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NC Phenom 150 Camp Evaluations: Teams 13-14

November 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment

We will take look at the individual player evaluations from the 10th Annual NC Phenom 150 perspective camp coach. Today, we will look at the player evaluations from teams 13-14 at camp. The majority of the comments listed below are comments from the players’ respective camp coach.

Team 13 coached by Will Robinson

 #124 6’0 2014 Amari Hamilton of Durham, NC: Hamilton is an athletic combo guard with a smooth shooting touch, which may be his strongest attribute at the present time. He has solid ball handling and passing skills, but will need to transition more into a PG to play at the next level. He plays with much desire and plays hard. His hustle was evident and didn’t go unnoticed. He has a good skill set and has a chance to play at the collegiate level.

#89 6’2 2014 Austin Collins of Winston-Salem, NC: Collins is an athletic guard that plays with purpose. He has a hard work ethic and outstanding attitude. Currently, his athleticism is ahead of his skill set but he has time to improve his fundamentals. He has high-level quickness and it is very apparent on the defensive side of the ball. Collins has the physical intangibles to play at the next level, but his improvement in his skill set will help determine the appropriate level.

#30 5’11 2013 Malik Gaffney of Blackburg, SC: Gaffney has good athleticism accompanied by a great attitude and work ethic. He has the quickness and physical intangibles to play at the next level, but his ability to run the PG position will help determine the proper level. Gaffney is an exceptional shooter and has the proper shooting mechanics. His ability to shoot efficiency from the perimeter may make him an attractive player at the D2 or NAIA level.

#103 6’7 2015 Taylor Thomas of Richmond, VA: Thomas is an athletic combo forward that has a chance to be a major factor on a mid major school. He works hard and has a great attitude. He really runs the floor extremely well and rebounds his position. He is aggressive attacking the basket and has the chance to be an efficient scorer with improved footwork in the post area. That being said, his work ethic, athleticism and current skill set is appealing and should be name D1 schools should be monitoring.

#158 6’4 2014 Torin Dorn of Charlotte, NC: Dorn came into the event as an unknown and will quickly be on the radar for mid to high major schools. Dorn is long and athletic and his ability to get to the basket is effortless. He has the ability to knock down perimeter jumpers and don’t be surprised to see schools in the ACC check out his young man. Yes, he that good! Just remember, we told you so!

#23 5’2 2016 Jeremiah Fields of Kinston, NC: Fields may have been the smallest PG in the high school division, but don’t let that fool you. Fields has excellent vision and a big heart. He absolutely loves to play the game and his attitude and work ethic on the court was fun to watch. He gives absolute effort and his hustle, heart and desire overcame any physical shortcoming with his current size.

#179 6’6 2013 Roderick Howell of Rock Hill, SC: D1 schools that are in need of a rugged, hard working combo forward should look no further than Roderick Howell. Howell brings ultimate hustle to the game. He is a great athlete that finishes well at the rim. He runs the floor as well as anyone at camp. We currently see Howell as a face up 4 at D1 level. His young man has a high motor and his intensity on the court was impressive.

#81 6’2 2016 Curt Jones of Richmond, VA: Curt Jones was one of the top 5 freshmen in attendance at the NC Phenom 150 Camp and according to Coach Randy Peele, is already a solid MM D1 prospect. Jones has a unique blend of athleticism and skill set that will make him one of the top freshmen in the state of Virginia. He is that good! He has physical intangibles with explosive leaping ability, but he simply knows how to use his physical strengths in scoring with ease. Without question, Jones production matched his potential and was outstanding in scoring in various ways. He was knocking down 3 pointers, using dribble drive pull up jumpers and also driving hard to the rim. Without knowing his grade, Jones played like an upperclassman and he will be one to put in your SIM card. On the defensive side of the ball, Jones was active and used his length and athleticism to bother smaller guards. We feel if Jones continues to develop and add strength, he will become a HM prospect.

#71 6’2 2014 Rusty Reigal of Charlotte, NC: Simply put, Rusty Reigal is a “tough as nails” competitor that gives maximum effort every trip down the court. He has good size/strength for his position and has sneaky quickness as he continuously got into the lane with ease. He is a willing passer that looks to get his teammates involved rather than his own shot and at times overpassed, which can be a positive. He has excellent fundamentals, skill set, and basketball IQ. His father played at Davidson College and look for the younger Reigal to follow in his footsteps of attending a high academic D1 school. Coach Randy Peele stated, “ Rusty is a very tough kid. He is involved in a ton of plays and is a combo guard that can “deliver the blow on penetration.” He will be better in a system rather in pickup. More importantly, he is a winner and schools should not drop the ball on him since he has so many intangibles.”

#63 6’2 2014 Brian Thornton of Chapel Hill, NC: Brian Thornton is a regular of the NC Phenom 150 Camp and his game continues to improve. We have always been impressed with his skill and ability. His production on the court matches his potential and the strong and physically mature combo guard has a knack for getting into the lane and making scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.  Coach Randy Peele liked his ball handling skills and ability to create his own shot. His best move was the between the legs dribble move as he gets low and gains advantage over quicker and smaller guards. He finished well in transition and has a college ready frame. Easily a D1 prospect that schools in the Big South and Southern Conference should carefully monitor over the upcoming season. We think Thornton will have a break out sophomore season.

