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Big Shots II: Saturday action

July 16, 2012 by 1 Comment

Player: 6’8 Jared Scott
City: Lumberton, NC
High School: Flora MacDonald
AAU Team:  South Carolina Elite
Evaluation: The physically mature Scott was absolutely in “beast mode” Saturday morning against Virginia Venom. Scott scored a game high 26 points without once demanding the ball. All his scoring came from within the offense and many were being in the right place at the right time. He scored many off garbage buckets, but also did a very nice job of squaring up and putting the ball on the floor for impressive drives to the basket. The sheer strength of Scott was too much for the opposing team and Scott’s play has him projected as a MM/MM+. He was one of the most productive PF at the event and in a numbers game, some HM school may take a chance on him.

Player:  6’7 WF 2013 TaShombe Riley
City: Orangeburg, SC
High School: Orangeburg Wilkinson
AAU Team: South Carolina Elite
Evaluation: The long and slender WF forward enjoyed a solid game Saturday morning and followed up with an equally impressive game later in the day. Riley has the ability to become a defensive menace with his length and lateral quickness. He has the ability to step out and knock down 3s or attack the rim and pull up. He has the ability to ability to create his own shot and is excellent in transition. Riley is a solid MM prospect.

Player: 6’6 2013 WF Austin Ajukwa
City: Columbia, SC
High School: Cardinal Newman
AAU Team: South Carolina Elite
Evaluation: Ajukwa is one of the more athletic and explosive players at the Big Shots event. His end to end speed is uncanny and has the ability to grab a rebound on the defensive end and be on the other end with a highlight dunk in a matter of seconds. He plays with passion and his energy level is top notch. He plays above the rim and finishes well in traffic. That being said, the next step in his development is to refine his perimeter skills. We were impressed with his size/length and ability to handle the ball in the open court. He is best shooting “off the dribble” once he gains rhythm in his shot. We strongly believe Ajukwa can be a HM prospect. One of the more impressive players at Big Shots with a great upside and ceiling.

Player: 6’6 2014 WF Josh Level
City: High Point, NC
High School: The Christ School
AAU Team: Team Loaded 16U
Evaluation: While the Martin twins get a lot of national media coverage and rightfully so, Level has always been known for his physically mature body and gifted leaping ability. Loss in the shuffle has been his ability to knock down perimeter jumpers especially from the 3 point line. We have seen Level be an effective 3 point shooter for his high school team and on Saturday morning, Level was dialed in from deep. He scored a team high 14 points knocking in four 3 pointers. While he may not be better than the Martin twins, he was the best player on the team with his play on Saturday. He is tracking as a HM- player.

Player: 6’6 Caleb and Cody Martin
City: Mocksville, NC
High School: Davie County
AAU Team: Team Loaded 16U
Evaluation: It was another solid/steady outing for the talented twins. Caleb does more of his damage from the perimeter while Cody is more effective in the paint and midrange. Both are excellent dribblers and passers. Their game is transition and once they are in the groove, they are simply fun to watch. They are highly skilled and rarely do you find 6’6 WG/WF players with their mobility, versatility and skill set. The next step in their game is to develop more of an alpha male mentality. Martin twins are HM prospects.

Player: 6’4 2014 Dirk Williams
City: Williamsburg, VA
High School: Williamsburg Christian Academy
AAU Team: Virginia Venom
Evaluation: Williams is a long and lengthy WG that just recently re-classed back to the 2014 class. He has excellent handles in transition with above average court vision. In the half court situation, Williams has some nifty and crafty ball handling moves for his size/position. He can easily create his own shot off the dribble. We liked his shooting touch from the perimeter and had a high release point and has excellent lift and elevation on his jumper. We feel Williams is a solid MM prospect.

Player: 6’4 2012 SG Colton Ray
City: Lafayette, VA
High School: Lafayette
AAU Team: Virginia Venom
Evaluation: We first saw Ray at the Queen City Showcase and really liked his game. It is not to imagine a youngster with his skill set not having a D1 offer, but that will quickly change after two back to back solid performances at the Queen City Showcase and Big Shots. A lethal shooter from the perimeter, Ray showcased a “moxy” and “cockiness” that was appealing. He has excellent ball handling skills and his Rondo impersonation was big time in the game against SC Elite. Some D1 school should snatch him up before he decides to attend prep school. He is rather thin and does need to add strength and weight, but that should happen once he arrives on campus.

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Top players at Big Shots I Tournament

July 16, 2012 by 1 Comment

We traveled down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to capture the final day of the Big Shots I Tournament. Below is a recap of the top players we observed.

