scored a season-best 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 78-67 victory over Southwest.

Kannon McBride, Croatan: The junior averaged 25.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.6 steals for the Cougars, who went 20-8 overall, 8-4 in the Coastal 5-A/6-A Conference and reach the second round of the 5-A playoffs. McBride had 10 double-doubles. He scored a season-best 39 points along with seven rebounds in a 70-58 win over East Duplin and had three more efforts with 36 points. He is first team for the second consecutive season.

Carlos Pagan, Southwest: The junior averaged 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.3 steals for the Stallions, who ended 11-14 overall and 6-4 in the East Central 3-A/4-A Conference. Pagan had 22 games where he scored at least 12 points. His season-best came when he scored 37 in a 73-70 loss to Trask while he also scored 34 in a 66-56 win over East Duplin.

SECOND TEAM

Joaliel Caraballo, White Oak, Jr., 2 13.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3.1 spg

Reginald Gray, Northside, Soph., 12.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.2 apg

Peyton Mayhew, Northside, Sr., 14.4 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.7 rpg, 2.7 spg

Maurice Thomas, Lejeune, Fr., 18.8 ppg, 10.9 rpg

Matt Williams, Jacksonville, 12.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.3 spg

Noah Wright, Dixon, Jr., 15.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg

THIRD TEAM

Isaac Baxter, White Oak, Jr., 7 ppg, 7.5 rpg

Taelin Burney, Liberty Christian, Fr., 12.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.7 spg, 1.3 bpg

Jaiden Cooper, Living Water Christian, Sr., 18.8 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 2.2 bpg, 1.7 apg, 1.5 spg

Lorenzo Floyd, Swansboro, Sr., 10.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.5 spg

Matthew Smoot, Northside, Jr., 10.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.3 spg

Tyler Thorpe, Croatan, Sr., 8.2 ppg, 5 apg, 2.8 rpg, 1.4 spg