#97 5’10 Devan Morgan of Chester, VA: Usually playing defense in exposure/evaluation events hardly goes unnoticed, but not the NC Phenom 150 Camp. Devan Morgan was simply a terror on the defensive side of the ball. While less than 6 foot, Morgan has a strong and athletic body that can absolutely “lock up” the opposing PG. He has a full throttle approach to the game and won’t back down from anyone! He has a quiet confidence to his game and his strength allows him to play bigger than his 5’10 frame. Coach Randy Peele stated, “ Morgan is tough as nails as an on the ball defender. He can also flat out shoot the 3 ball and is a legit D1 prospect.”

Team 14 coached by John Prid 

#29 5’11 2013 Robbie Hagopian of Kannapolis, NC: Hagopian is a hard working player with an outstanding attitude. He gave maximum effort and his hustle was evident throughout the day. He has a solid understanding of the game accompanied with an adequate skill set. He has good court vision and is a willing and able passer. We liked his unselfish play and ability to play within the team structure.

#120 6’0 2014 Christopher Smith of Jacksonville, NC: Smith is a great young man with an excellent attitude. He has a solid skill set, but his ability to shoot the ball may be his strongest attribute. He has above average shooting mechanics and was effective shooting off the dribble. His ball handling skills are adequate, but can improve his defense to be a complete all around player.

#82 6’2 2014 Jermaine Jackson of Huntersville, NC: Jackson is a solid all around player that plays with a big heart. He has an adequate perimeter skill set, but his ability to dribble penetrates and attack the basket is his strongest suit. He did display more effort defensively and that was refreshing to see a player work as hard on the defensive end. Jackson’s effort and desire was on full display and should pay dividends down the road.

#76 6’2 2016 James Millner of Greensboro, NC: Millner is a promising young player that knows how to play the game the correct way. His fundamentals and skill set are solid and we like his overall basketball IQ. He displayed a great attitude and is a true team player. He has good ball handling and passing skills, but can improve his shooting perimeter skills.

#22 5’0 2016 Colton Lee of Raleigh, NC: Lee was one of the youngest and smallest players in the high school division. Lee is fundamentally sound player that plays with a huge heart. He is a very coachable player and does all the little things that often go unnoticed. He has above average ball handling with his passing skills being his strongest attribute. He is constantly dribbling with his head up looking for the open teammate. He does an excellent job of getting his teammates involved and running the team.

#159 6’4 2014 Ricky Council of Durham, NC: Ricky Council has been a regular at the NC Phenom 150 Camp and his stock continues to rise and his game has improved each season. Council plays the game the correct way! He plays with 100% effort 100% of the time. He plays with an extremely high motor and absolutely punished the rims at the Gateway YWCA. He flourishes in transition and in a high tempo offense; Council can become an effective player at the right MM program. His length, athleticism, and explosiveness are strong attributes, but his ability to shoot the mid range and 3 ball makes him attractive. Coach Randy Peele stated the following: “ Council is a slasher and finishes extremely well in transition. He loves to use the reverse spin dribble near the rim.”

#180 6’6 2013 Blake Cranor of Mooresville, NC: Blake Cranor has a sweet shooting touch from the perimeter and his ability to score efficiently with his jumper will enable him to play at the collegiate level. While Cranor doesn’t possess outstanding athleticism, he is fundamentally sound and plays with effort and desire. He runs the floor and gets himself in position to score and has a quick release on his jumper. We have watched Cranor over the pass several years and his performance has always been solid. His ability to shoot the perimeter jumper is his strongest attribute and can knock down shots efficiently and effectively.

#106 6’7 2016 Matt Kalaf of Raleigh, NC: When you are 6’7 and can shoot the ball as well as Kalaf, you definitely need to put this young man in your SIM card. He was knocking down 3 pointers all day, but more importantly his young man as a sweet shooting stroke. He was especially deadly in a catch and shoot situation and moved well off the ball, which is a unique skill for young players. In addition, Kalaf was able to shoot off the dribble in the half court and we feel Kalaf has one of the nicest strokes in the 2016 in North Carolina. Coach Randy Peele stated “Kalaf needs to be on MM D1 recruiting list ASAP, he is that good.” More importantly, Kalaf has a 4.0 GPA for his first semester. Student athlete!

#116 5’11 2015 Thomas Brown of Statesville, NC: Brown has strong ball handling skills and runs the team with poise. He has the physical attributes needed to be an effective player. He has a team first attitude, which is nice to see in camp settings. The next step for Brown is to develop a strong work ethic to maximize his abilities.

#1 5’10 2016 Caron Corpening of Lenoir, NC: Caron Corpening is another promising young PG in the North Carolina class of 2016. Corpening has speed and quickness and understands the responsibilities of the PG position, which is important for a young player. That being said, we are more impressed with his defensive presence on the court. Corpening is a hawkish “on the ball defender” and his lateral quickness is superb. Corpening will accept any challenge defensively and his effort guarding the opposing PG is second to none. He absolutely gets after it and not many young prospects take as much pride in their defense as Corpening.

#73 6’2 2015 John Pride of Glen Allen, VA: Pride is a solid player with good court vision. He is a big young guard that can rebound well for his position. He has a good quick step and finishes well at the basket. He is a high-energy player and has a pass first mentality and team first attitude. Pride can also slide over to the SG position with his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter. He has a quick release, but we see the PG position being his best position at the next level.

#65 6’2 2014 Isiah Taylor of Charlotte, NC: Taylor is an athletic combo guard that combines athleticism and a high basketball IQ. He has solid ball handling and passing skills but his strongest attribute is his ability to score. He has outstanding shooting mechanics with a high release point with proper extension and follow through. His long term potential is to play the PG position at the collegiate level and we truly feel he has all the physical intangibles along with the proper skill set to achieve just that. He has all the quality ingredients.