Breakout Performances

Player: 6’4 2014 SG Grayson Allen
City: Jacksonville, Florida
High School: Providence Christian
AAU Team: Douglas Brothers
Evaluation: In the 16U championship game against Flight 22, Allen was simply sensational and wowed the crowd with his overall skill and surprisingly athletic ability. He tallied 25 points and they were coming from all spots on the floor. He was knocking down 3 pointers, driving fiercely to the basket, making mid-range pull up jumpers, and was also on the receiving end of an alley oop pass. At 6’4 Allen, has solid ball handling and passing skills and can slide over to the PG if needed, although he is more effective at the SG position. He has a soft shooting touch with a high release with excellent extension and follow through. He has an outstanding touch at the free throw line. On the defensive end, he showcased his athleticism by getting back in transition and swapping an attempted layup high off the glass. Allen has huge hands and feet and looks like he has room for additional growth. He won over many of the coaches in attendance Friday and one coach thought his game reminded him of Bobby Sura. Look for Allen’s stock to roar this summer. He is fun player to watch. He combines the blend of fundamentals, basketball IQ and the athletic ability to make him a MM+/HM prospect.

Player: 6’5 2013 WF Trevaunte Williams
City: Seattle, WA
High School: Garfield
AAU Team: Seattle Rotary
Evaluation: Seattle Rotary lost a tough 64-59 game to the bracket champions South Carolina Ravens, but not without the fight and competitive nature of the athletic WF from Seattle. Williams played at a high level and displayed a high motor throughout the game. His workmanship attitude was evident on both ends of the court. He can score from multiple spots on the floor and has the ability to put the ball on the floor in transition. His speed and strength attacking the basket created problem for the Ravens. Williams finished with a game high 25 points and played with a level of passion and intensity which is refreshing today.

One More Year

Player: 6’0 2013 PG Frank Mason
City: Petersburg, VA
High School: Petersburg HS, but will prep a year at Massanutten
AAU Team: Team Loaded 17U
Evaluation: Mason was originally in the 2012 class and now has decided to prep a year at Massanutt Military Academy. The best words to describe Mason’s game is “tough as nails.” The strong and athletic PG was impressive in his performance in the semi-finals to the SC Ravens. He tallied 16 points mostly off strong and explosive drives to the basket and periodically knocked in a few perimeter jumpers. In addition, he was able to get into the lane at ease and made good decisions kicking out to open teammates. Mason is a strong defender and does sit low on the defensive. He has superb lateral quickness and will be a hot prospect for MM+/HM schools.

Surprise Players

Player: 5’9 2013 PG  Caleb Dougan
City: Murrells Inlet, SC
High School: St. James
AAU Team: Flight 22
Evaluation:. Dougan led Flight 22 to the 63-58 upset win over Grayson Allen and 7’0 John Ebgunu to win the Slam 16U Championship bracket. Dougan finished with 22 points and effectively ran the show for the well coached and disciplined Flight 22 team and may have earned himself some D1 offers from his play at Big Shots. He handled the full court pressure extremely well and dribbled low to the floor making it difficult for the quicker and more athletic opponents to guard. He has advanced ball handling and passing skills and used a variety of dribble moves to constantly evade defensive pressure. His ability to get into the lane caused tremendous problems for opposing teams and made nifty and crafty passes around the rim. Left open from the perimeter, he would bury the 3 point shot with consistency.

Player: 5’11 2014 PG Dantez Bennamon
City: Charleston, SC
High School: Goose Creek
AAU Team: TMP
Evaluation: Bennamon played an outstanding floor game in the championship defeat to Team Loaded by the score of 56-51. On paper, TMP was simply outmanned and didn’t possess the overall talent or athleticism of their opponent, but the steady and strong play of Bennamon kept his team close until the end. He tallied 10 points, but it was his decision making ability that constantly put pressure on Team Loaded. He was effective on the perimeter by using pump fakes directly into a 1-2 dribble drive pull up. He is a strong and explosive guard with a good shooting touch.

Beyond his years!

Player: 6’2 2016 SG Seventh Woods
City: Columbia, SC
High School: Hammond Middle
AAU Team: South Carolina Ravens
Evaluation: Woods was simply outstanding in the semi-final game against a talented 17U Team Loaded squad. The youngster played more like a rising senior rather than a rising freshman. Woods played with tremendous poise and has a beautiful shooting stroke from the perimeter as he continued to knock down clutch 3 pointers in the come from behind victory. He tallied 15 points but the skill, athleticism and overall understanding for the game is off the chart for his age/grade. In a hard fought game, Woods showed the composure of a truly special player and will be one of the premier players in the 2016 class.

Rock Steady

Player: 6’6 2014 WF Caleb Martin
City: Mocksville, NC
High School: Davie County
AAU Team: Team Loaded 16U
Evaluation: Team Loaded breezed through the competition of the 16U division, but did face a solid challenge from a pesky and persistent TMP team. Although, Team Loaded had balanced scoring, it was the timely 3 point shooting of Martin was the big difference in the game. Martin knocked down four 3 pointers in route to his 14 team high points. Martin is excellent in transition and has tight handles for his size/position and has outstanding court awareness and vision. He has advanced passing skills and enjoyed another “rock steady” performance on Friday.

