Salisbury’s Finest Set for Summer Showdown
The recent announcement of the East-West All-Star basketball rosters has highlighted two standout seniors from Rowan County, Braylon Taylor of Salisbury and Tiara Thompson of West Rowan, who will represent the West squad in the July 20 showcase at Greensboro’s Novant Health Fieldhouse.
Taylor, a 2025-26 Rowan County and South Piedmont Conference Player of the Year, capped his high school career by leading Salisbury to the 4A state championship and posting a game‑high 29 points in the title game, where he averaged 18 points over the tournament.
Thompson, equally decorated as the conference’s Player of the Year, guided West Rowan to a 25‑3 season and finished her prep career with a 49‑point outburst in her final game, a performance that followed her appearance in the Carolinas Classic All‑Star Game earlier this year.
Coaching Lineup and Team Structure
Both all‑star teams will be led by experienced mentors; the West girls will be coached by Brett Lamb and John Shearin, while the West boys will be guided by Joe Spinks and Lavar Batts, with Albert Perkins and Ashley Poole serving as assistants for the respective boys and girls sides.
The games are scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m., featuring the girls’ contest first, followed by the boys’ matchup, giving fans a full evening of elite high school talent on display.
Beyond the individual accolades, the selections underscore the continued strength of Rowan County basketball programs, with both Salisbury and West Rowan enjoying recent successes that have placed them among the region’s top contenders.