Filed Under: Featured, NC Phenom 150, Phenom Reports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NC Phenom 150 Camp Review Part 4

October 23, 2012 by 1 Comment

In today’s issue, we will take a look at the next tier of prospects in the 2015 class that made an impression on the numerous scouts in attendance including the Phenom Hoop Report.

5’10 2015 PG Devan Morgan of Matoaca HS in Chester, VA

Usually playing defense in exposure/evaluation events hardly goes unnoticed, but not the NC Phenom 150 Camp. Devan Morgan was simply a terror on the defensive side of the ball. While less than 6 foot, Morgan has a strong and athletic body that can absolutely “lock up” the opposing PG. He has a full throttle approach to the game and won’t back down from anyone! He has a quiet confidence to his game and his strength allows him to play bigger than his 5’10 frame. Coach Randy Peele stated, “ Morgan is tough as nails as an on the ball defender. He can also flat out shoot the 3 ball and is a legit D1 prospect.”

6’2 2015 Brian Thornton of Chapel Hill HS in Chapel Hill, NC

Brian Thornton is a regular of the NC Phenom 150 Camp and his game continues to improve. We have always been impressed with his skill and ability. His production on the court matches his potential and the strong and physically mature combo guard has a knack for getting into the lane and making scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.  Coach Randy Peele liked his ball handling skills and ability to create his own shot. His best move was the between the legs dribble move as he gets low and gains advantage over quicker and smaller guards. He finished well in transition and has a college ready frame. Easily a D1 prospect that schools in the Big South and Southern Conference should carefully monitor over the upcoming season. We think Thornton will have a break out sophomore season.

6’6 2015 PF Marcellis Purvis of L.C. Bird HS of Chester, VA

What is there not to like about Marcellis Purvis? We are talking about a physically mature 6’6 PF that can simply dominate the game with his strength and athleticism, especially in the low post area. He has quick feet and nifty moves around the basket and his athleticism and quickness gives bigger players problems. He can dominate the boards both on the offensive/defensive ends of the court and anticipates missed shots for aggressive rebounds. While Purvis may be a little raw offensively, he has excellent length that allows him to play bigger than his 6’6 frame. As one scout stated, “Purvis rebounds the hell out of the ball.”

6’7 2015 Thomas Taylor of L.C. Bird HS of Chester, VA

Taylor is a long, but strong 6’7 WF with an enormous wingspan. He looked like he was coming off a knee injury. Taylor has really “soft hands” and secures a lot of loose balls and rebounds. He is a willing rebounder that plays his position well and doesn’t venture far from the paint. It’s nice to see big guys like to mix it up in the paint and battle and Taylor did exactly that.

He finished well in the paint, but the play of the day for Taylor was his offensive rebound off a missed shot, he gathered his balance and went up for a monster two handed jam that sent the gym in a frenzy. While Taylor is a little raw on “go to” offensive moves, his size, strength and length will make him a solid D1 prospect.

6’3 2015 SG Anthony Bilas of Charlotte Latin in Charlotte, NC

Anthony Bilas was one of the smartest players in camp and a true team player. He comes from a great bloodline and he knows how to create scoring opportunity for himself and his teammates. While not a PG, Bilas as excellent court vision and is a willing passer and always seem to make the right play. He finished well in transition and has above average perimeter shooting. Bilas is a tireless worker and continues to get better every time we watch him play. He has good length for his size/grade and looks like he could shoot up height wise. He has the skill set, fundamentals and basketball IQ to play at a D1 level, but his physical growth will help determine the appropriate level.

5’9 2015 PG Malik Edwards of South Central HS in Winterville, NC

Don’t let his size fool you! At 5’9 this young man takes off like a jet and dunks like he is 6’8! His speed with the basketball is off the charts and as one scout stated, “Edwards can push the ball from end to end in the blind of an eye.” We really liked his speed, quickness and athleticism and these physical attributes should offset his height.  Edwards has excellent lateral quickness and push a lot of defensive pressure on the opposing PG. His skill set is solid and with his athleticism should garnish him legit D1 interest/scholarships down the road.

6’2 2015 Adrian White of Thomas Dale HS in Chester, VA

Adrian White is the younger brother of Kansas’s freshman Andrew White and the younger White also has game!  Adrian White is a talented and promising young prospect and has the ability and skill to become a solid D1 college PG prospect. Knowing his work ethic accompanied with skill and athleticism, we really think the younger White has the potential to be one of the better players in the class of 2015 in Virginia. He plays with poise and confidence and his ability to run a team was impressive. He has they physical and mental components to become a big PG target in his 2015 class.

6’1 2015 Gerald Peacock of Millbrook HS in Raleigh, NC

Peacock is a very strong and athletic combo guard that is excellent at creating his own shot off the dribble. He makes plays in transition and was outstanding in finishing in traffic for his age/grade. His physical attributes and ability to score will allow Peacock to become a solid prospect at the mid major level. Peacock was impressive throughout the day and made impressions on many scouts in attendance and deservingly so. Along with his impressive offensive skills, he has solid fundamentals and basketball IQ that made him a top prospect at camp for his class.

6’5 2015 Zach Hartle of West Stokes HS of King, NC

Zach Hartle is a fundamental sound player with outstanding basketball lQ, but don’t let that fool you. He has sneaky athleticism and had a tremendous throw down dunk that was impressive. He is an excellent “catch and shoot” player and can really shoot the 3-point consistently which will make him a solid D1 prospect. While Hartle does need to work on a quicker release, but if he continues to growth and develop, schools in the Big South and Southern Conference will be knocking on his door.