Best of the Rest

Player: 6’9 2013 PF/C TJ Williams
City: Wilmington, NC
High School: Wilmington Ashley
AAU Team: Flight 22
Evaluation:. The NC Phenom 150 Alum banged and battled NBPA alum John Egbunu the entire evening. He didn’t back down from the challenge and the talkative Williams is fun to watch. Rarely, do you find young players that talk more on defense than Williams. He is totally engaged in the game on both ends and is active especially on the defensive end of the court. While he has modest offensive moves, the development in his offensive arsenal will help determine the appropriate level. Currently, he is project at a MM level.

Player: 6’6 2014 Dante “Dr. Dunk” Buford
City: Greenville, NC
High School: Oakwood School
AAU Team: Team Loaded 16U
Evaluation: Buford earned his nickname early in the contest and made his presence known. A freakish athletic combo/forward, Buford is a highlight waiting to happen. His quick and explosive leaping ability is impressive. He is strong attacking the basket and usually finished with contact or draw the foul. No doubt, Buford has the athleticism to play at a high level. The next step for Buford is to fine tune his midrange and perimeter game.

Player: 6’3 2013 PG/SG Troy Caupain
City: Chesterfield, VA
High School: Cosby
AAU Team: Team Loaded 17U
Evaluation: The Cincinnati commit had a strong/solid showing. He is a physically mature guard that loves attacking the rim. He has mastered the “crow hop” move efficiently and effectively and finished at a high rate. He is a high character young man and plays the game the right way. The next step in his development to be more comfortable with his perimeter game.

Player: 6’10 2013 Chuck Ogbodo
City: Greensboro, NC
High School: High Point Christian
AAU Team: Team Loaded 17U
Evaluation: In the second half of the semi-final game vs. the SC Ravens, Ogbodo used his height and length to muster 10 points off missed shots. He was active on both ends of the court with keeping his hands above his head. In addition, he used his length to create problems for the opposing team. The next step for Ogbodo is to develop more refined low post moves or a “go to move” in the paint.

Player: 6’6 2013 WG Travis Hammonds
City: Columbia, SC
High School: Gray Military Academy
AAU Team: South Carolina Ravens
Evaluation:. Hammons should be a high target for MM schools that are looking for an athletic WG with good shooting skills. He is active defensively and plays with good intensity. He finished with 11 points in the 2 point win over Team Loaded. The next step for Hammonds is to “tighten up” his ball handling skills.

Player: 6’2 2013 PG/SG Eric Eaves
City: Hopkins, SC
High School: Gray Military Academy
AAU Team: South Carolina Ravens
Evaluation:. Eaves was one of the better performers in the SC Ravens/Team Loaded semi-final game. He has the ability to be team facilitator or easily create his own shot off the dribble. He scored 15 points from various spots on the court. He knocked down 3 pointers, made midrange jumpers and attacked the basket. He was also very effective in dribble penetration and kicking out to 2016 Phenom Seventh Woods.

Other Impressions

6’6 2013 Kristofer Acox of South Carolina Ravens 17U

6’4 2013 Matthew Howard of South Carolina Ravens 17U

6’7 2013 Treshawn Patterson of Flight 22 17U

6’0 2013 Rian Hollard of Flight 22 17U

5’11 2013 Marquis Davis of Seattle Rotary 17U

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2012 N.C. Phenom 150 Camp Video Highlights: Martin brothers

April 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment

TheWolfPacker.com came out to the 2012 N.C. Phenom 150 Camp and shot video of the top players at the event. This collection of video highlights Caleb and Cody Martin of Davie County High School. Caleb Martin wore No. 153 and Cody Martin No. 154 at the camp. Check out the video highlights and the story from TheWolfPacker.com:

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Phenom Hoop Report: NC Phenom Hoop Report Part 1

March 28, 2012 by 1 Comment

The 9th Annual NC Phenom 150 Camp took place this past Sunday and our event is always a springboard for players under the radar to make a name for themselves. My counterpart Ryan Mattocks and I were center stage making thorough evaluations on over 120 players in attendance.

While there were some of the high elite level names at the camp, there are many new names to put in your SIM CARD.

Be sure to check out the below evaluations, you’ll be glad you did. Also, be sure to follow us on twitter at @coach_rick57 and @coachmattocks.

