State-champion Tigers lead Times All-Area girls selections

Wilson Prep places entire starting five on 12-player All-Area team

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:03am

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Wilson Prep, the city's first NCHSAA girls basketball champion since Beddingfield's legendary 2005-06 unbeaten 3-A queen, leads the 2025-26 Times All-Area high school girls basketball team with its entire starting lineup including sophomore Paris Best, the Times Girls Basketball Player of the Year, on the 12-player unit.

Why it matters

The All-Area girls squad that also numbers two from SouthWest Edgecombe and one each from Beddingfield, Southern Nash, C.B. Aycock, Greene Central and North Johnston highlights the top talent in the region, with five players earning repeat selections and three garnering their third All-Area honors.

The details

Wilson Prep's run to the 1-A title this season began with a third-round playoff loss to East Bladen last season in which head coach Mike Ward didn't think challenged his Tigers enough. With the further dilution of the NCHSAA to eight classifications in the offseason and a smaller conference, the 1-A Eastern Carolina Athletic Conference, to negotiate through, Ward took a page from Wilson Prep football coach Phillip Dickens assembled a nonconference gauntlet that included eventual 3-A champion Goldsboro, 8-A finalist Hoggard, 2-A semifinalist Bishop McGuiness and 5-A semifinalist Rocky Mount.

  • Wilson Prep lost three in a row to the latter three to start with a 1-3 record before winning 26 in a row, including the NCHSAA 1-A final over Robbinsville 58-44 in their second-tightest winning margin behind a 56-50 triumph at Goldsboro.
  • For the season, Brimage averaged 11.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 blocks (fourth most in 1-A) and 1.9 steals per game.

The players

Paris Best

The Times Girls Basketball Player of the Year, was the undisputed leader for the Wilson Prep girls.

My'Angel Brimage

The sophomore center emerged as a dominant postseason force, was named MVP of the state championship game and scored 37 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in the quarterfinals win over Vance Charter.

Hailee Thoms

The senior wing transfer from Hunt proved to be a perfect addition to the Tigers as a lethal perimeter threat, as well as an all-around player, making 40 3-pointers which ranked ninth in 1-A.

Kaidyn Brown

The sophomore wing sacrificed personal stats but hit double-digit scoring in three of WPA's five playoff games.

Chloe Murphy

The freshman co-point guard's arrival at Wilson Prep from Edgecombe County was the golden ticket to free up Best, as she was an adept ball handler on offense and ball hawk on defense who could also score in droves.

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What they’re saying

“I would not let y'all down”

— My'Angel Brimage, co-captain

“Definitely she was one of the, I'll say, big-time scorers, probably in the state. When she gets going, it's hard to stop her. But she just bought into Wilson Prep's brand and its hard, tough-nosed defense. When she came, she didn't know anything about defense or playing defense. She didn't want to play defense, but she bought in and that's what turned help us turn some of this season around as well.”

— Mike Ward, head coach

“She is the sleeper on the team, to be honest with you, because you can look up sometimes she'll have 15 points. Or she's going to have seven, eight rebounds, or she's going to have two or three steals, or two or three blocks.”

— Mike Ward, head coach

“Once Murphy adjusted to playing within Wilson Prep's high-powered attack and she didn't have to do everything, she became a special player.”

— Mike Ward, head coach

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.