6’3 2015 SG Mykel Sims of Highland Springs HS of Richmond, VA

Sims is a big body and physically mature SG that has a polished offensive skill set. He has the ability to shoot off the dribble or create his own shot off the dribble. He was highly effective with the Earl “the pearl” Monroe reverse spin move right into a pull up jumper. While he has effective ball handling and passing skills, his strongest attribute is his ability to score. Definitely, Sims is a young prospect D1 schools should start to monitor.

6’5 2015 Joseph Bell of Neuse Christian Academy of Clayton, NC

Joseph Bell was strong with his ability to attack the basket using nifty and advanced ball handling maneuvers throughout traffic. He is on attack move with his dribble and finishes at a high percentage. He made an impressive baseline move with a reverse spin layup that exhibited his skill set. Bell’s length and athleticism accompanied with his skill set makes him a promising young prospect.

6’1 2015 Michael White of Charlotte Country Day in Charlotte, NC

Michael White demonstrated an advanced skill set consistently and lower tier D1 schools should be checking him out immediately. The highly skilled and fundamentally sound guard can do a little bit of everything well. He has outstanding range and can create his own shot off the dribble, but he was effective in transition by utilizing the “euro step” in transition. If White continues to grow and develop, his level of college interest will dramatically increase.

6’1 2015 AJ Fulp of Wesley Chapel in Weddington, NC

Fulp received strong accolades from various scouts in attendance.  He is a strong team player with high basketball IQ and fundamentals. He worked hard on both ends of the court and allowed the game come to him. He did not force the action and played within the team structure. While a combo guard currently, he made solid decisions especially while passing off the dribble. Fulp is one to monitor over the next several years.

6’8 2015 Hunter Seacat of Lake Norman HS in Mooresville, NC

There is a premium on 6’8 players that play hard and hustle! Seacat is exactly just that and his ability to run the floor was impressive. Like most big men at camp settings, they get little touches on the offensive end, but Seacat was able to run the floor and get a few easy buckets in transition. His active approach on both ends of the court was refreshing. More importantly, we were impressed with his rebounding ability and to make strong/quick outlet passes to his teammates. Seacat will get stronger and that the added strength will make him a high D1 target/prospect.

6’7 Nate Williams of John Marshal HS in Richmond, VA

Nate Williams has the physical attributes and athleticism to gain immediate attention from lower tier D1 schools. He plays with a high motor and is extremely high active on both ends of the court. Currently, the effort is there and Williams doesn’t back down from mixing it up and his competitiveness is contagious. The next step for Williams is to develop a more polished offensive skill set, but with his work ethic that will easily come.

6’0 2015 PG Ryan Pearson of Henrico HS in Richmond, VA

Pearson was simply one of the better shooting point guards at the camp. While a true PG, Pearson showcased his soft perimeter shooting touch as he consistently knocked down 3 pointers throughout the day. He has the ability to create his own jump shot, but more importantly he was a willing passer and generated countless scoring opportunities for his teammates. He ran the team with precision and played with poise and confidence of a young D1 prospect. We were also impressed with his decision-making and his careful handling of the ball as he rarely made a mental mistake or turnover.

6’0 2015 PG Devin Cooper of Walnut Grove HS in Charlotte, NC

The young and highly skilled PG has the fundamentals and IQ to be attractive D1 prospect that happens to own a beautiful jumper. Cooper’s shooting technique and form on his jumper is textbook. He has a high release point and great extension and rotation on his shot. We liked his poise and confidence at the PG position. While not overly athletic, Cooper overcomes any physical shortcoming with his overall understanding of the game.

5’11 2015 PG Darius Moore of Greensboro Day School in Greensboro, NC

Darius Moore has excellent quickness and will be an important member of Coach Freddie Johnson GDS team in their run for a state NCISAA state championship. Moore is a regular at the NC Phenom 150 camp and continues to impress us with his skill, poise, and confidence on the court. Simply put, Moore is “one tough young man.” He has excellent court vision and has solid lateral quickness and defensive presence. He is a player that can control the tempo of the game with his court leadership and should carry on to the next level.

6’3 2015 SG Harrison Burton of Christchurch School in Virginia

Harrison Burton is a strong combo guard that may be best suited for the SG position at the next level.  He has good size and knows how to play and has a great feel for the game. He plays within the team structure and is a willing passer in the open court. He has good court vision which is hard to teach. Currently, he is an average shooter and will need to improve his perimeter shooting to take the next step in his development.

6’2″ 2015 PG John Pride of Glen Allen HS in Glen Allen, VA

John Allen is an athletic combo guard who plays with a lot of intensity on both sides of the court. He combines athleticism and skill that projects clearly with his on court basketball IQ. He has a quick first step and goes extremely strong to the basket, but sports a smooth midrange game, which is rarely seen today. While he has a scoring mentality, he is a willing passer and knows how to get his teammates involved. More importantly, Pride does all the little extra things on the court; he boxes out, makes the extra pass and doesn’t mind diving on the floor for a loose ball. He has a great team concept and his understanding of the game is impressive. He is a solid D1 prospect.

Filed Under: Featured, NC Phenom 150, Phenom Reports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Recruiting Round Table Part 2

June 12, 2012 by 1 Comment

In today’s issue of Recruiting Round Table Part 2,  we want to introduce players that are currently “under the radar”.