1.      Player: 6’11 Youssoupha Kane
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: Word of God
Class: 2013
Evaluation:  Every now and then a kid shows up at a showcase event like the NC Phenom 150 who, for whatever reason, has managed to fly under the national radar.  And Kane fits squarely into this category.  Important to note – there are very few true post prospects in the game anymore – and even fewer that show up to events like this weekend’s that are owned by up-and-down guard play.  When a quality big does appear, his name is usually the furthest thing from a secret to local coaches.  When a guy appears seemingly out of nowhere and has the skills that Kane does, coaches’ eyes immediately spring to life and projections of his ceiling start to stir.  This kid is an absolute high major D1 lock, imo.  The Senegalese transplant via the SEEDS Foundation is beyond active in the paint on defense.  His 6’11 frame combined with a formidable wingspan are somewhat commonplace amongst African immigrant prospects with aspirations of playing college ball.  The difference with Kane is the 16 cylinder quad-turbocharged engine running this finely tuned machine.  Right up there with the energy level shown at the same stage by Adjehi Baru (6’9 Ivory Coast native who frequented NC Phenom 150 events and subsequently garnered enough attention to turn himself into a Top-100 recruit and the most high-profile recruit to ever play in the Southern Conference [Coll. of Charleston]) on the defensive end, Kane did not succumb to frustration due to lack of touches on the other end.  He battled relentlessly for boards on both ends and kept the ball high once securing it, made crisp outlet passers to his guards, or went straight back up in an attempt to score if it was an offensive rebound.  His post positioning was surprisingly solid – sitting down in the mid-post to give him close to a 45 degree angle in the event he was to get a post entry and drop-step.  Also impressive was his ability to re-post after any rare ball reversal.  Not polished by any means, Kane’s open court ball handling is what propelled him to #1 on my list for the event.  The youngster is fluid with the ball – there are no hitches or hesitation when accelerating off the bounce.  Is he ready to lead the break at the next level consistently?  No.  Is he a reliable safety valve in a press offense situation that will not get stripped/panic with the ball around the timeline vs. game pressure?  Absolutely.  Passed the ball extremely well for a big in this setting – many times the lack of touches for these guys means whenever they touch it in the half court it’s going up.  Kane found an open shooter for a three out of a double-team and hit a cutter for a give-and-go after somehow finding himself with the ball at the free throw line extended.  From a coach’s perspective (well, mine at least), Kane is the type of prospect that makes the hairs on your arm stand up.  No bad habits, more active than any post you’ll find this side of Buck Williams, great attitude, handles, alters/blocks a large number of shots, good outlet passer, willing passer out of doubles, and on and on and on.  Oh, did I mention he runs the floor like a gazelle?  He does.  Without knowing anything about his background, I’d be willing to bet he either played a lot of soccer as a kid (strides like Kobe – doesn’t labor at all) or has hit a monumental growth spurt over the last couple of years (ball handling is so fluid).  Biggest areas of concern right now are: lower body strength – it doesn’t matter how long/active someone is if they can’t stop the Jared Sullinger’s of the world from bulling their way deep into the lane.  Offensively I’d like to see this kid OWN one move – just one.  If I had him I’d make it a spin into the lane/finish with a half-hook with his dominant hand.  Drop-steps are nice but his slight frame isn’t pushing many D1 posts off block position right now because his hips are weak.  An up-and-under counter move would be gravy.  If he had ONE move to consistently utilize at the next level he’d be ridiculously dangerous on ‘O’.

2.      Player: 6’3 Troy Caupin
Hometown: Cosby, NCSchool: Cosby
Class: 2013
Evaluation:  First of all, don’t let the 6’3 listing fool you, Caupin plays MUCH bigger than that due to his freakishly long arms.  The sturdily built lead guard did it all on Sunday – led the break and finished every way imaginable.  Most impressively for the collegiate level was his knack at absorbing contact and finishing.  Has the kind of body control/subtle movement while in the air off the bounce that simply can’t be taught.  Many great attacking point guards have this.  Troy also happens to be a kid that always looks like he’s smiling – he has a true love for the game and it shows.  Range out to 20’, plays best with the ball in his hands but isn’t built like a typical PG.  Would like to see him in some PNR situations or on an island defensively against a high major D1 guard, but these events are what they are.  The X-Factor propelling Troy this far up the rankings was his tenacious rebounding.  He went after missed jumpers on both ends all day.  I was told by his coach at the event that he averaged 12 rebs/gm for his HS squad and it didn’t surprise me a bit.  Playing off the ball, negotiating screens, and defending perimeter talent with that extra gear are areas for Caupin to focus on.