Player: 6’1 PG Colton Bishop
Class: 2014
City: Lewisville, North Carolina
High School: Forsyth Country Day
Twitter Name: @bishizzo1
High School Coach: Jack McHale
AAU Team: NC Spartans
AAU Coach: Brant Short
Interest: Western Carolina, Davidson, Gardner-Webb, NC Central
Evaluation: Bishop is a long and slender PG that is rapidly improving into a solid D1 prospect. He is a tireless worker and is the ultimate gym rat. He will surprise you with his athleticism and has the ability to be a scoring PG or a true facilitator in running his team effectively. Bishop is fundamentally sound player with an outstanding basketball IQ. Last season for FCDS, we was used more as a scoring guard especially with his ability to know down 3 point shots. He is a super young man with high character and any college that secures his commitment will have a great young man/player.

Player: 6’3 Darius Williams
Class: 2014
City: Hemingway, South Carolina
High School: Carvers Bay
High School Coach: J. Mezzatesta
AAU Team: Manzer
AAU Coach: Coach Manzer
Interest: UNC, Louisville, NC State
Evaluation: Williams is an superb athlete that can shine on the football field or on the basketball court. He has a strong frame and his ability to compete, defend, and play with an aggressive fashion is impressive. He is a run/jump athletic WG and with a refined skill set, should see his recruitment explode.

Player: 6’3 John Elmore
Class:2014
City: Charleston, West Virginia
High School: Christ School, Arden NC
Twitter Name: @elmore33
High School Coach: David Gaines
AAU Team: WV Wildcats
Interest:  Alabama, WVU, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Ohio University, VMI
Evaluation: A strong and heady PG that can simply do a little bit of everything on the court. While Elmore has a solid offensive skill set, the extremely athletic PG strongest attribute may be his ability to defend with his excellent on the ball defense. Elmore has been well coached and has a high basketball IQ and strong fundamentals that accompany his skill set and athleticism.

Name: 6’0 RJ Hunt
Class 2014
City: Raleigh, North Carolina
High School: Neuse Christian Academy
Twitter Name: @RJ_Hunt_21
High School Coach: Coach Scottie Richardson
AAU Coach:  Bob Harris
Interest: Tennessee,  VCU, George Mason, UGA.
Evaluation: Hunt is a hard working young man that is entirely focused on athletics and academics, plus has his priorities in order. A high character young man that plays the game the right way. A solid lead guard that is capable of running a team effectively in transition and in the half court. He has good court vision and basketball IQ and has different levels of college interest. His strongest attribute is his understanding of the game and once he gains more strength and power, his recruitment will expand even further.

Name: 6’8 Parker Jones
Class: 2014
City: Mooresville, North Carolina
High School: Lake Norman High School
High School Coach: Brandon Jolly
AAU Team: Carolina Warriors
AAU  Coach:  Thomas Mack
Evaluation: Jones is a solid 6’8 player that is continuing to make strides on the basketball court. He has a soft shooting touch up to 12-15 feet and once he develops more strength and athleticism, his recruitment should pick up. Currently, a D3/D2 prospect, Jones is a strong a student in the classroom and a model citizen that could see more interest with a strong showing during the live July period.

Player: 6’4 SG Nick Powell
Class: 2014
City: Greensboro, North Carolina
High School: Northwest Guilford
Twitter Name: @Nicky_P_
High School Coach:   Lee Reavis
AAU Team: Kappa Magic 16U
AAU coach: Eric Alspaugh
Interest: Western Carolina, Wingate, UNC-G
Evaluation: Powell is a strong SG that has excellent range on his jumper. He is an efficient 3 point shooter with outstanding shooting fundamentals, technique, extension and follow through. While his ability to shoot accurately from the perimeter is his strongest attribute, he will surprise you with his movement without the ball. He is solid in coming off screens and is constantly moving to get open. He has good ball handling skills for his size/position and is able to use either hand while finishing in the lane. The next step for Powell is continued improvement on the defensive end of the floor with increased lateral speed.

You Tube: (Start at 1:30 min)  Nick Powell #21 AAU – Kappa Magic 16U – Boo Williams Nike Invitational 2012

Nick Powell #3 from 2011-2012 Northwest Guilford season.

Player: 5’9  Emmanuel Maree
Class: 2014
City: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
High School: North Forsyth High School
Twitter Name: @EmmanMaree_12
AAU Team: Winston-Salem Warriors
AAU coach: Terrence Petree
Interest: Invited to Wake Forest and UNC-G Elite Camps UNC-G, Winthrop.
Evaluation: Maree is a quick PG that is able to push the ball up the court in an impressive fashion. He has jet like speed and has the ability to penetrate into the lane with ease. He has the ability to finish in the lane, but is quite effective in dishing out to teammates for open shots. He is a true lead guard that makes his teammates better. Currently, a borderline D2/D1 prospect and a strong summer and junior year will help determine his appropriate level.

Player: 5’10  Christian Sexton
Class: 2014
City: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
High School: Bishop McGuiness Catholic
Twitter Name: @shwingo4
High School  Coach: Josh Thompson
AAU Team: NC Spartans Elite
AAU coach: Brant Short
Evaluation: Sexton is a smart and heady PG that has a solid skill set. His strongest attributes are his high basketball IQ and fundamentals. He is an efficient scorer and has excellent range on his perimeter shooting. He is strong academically so D3 should be a proper fit for this young man.

Player: 6’1 Brian Thornton
Class: 2015
City: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
High School Coach: Tom Morgan
AAU Team: SEBL 15U
Interest: Davidson College, Wingate, Seton Hall
Evaluation: Thornton is a strong PG that competes, defends and plays hard. He is one of the better PG’s in the 2015 class in North Carolina. He has good size, strength and power for his age/grade that is matched with good fundamentals and IQ. He has a nice blend of athleticism and skills that should make him a priority in the 2015 class for players in the Old North State.