3.      Player: 6’7 Jackson Kent
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
School: High Point Christian
Class: 2013
Evaluation:  The first of a handful of Carolina Challenge participants to appear on the list (held the day prior in Raleigh), Kent, ironically, did not crack my Top 25 list from that event while some others also attending the NC Phenom 150 Camp did.  Firstly, the fact that Kent (and the other CC participants) made the effort to attend the event says a lot about his desire to be great.  It also lends credence to the rising reputation of this quality event.  Playing alongside Troy Caupin, the reclassified 6’7 G didn’t take long to unveil the improved areas of his game.  Tightening up his ball handling was obviously a priority for the Division 1 prospect, but his dribbling with a purpose was what wowed me even more.  In years past I’ve been a little enamored with the combination of Kent’s length and ability to handle the ball, but I noticed a lot of wasted dribbling.  Not now.  He attacked the rim relentlessly and turned the corner on defenders all day on his way to easy buckets.  As noted in previous scouting reports I’ve done on Kent, his ability to eat space off the bounce is possibly the most tantalizing thing he offers to prospective college coaches.  It’s two dribbles and he’s at the rim.  Not the quickest cat in the litter, he’s good enough with the rock to draw fouls and earn easy points at the line.  Wasn’t challenged defensively b/c of his size and undeniable position on the perimeter – none of the shorter guards thought they could do anything against him – so defense is a question mark.  Son of a successful HS coach, Kent’s bball IQ and attitude are where college coaches want them to be.  He’s got the size, enough athleticism, and ball skills to play at the Division 1 level.  Question is what level within D1.

4.      Player: 6’3 Patrick Rooks
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
School: Charlotte Christian
Class: 2013
Evaluation:  The deadly outside shooting lefty was noticeably fatigued from playing at the DTCC the day before, yet managed to show glimpses of why Brad Brownell was so eager to get him onboard at Clemson.  Definitely not a one dimensional player (see our write-up of the 2011 DTCC!), Rooks has a tendency to rely on his laser-like jumper at times.  Sunday he showed the ability to get to the rim off the bounce.  Once in the lane, Rooks was not shy about finishing (or attempting to) above the rim.  His explosiveness and strength in the open court vs. lesser competition is almost scary.  Put it on the deck with the right hand enough to gain my confidence that he won’t turn into Gerald Henderson at Duke (i.e., never developing his rand hand).  If Rooks can keep working on that right hand and hone a midrange game – one and two dribble pull-ups from different spots around 15’-17’ out – he’ll be one to watch in the ACC.  Defensive effectiveness will depend more on “want to” than anything else.  All the tools are there.

5.      Player:  6’7 Cody Martin
Hometown: Mocksville, NC
School: Davie County
Class: 2014
Evaluation:  Ah, the Martin twins.  Oh how badly I want to be able to differentiate between the two – how nice it would be able to definitively declare that one is better than the other.  But, alas, I can’t.  Caleb outperformed his brother on Saturday at the DTCC and Cody impressed me more on Sunday.  They’re both very, very talented and Division I prospects, that’s for sure.  Cody bulled his way to the bucket against undersized competitors in the action I took in.  He hustled back on ‘D’ after a missed shot and disrupted a break enough to make the other squad pull it out, which is saying something for an event like this.  He also finished with his left hand in traffic and got WAY up for a couple boards.

6.      Player: 6’5 Aaron Carver
Hometown: Elizabeth City, NC
School: Northeastern
Class: 2014
Evaluation:  An interesting prospect at 6’5 because he’s strictly a post player at this time.  The ‘interesting’ part to Carver’s game is that he competes for everything and manages to be effective vs. competition that may tower over him.  Another high energy kid who will scrap for every rebound on both ends, play volleyball on the offensive glass until he gets the deuce, and dive after loose balls.  A winner – plain and simple.  The age old question of how much he’s going to grow applies here.  With his current size and skill set he really doesn’t have a niche on a D1 roster.  At 6’7 and 30 pounds heavier he could possibly scratch out a scholarship as an undersized PF.  Otherwise, he’ll have to work tirelessly on his perimeter game and turn himself into a college ‘3’, which is what he’d be now if you’re just going by the eye test.  Possessing a great attitude and humble demeanor, Carver will most likely be one of those players that’ll make it work wherever he ends up.  He’s a basketball player and a darn good one.  Somebody will be lucky to have him.

7.      Player:  6’4 Deishawn Anderson
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
School: Quality Education Academy
Class: 2015
Evaluation:  The HS freshman took a little time to get acclimated, but once he did he put on a show.  Has a SF’s game/body and isn’t afraid to mix it up with older players.  Wasn’t spectacular in any one area but above average in most.  Predictably, the matador defensive mentality surrounding these events trickles down to the younger guys in droves.  Anderson was no exception – but that is the norm for these settings (as painful as it is to watch as a coach).  With good coaching and a positive attitude, Anderson could morph into a 6’6-6’8 beast of a SF with ball skills who can guard 3-4 positions in college.  The potential is there now.  Best off the bounce at this point and adept at bank shots on the move.

8.      Player: 6’7 Caleb Martin
Hometown: Mocksville, NC
School: Davie County
Class: 2014
Evaluation:  Just watching Caleb (or Cody) sky for a rebound alerts you to a simple fact: they’re future D1 players.  The question for the versatile 6’7 SFs is how badly they desire to be great.  Caleb played better than his brother on Saturday at the DTCC but cooled off a little bit at the NC Phenom 150 the next day.  He forced his offense a bit in the early going.  Also had a tendency to dribble aimlessly on the wing before making a move, which simply won’t happen with a 6’7 WF at the high major level.  Vs. ball pressure, he’ll have to learn how to dribble with a purpose consistently, which he showed the ability to do.  His two dribble pull-up from the top-of-the-key late in his first game was a thing of beauty.  Interested to see the two develop over the next two years.

9.      Player: 5’9 Alec Wintering
Hometown: Charlotte
School: United Faith
Class: 2013
Evaluation:  The 5’9 dynamo, another prospect in attendance fresh from the DTCC, showed poise and patience during the two games I observed him in.  His compact frame is rock solid from head to toe and it’s no secret why guards have a hard time staying in front of him.  His first step isn’t lightning quick but it’s not far from it.  His strength and quicks along with his ability to put the ball on the deck make it nearly impossible for most defenders to keep him out of the lane.  He made winning plays.  When someone was open, he found them.  When his team was down 3 with under a minute to play, he demanded the ball and buried a game-tying bomb.  Very sure of himself without being cocky, the only thing shielding Wintering from more high major attention at this point is his height.  Can he guard guys his position who is 8 inches taller than him?  It’s a legitimate question that college coaches may have and one that I’d like to see answered too.

10.  Player: 5’11 Malik Pulley
Hometown: Rocky Mount, NC
School: Nash Central
Class: 2014
Evaluation:  If Pulley was 6 inches taller you’d be hearing his name within the next year.  As it stands now (terrible pun, intended), the 5’11 sparkplug is busy busting his butt on every play.  I have never seen a kid hustle more in a showcase game.  Moves without the ball, pushed up on ‘D’, called for the ball when he was open, crashed the glass like a maniac and basically forced his way into every possible exchange he could.  A coach’s dream.  Didn’t see him with the ball in his hands enough to peg him as a candidate for PG or not, but at his size he’ll need to be able to handle the rock and play at different speeds to in order to free himself for looks.  Moving off the ball and defense will be there.  Kid is a tireless worker!

11.  Player: 6’8 Stavian Allen
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: Word of God
Class: 2014
Evaluation:  REALLY intriguing prospect.  Crazy length with above average athleticism.  Biggest asset right now is his active motor.  Nitpicking here – but his footwork on the jumper tends to negate how dangerous it could be.  His feet sometimes are farther apart than the width of his shoulders, which effectively takes some of his height away.  At 6’8, he could be a lethal weapon on the perimeter if his game heads that way over the next couple of years – because it’s assumed he’d be able to get his shot off over almost anyone.  Maybe it was a one day anomaly, but stuff like shooting form doesn’t tend to vary day to day.  Either way, interesting talent to keep an eye on.

12.  Player: 6’3 Trey Carver
Hometown: Elizabeth City, NC
School: River Road Middle School
Class: 2016
Evaluation:  A real treat to watch.  Four people asked me about this young man before I was finally able to catch one of his games – the very last contest of the day.  It’s hard to quantify how valuable players are who have a nose for the basketball.  When they’re post players who are relentless competitors, you have the makings of something special.  That describes what I saw in Carver.  If it was a 50/50 ball – it was going to him 100% of the time.  Another trait in Carver I noticed immediately was his consistency in tapping the board after every stick back, post entry into deep position he finished with a layup, anything around the basket.  On the break, everybody does it.  But this youngster does it in traffic – that only means good things to come for coaches as he grows in height.  Showed a fluid handle in the open court and is a PHENOMENAL passer.

13.  Player:  6’4 Cory Hanes
Hometown: High Point, NC
School: High Point Central
Class: 2014
Evaluation:  Overall the most fundamentally sound player I saw at the event – and it’s not close.  Crafty ball handler, good shooter out to the stripe, and NASTY footwork in the post.  Most likely a kid who was taller than everybody at a young age and had to play the post.  Now that everyone’s caught up size wise, he’s still got the skill set while his perimeter game is catching up.  Can finish above the rim with two hands and does not shy away from contact at all.  Projects as a college 3 at this point.  With a couple more inches he’ll be able to post up smaller perimeter players in college.  Not super-quick, but not slow either.

14.  Player: 6’5 Bernard Taylor
Hometown: Monroe, NC
School: Monroe
Class: 2013
Evaluation:  For around 6 possessions in the second half of Taylor’s final game of the day, he displayed the best on-ball defense I saw all day.   With his length, he could play D1 basketball as a defensive stopper *if* he can maintain that kind of defensive intensity for an extended stretches.  His offensive game isn’t remarkable, but he finished with both hands and looked good in transition.  Thin frame could use 25 lbs. of muscle.  My guess is he’s getting D3/D2 right now but the physical tools are there for more if the right coach can tap into it.