Player: 6’2  Anthony Bilas
Class: 2015
City: Charlotte, North Carolina
High School:  Charlotte Latin
Twitter Name:  @AnthonyBilas
High School Coach: Chris Berger
AAU Team: Upward Stars
Evaluation: Anthony Bilas comes from excellent stock and is the son of former Duke star Jay Bilas. Anthony Bilas is a hard working young man with outstanding fundamentals and basketball IQ. He has strong perimeter skills and possesses an excellent shooting touch and can consistently knock down the 3 point shot. One of his strongest attributes is his work ethic and desire to get better. He has solid ball handling skills for his size/position and is an good team player. While his strength is shooting the ball, he is unselfish in making the extra pass. While only 6’2 currently, he is long and lanky and looks like he has a lot more growing to do.

Player: 5’8  Chandler Peraldo
Class: 2015
City: Greensboro, North Carolina
High School: Bishop McGuiness Catholic
High School Coach: Josh Thompson
AAU Team: Team Phoenix
Evaluation: Peraldo is a quick/heady “pass first” PG. He is an ultimate gym rat and has excellent handles along with good perimeter skills. He is effective shooting 3 pointers and has the speed/quickness to be an effective PG at the HS level and beyond. His biggest attribute is his desire to get better since he is a strong will competitor. As he gets older, he will gain strength and power which will help determine his appropriate level.

Player: 6’0  Timmy Walker, Jr.
Class: 2016
City: Charlotte, North Carolina
High School: Christ School
Twitter Name: @TimmyWlk11
High School Coach: David Gaines
AAU Team: Karolina Diamonds
AAU coach:  Kevin Graves
Evaluation: Go ahead and put his young man in your SIM CARD. He is one of the better players in the talented 2016 class in North Carolina. He is strong, powerful and possesses excellent speed/quickness. Walker will be transferring to The Christ School in Arden, North Carolina and Coach David Gaines truly has a gifted young prospect in the 2016 class. His athleticism (strength, speed, and quickness) are beyond his years for his age/grade and has the ability to get into the lane with so much ease, even against bigger and older players. The next step for Walker is to develop a consistent perimeter jumper extending to the 3 point line.

Player: 5’8 Caron Corpening
Class: 2016
City: Lenoir, North Carolina
High School: Saint Stephens high
Twitter Name: @CaronCorpening
AAU Team: E.A. Prep All Stars
Evaluation: Corpening is another player on the rise in the 2016 class. His speed/quickness along with his ability to handle and pass the rock are exceptional for his age/grade. More importantly, he excels on the defensive on the floor and may be one of the best on the ball defenders we have seen in quite some time. This young man takes tremendous pride in his defense which is not found often today. He can be a change changer by his defensive pressure on the ball. He is a true competitor that gives 100% effort 100% of the time. Add him to your SIM CARD as a solid D1 prospect.

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NC Phenom 150 Camp Recap, part 5

April 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment

In today’s issue we will take a close look at Part 4 of the NC Phenom 150 Evaluation Camp. Over 30 division I prospects attended this event and wanted to give a thorough and detailed look at the below players.

Player: 5’9 Daryl Myers
Hometown: Fredericksburg, VA
School: Oak Hill Academy
Class: 2015
Evaluation: Daryl Myers is an ultra-quick PG with advanced ball handling skills. He had one of the best attitudes at camp with a personality that was quite infectious. Myers strongest attribute is his ability to penetrate the gap of the defense with his speed and quickness. While Myers was able to dribble penetrate the lane at ease, he was very unselfish in his overall team play. He was always willing to make the extra pass to open teammates. Myers is definitely a young prospect to put in your SIM CARD for continued evaluations.

Player: 6’5 Daniel Kanakanui
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
School: Jamestown Ragsdale
Class: 2014
Evaluation: Daniel Kanakanui is a strong and powerful built young prospect that has a unique blend of power yet finesse. Kanakanui used his strength and power on the interior, but also showcased his finesse and grace by stepping out and consistently knocking down mid-range jumpers. He played extremely hard and ran the passing lanes well and understands how to find the kill spots in the defense. Kanakanui can become a solid D1 prospect with improved ball handling skills. That being said, Kanakanui is an intriguing prospect with good upside and potential.

Player: 6’5 Ashley Williams
Hometown: Morehead City, NC
School: Croaton
Class: 2013
Evaluation: We first watched Ashley Williams at the Inaugural SEBL combine and he followed up with another nice camp performance and he and his twin brother Aaron will be names you will continue to read about more during the spring/summer AAU travel circuit. In the SEBL combine report, we wrote Ashley is “an extremely long 6’5 and plays much bigger than his listed height. He has a soft shooting touch from the 3 point line and is comfortable shooting off the dribble. He is especially effective on the defensive end of the court and can use his length to guard taller defenders and is athletic enough to guard smaller and quicker guards.” Williams has a nice blend of athleticism and high basketball IQ that will make him a solid D1 prospect. He is an explosive jumper and is quick to the basket. Again, Williams showcased the willingness and ability to play tough man to man defense which is not often seen in camp setting.

Player: 6’3 Aaron Williams
Hometown: Morehead City, NC
School: Croaton
Class: 2013
Evaluation: Aaron Williams is one of the more fundamentally sound players in his class for the talent rich state of North Carolina. He has excellent basketball IQ and solid basketball skills. At the SEBL, we stated “Aaron doesn’t demand the ball and plays within the game by allowing the game come to him. His unselfish play was impressive and tries to make his presence known on both ends of the court.” That being said, Aaron’s play at the NC Phenom 150 was almost a carbon copy of his play earlier this month. Aaron is definitely a consistent young player that takes as much pride in his defense as his offense. He is an excellent rebounder for his size/position and anticipates miss shots and passing lanes with uncanny ability.

Player: 6’2 Brian Thornton
Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC
School: Chapel Hill
Class: 2015
Evaluation: We first watched Brian Thornton at the Fall NC Phenom 150 Camp last October and were impressed with his play and upside and not much has changed in our opinion. Thornton is a strong and heady floor general with outstanding fundamentals and high basketball IQ. While many young PG’s concentrate on making the fancy play, Thornton is about making the winning play. His understanding of the PG position is impressive for his age/grade and is as concerned about making his teammates better as he is making himself look better. Thornton is a true PG that has tremendous upside and potential and will definitely be a name D1 coaches will be monitoring over the next 3 years.  

Player: 6’4 Reed Lucas
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
School: Greensboro Day School
Class: 2013
Evaluation: It has been fun watching the improvement and development in Reed Lucas over the past few years. Lucas has been known as a 3 point assassin with his dialed in approach. Lucas can simply shoot the cover off the ball. There’s an old saying about good shooters, “do your work early” and this approach comes easy to Lucas. Lucas is excellent in finding the kill zones in the teeth of the defense and once he gets his feet squared up to the basket, it is an automatic 3 points. In addition, he has improved his ability to come off screens and is effective and efficient. More importantly, Lucas has improved his athleticism and is a “sneaky jumper” has he has developed some surprising hops/bounce to his game. D1 schools that are looking for an excellent shooter with a tremendous work ethic and understanding of the game should look no further than the GDS standout.

Player: 6’4 Nick George
Hometown: South Charleston, WV
School: Charleston Catholic
Class: 2014
Evaluation: Nick George is a strong and rugged SG that combines a high basketball IQ, solid fundamentals and the unique ability to put the ball in the basket. George is a young player that simply knows how to play the game and play the game the right way! He is excellent in coming off ball screens and getting his shot off, but more importantly he only takes good shots. Unlike most shooters, he also sports the mind of a PG by getting his teammates involved with his advanced passing skills. Besides being an outstanding player on the court, George is an excellent student and great teammate and has all the ingredients for garnishing D1 interest from schools in the Big South and Southern Conference.

Player: 6’2 Aaron Peele
Hometown: Statesville, NC
School: Statesville HS
Class: 2015
Evaluation: Aaron Peele is a promising young freshman that already sports good size and strength for the PG position. Peele is athletic and sports good open court speed while pushing the ball in transition. His strongest attribute is his overall athleticism. While he sports the physical intangibles for a potential D1 PG, he has a solid understanding of the game. He does an adequate job of getting to the rim and finishing with consistency, the next step for Peele is to develop a mid-range pull up jumper and floater to his arsenal.  He has a tremendous attitude on the court and his willingness to improve and develop will be the difference in his continued collegiate interest in the next few years.

Player: 5’5 Tripp Greene
Hometown: Wilkesboro, NC
School: Forsyth Country Day
Class: 2018
Evaluation: We rarely mention middle school players in the high school write ups, but Tripp Greene is not your ordinary middle school player. Greene is a young player that is advanced beyond his peers for his grade and talent level. We are talking about a fundamentally sound young player that possesses a high basketball IQ and knows how to play the game the correct way. In several situations, he found himself playing against older and bigger players, but felt completely comfortable and at ease. I guess when you know how to play the game, it doesn’t matter how old/young you are. Greene has advanced ball handling, passing and shooting skills and utilizes a steady diet of offensive skills that made him one of the favorites of all the scouts in attendance. He was able to manipulate and get his shot off against the older players and changes speeds effectively in the open court. While Greene was one of the youngest players in attendance, his play was equal to that of his older counterparts. Simply stated, it is refreshing to watch a young player that has worked hard on his fundamentals and skills sets and use him efficiently in a game setting. I’m sure we will hear a lot more about his young prospect in many years to come.

Player: 5’11 Cameron Kirkman
Hometown: Granite Falls, NC
School: Heritage Christian
Class: 2013
Evaluation: Cameron Kirkman has the fundamentals and skill sets to be an effective player at a D2 or D3 level. He has a great attitude and understanding of the game and is efficient in creating his own shot off the dribble. Without question, one can sense the level of enjoyment he has playing the game. He plays hard and loves to compete and maximizes his abilities to the fullest. His skill sets allow him to be an outstanding high school player and with increased work ethic in terms of athleticism could easily find himself playing for a D2 school.

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North Carolina Under the Radar camp

November 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Without question, the state of North Carolina is a hotbed for basketball and year after year the state produces more than its fair share of elite level players. That being said, there are so many players that simply fall through the cracks and schools reach deep into the talent pool to snatch players that go on to become productive players at the D1 level. This year is no different and we wanted to give a list of players that are legit D1 prospects that should be recruited.