15.  Player: 6’2 Camden Scott
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: Word of God
Class: 2013
Evaluation:  Scott endeared himself to me over the course of the day.  First off, his body does not scream 6’2 – with his arms he seems 6’5 or 6’6 out there.  He looks a lot like Derrick Coleman.  He gradually started knocking down jumpers left and right.  The next thing I knew he was finishing a reverse layup after blazing by a defender.  Showed a competitive streak.  Slow release on the jumper which will have to be tweaked to get his shot off at the next level.

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Best of the 2012 Dave Telep Carolina Challenge: 15-26

March 27, 2012 by 3 Comments

The Phenom Hoop Report was in full force this past Saturday to cover the Dave Telep Carolina Challenge. My counterpart Ryan Mattocks was covering gym one while I was covering action in gym two. We wanted to get a thorough evaluation by watching entire contests to get the most complete player summary as possible and I believe we achieved just that. We will divide our report into two parts, but today we will look at the top 25 performers of the day based upon performance.   [Read more...]

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8th Annual North Carolina Phenom 150 Evaluation Camp: Part 1

October 26, 2011 by 1 Comment

The 8th Annual North Carolina Phenom 150 Basketball Evaluation Camp took place Saturday, October 15th, 2011 at the Gateway YWCA in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Each year, we uncover some of the top young prospects in the region. This year was no exception as 216 players participated in this regional event.

Player: 5’11 Andrew Rowsey
Hometown: Lexington, VA
School: Rockbridge
Grade: 11 (Class: 2013)
Evaluation: Andrew Rowsey enjoyed an absolutely stellar performance at the NC Phenom 150 Camp. Last year, Rowsey was nationally known as an undersized shooting guard, but within the past year has worked extremely hard to become a true PG. With his performance, we can honestly say “Mission Accomplished.” Rowsey has a swagger and confidence factor that is unequalled by his peers. Once he stepped onto the court, he demanded the ball and quickly took complete command of the game. He was excellent in dribble penetration and kicking out to open teammates and definitely made his teammates better. Throughout the day, he was constantly knocking down jumpers and made an equal impression on the defensive end of the floor. He accepted all challenges and was one of the favorites by all the scouting services in attendance. He came into the camp looking to “prove his value,” and he did exactly that. We believe he is on the verge of being a top 100 player and schools in the MM+ should definitely be recruiting this young man. 

Player: 6’6 Caleb & Cody Martin
Hometown: Mocksville, NC
School: Davie County
Grade: 10 (Class: 2014)
Evaluation: Caleb and his twin brother Cody came into the camp as two of the hottest prospects in the country for the class of 2014. Both of them already have several ACC offers and the talented wing duo have a complete fluidness and smoothness to their game. They are highly skilled wings that do a little bit of everything well. They have good size, athleticism, but it is their overall skill set that separates them from their peers. They are fundamentally sound and have a high basketball IQ. Both of them have outstanding ball handling skills and have a soft shooting touch from the 3 point line. They also have excellent court vision and they thrive in the open court. They are team players and are extremely unselfish. Both are multi-dimensional players and are without question HM+ prospects.

Player: 6’3 Patrick “Microwave” Rooks
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
School: Charlotte, NC
Grade: 11 (Class: 2013)
Evaluation: Coming into the camp, Rooks was nationally known as one of the top shooting guard in his class. Rooks has already verbally committed to Clemson of the ACC and it looks like they have a player with is still improving and putting his finishing touch on his high school resume. His jump shot is simply “textbook.” He has excellent fundamentals, elevation, lift, extension and follow- through. He has tremendous range and he has worked hard in the off season on his ball handling and passing. He elevated his game at camp and has become a better all around player. He will no longer be known as just another shooter.

Player: 6’6 Andrew White
Hometown: Chester, VA
School: The Miller School
Grade: 12 (Class: 2012)
Evaluation: Andrew White is a consensus top 75 player nationally and much has been written and reported on his improvement over the spring and summer. He currently has offers than a kid has on Halloween. He is entertaining offers from Kansas, Texas, Louisville, NC State and others. The talented WG already sports a college ready frame and a silky smooth jump shot. He has a beautiful release on his jumper and has outstanding range. That being said, he made an unofficial visit to NC State earlier in the day and drove to Winston-Salem to participate in his 4th NC Phenom 150 Camp. While his performance was solid, it was not the usual performance we were accustomed to seeing during the summer.