Player: 5’10 PG Shivaughn Wiggins
School: North Mecklenburg HS
City: Huntersville, NC
Class: 2012

Comments: Coach Duane Lewis of North Mecklenburg High School in Huntersville, North Carolina is one of the best high school basketball coaches in the state. He has produced many D1 prospects at every level and this year is no exception with his senior PG Shivaughn Wiggins. Wiggins is enjoying an outstanding start to the season. After a solid junior season where Wiggins averaged 13.3 PPG, 7.3 APG, and 3.4 steals per game, he is now playing the role of a scoring PG and a good one at that. Currently, Wiggins is averaging 25 PPG and 6.5 APG and over 3 steals per game. These statistics are outstanding for the level of competition he is playing. North Mecklenburg HS is in the 4A classification for the state of North Carolina.  Wiggins plays with a confidence that is second to none. He is a fierce competitor and will not back down from a challenge. He is an excellent on the ball defender and has quick hands and feet. He has a solid foundation of team defense and anticipates nicely for steals. On the offensive end of the court, he is an outstanding ball handler. He dribbles with a low stance and has his head always up looking for the next pass to an open teammate. He has an uncanny ability to see a play one step ahead and his advanced ball handling skills makes him one difficult player to defend. He has good ball speed and quickness and utilizes the hesitation move effectively to keep defenders off balance. He changes speed extremely well and has the ability to create his own shot off the dribble. Wiggins sports a nice mid range pull up jumper and has perfected the tear drop floater in the lane. Without question, Wiggins is a PG D1 schools should take a hard long look at, especially in the North Carolina area. If not, we will be reading about another player that was “snatched” away from his own back yard.

Player: 6’3 SG Nick Heater
School: Massanutten Military Academy
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Class: 2012 Post Graduate
Comments: Last year, Heater was the leading scorer for Northside Christian School in the NCISAA 2A classification. He averaged 14.3 PPG and led his team to the state championship against High Point Westchester which included Quincy Miller and Deuce Bello. Heater transferred to Massanutten for tougher competition and the opportunity to get recruited by more D1 schools. Heater is an excellent student and accumulated a perfect 4.0 GPA for the first quarter at his new school. Heater is a fundamentally sound player that has a high basketball IQ, but more importantly has the ability to stretch out the opposing defense with his accurate and efficient 3 point shooting. He has textbook form and fundamentals on his jump shot. He has excellent extension and follow through accompanied with a high release point. D1 schools that are looking for an outstanding shooter with outstanding grades should carefully monitor the progress of Heater. He has solid defensive abilities and has been well coached and understands team defense. Heater plays hard and gives maximum effort 100% of the time. He is a relentless worker and is only going to get better over time. He is a solid D1 prospect, but more importantly he has HIGH MAJOR character. If you are looking for a high character young man with excellent grades and the ability to shoot the basketball, you should serious give this young man a look.

Player: 5’10 PG Darren Williams
School: Flora MacDonald Academy
City: Red Springs, NC
Class: 2013
Comments: Williams is a strong and athletic scoring PG that is a true competitor. He plays extremely hard and plays with a passion and purpose. He changes speed extremely well and has a beautiful hesitation move to the basket. While he is undersized, he has the strength and quickness to finish plays in traffic against bigger players. He is extremely hard to guard because of his ability to knock down 3 point shows with accuracy. He currently averages 24 PPG and 8 APG for a tough FMA team that has played a tough early season schedule. Schools in the CAA and A10 should definitely be recruiting his young man.

Player: 6’7 WF Jared Scott
School: Flora MacDonald Academy
City: Red Springs, NC
Class: 2013
Comments: What’s not to like about a long and athletic 6’7 WF that has the ability to stretch out the opposing defenses with deadly accuracy beyond the 3 point line. He plays with confidence and the product you currently see is no where the finished product that Scott can develop into down the road. That being said, he has good athleticism, length and the ability to shoot the cover off the ball. That alone, should be a recipe for serious consideration from schools in the SoCon, A10, and the CAA to start recruiting this young man right away. Scott has a higher ceiling and with a stellar junior season along with a good AAU summer season, you may expect his interest level to grow. He is currently averaging 26 PPG and 6 RPG for the 7-3 FMA team.

Player: 6’8 PF Rashed Anthony
School: Flora MacDonald Academy
City: Red Springs, NC
Class: 2013
Comments: Anthony is a strong and physical PF that is averaging a double-double for FMA. He is scoring 13 PPG and grabbing 12 RPG. While Anthony is more of a face up PF, he too can step out and knock down the 3 ball. That being said, he does a really good job of boxing out and anticipating missed shots for offensive and defensive rebounding. (His numbers tell the whole story) Anthony is another player schools in the SoCon, Big South, CAA, and A10 should be recruiting. He has good instincts and looks like he has room for further growth and development.

Player: 6’5 SG Ashanti Day
School: Flora MacDonald Academy
City: Red Springs, NC
Class: 2013
Comments: Day is currently averaging 11 PPG and has good size and athletic ability for a SG. He has good fundamentals on his jump shot and schools in the SoCon and Big South should continue to monitor his progress over his junior and AAU summer season. He has the ability to create his own shot, but is more comfortable being more of a spot of shooter.

Player on the Rise

Player: 6’1 Brian Thornton
School: Chapel Hill HS
City: Chapel Hill, NC
Class: 2015

Comments: While it is still early in his high school career, go ahead and put this young man’s name in your memory bank. We are talking about a talented young PG with good size, length and athleticism. He has advanced ball handling and passing skills for his age/grade. Defensively, he is a really solid “on the ball” defender and is excellent is understanding team defensive principles as he has been well coached at the middle school or AAU level. He utilizes the “euro-step” often and effectively on many transition situations. He is always dribbling with his head up looking for the next pass as he surveys the court. He is excellent in making quick and crisp passes off the dribble. He competes hard on both ends of the court and he has a tremendous upside in his career. Thornton has a nice blend of fundamentals, skills and athleticism for a freshman PG to separate him from his peers. Without question, schools at all levels should carefully monitor his progress and development of his young man.

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