Player: 6’9 Kovacevic Dusan
Hometown: Rabun Gap, GA
School: Rabun Gap
Grade: 9 (Class: 2015)
Evaluation: As always, our camp provides an opportunity for relative unknown players to make a name for him. Not only was Dusan a virtual unknown and would be our “surprise player,” most of the scouting services in attendance and many thought he may have been the best overall prospect. We are talking about a 6’9 PF that has the mobility and versatility to his game. He can step out and knock down the 3 pointer or make plays off the dribble. Like most European players, he has exceptional ball handling and passing skills for his size and position. While he may not be the most athletic guy on the court, he played with a passion and purpose that quickly made him a favorite.  Without question, MM+ and even HM- schools should definitely monitor his progress.

Player: 6’11 Chuck Ogbodo
Hometown: High Point, NC
School: High Point Christian
Grade: 11 (Class: 2013)
Evaluation: Ogbodo is a very long and athletic center that is starting to garnish interest from ACC schools. He is a quick leaper and is excellent in transition. He has a tremendous wing span and is definitely a defensive presence in the paint. He alters and blocks a lot of shots due to this length and timing. Like many athletic big men, he is more advanced on the defensive end of the floor, but is making huge strides in his overall offensive development. If he continues to improve his overall game in the next year as he has in the past year, he will definitely be a major target of HM schools. When you are 6’11 young, energetic, athletic and have the length, quickness and bounce, high majors will quickly take notice. The next step for his development is play hard consistently on both ends of the court.

Player: 6’8 Tyrek Coger
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: Upper Room Academy
Grade: 11 (Class: 2013)
Evaluation: Coger will have to overcome the “on again, off again, on again and off again” recruitment to the University of Missouri. Without question, he benefited greatly by playing on the same team as Andrew Rowsey and Coger enjoyed the passer friendly PG from Lexington, VA. In his first game of camp, Coger went 8-9 from the floor and actually ran the floor really well. He looked more agile than this past spring and summer, and he looked like he had something to prove and if his performance at camp can translate into the same during the high school season, he should be a major target of MM+ schools. He has soft hands and rebounded well and an excellent job of keeping the ball high on offensive put backs. In addition, Coger scored off dribble drives from the high post area to show off his versatility.

Player: 6’0 Jaylan Robertson
Hometown: Clayton, NC
School: Word of God
Grade: 10 (Class: 2014)
Evaluation: Robertson recently transferred to Word of God in Raleigh. He is a superb athletic PG that can flat out score. He has exceptional quickness and speed and one of his crowd pleasing transition dunks through traffic was the highlight of the day. The bouncy guard has all the physical intangibles and the next step in his development is knowing how to run a team effectively and efficiently. Currently, he is a score first PG who is oozing with confidence, but also needs to harness his confidence into better court awareness and higher basketball IQ. That being said, he is on track to be a MM+ prospect at worst case scenario.

Player: 6’5 Gejuan Long
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
School: Mt. Tabor
Grade: 11 (Class: 2013)
Evaluation: Without question, Long was the surprise player on the camp. Simply put, Long introduced him to the scouts and spectators in attendance with a dribble drive baseline move for a power dunk that sent the gym into frenzy. More importantly, he has a high motor and his overall intensity on both ends of the court was contagious. He is long, lanky and athletic wing that attacks the basket with vengeance at every opportunity. His full throttle approach to the game and his lock down pressure defense was refreshing to see. He definitely made a name for himself this past weekend with his freakish athleticism. He has good handles and is excellent in transition. The next step in his development is to play under control and develop a consistent outside jump shot. That being said, MM schools should carefully monitor his progress with Coach Mike Muse of Mt. Tabor. 

Player: 5’11 Diante Baldwin
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
School: High Point Christian
Grade: 11 (Class: 2013)
Evaluation: Baldwin recently “reclassed” to the 2013 class with his transfer to High Point Christian and he is another name MM schools will want to monitor. Baldwin has “sneaky” athleticism and has exceptional ball handling and passing skills. He sees the floor really well. Baldwin does have good strength and athleticism and even had a few nice dunks in transition. Overall, Baldwin is a very active PG that has good fundamentals and basketball IQ.

Player: 5’10 Jonathan Williams
Hometown: Chester, VA
School: St. Patrick HS (NJ)
Grade: 10 (Class: 2014)
Evaluation: Go ahead and put this young man in your memory bank!  Williams will be suited up for Team Loaded next season and is currently enrolled for national powerhouse St. Patrick of New Jersey. Williams has a unique blend of athleticism and high basketball IQ. Without question, Williams is a true PG from the word “go.” We are talking about a strong and fast PG that can push the ball up the court in transition, but make excellent decisions with his court awareness and high basketball IQ. In addition to having many physical intangibles, he is truly gifted as a great teammate. He celebrated teammates for making good plays and also gave him high fives whenever he checked in or out of the game.  He is extremely unselfish and the next step for Williams is to develop a consistent long range jumper. He looks physically mature so I’m guessing he will be a sub 6 foot PG, but this young man has the “it factor.” He has all the skill sets to be an excellent floor general and a candidate for MM+/HM- schools. He is that good!

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