June 19, 2013

NC Phenom 150 Camp Evaluations: Teams 11-12

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 11-12 at camp. The majority of the comments listed below are comments from the players’ respective camp coach.

Team 11 coached by James West III

 #47 5’9 2016 Chandler Murray of Charlotte, NC: Murray is a promising young PG that combines the athleticism and skills needed for the next level. His skill set is advanced in ball handling, passing and shooting. His attitude and work ethic was an added bonus. He makes solid decisions on the court and has a present and command that is unique for his age/grade. Defensively, he is a pesky defender and his quickness is a strong attribute on both ends of the court. He has a chance to become a legit D1 prospect.

#131 6’3 2015 Landon Murray of Valdese, NC: Murray has a natural feel for the game and a strong basketball IQ should serve him well over the next few years. He is an excellent spot up shooter, but could improve his ability to shoot off the dribble. He has good size for the SG at the next level, but with important in perimeter skills such as ball handling and passing will only enhance his collegiate interest. Highly skilled shooters always translate at every level.

#6 6’1 2018 Cooper LaRue of Lewisville, NC: Cooper LaRue had an outstanding Junior Phenom Camp on Saturday and challenged himself to playing the older high school players on Sunday. LaRue didn’t disappoint as he showcased his great all around skill! We love his fundamentals, skill set and effort. LaRue competed and excelled. Simply put, he has a bright future. He good athleticism, but his effort and skill package will easily make him a solid D1 prospect. He was one of our favorite players at camp and thoroughly enjoyed his hustle and ability to dive on the floor for loose balls. 

#24 5’5 2017 James West IV of Woodbridge, VA: West like LaRue was a standout on the Junior Phenom camp on Saturday and also competed and excelled on Sunday against the high school players. West has a high skill level for his age/grade and has advanced ball handling and passing skills. The jury may be out on how high will be based upon his height, but make no mistake West is one of the more talented players in the 2017 in Virginia.

#19 6’6 2014 Derek Barnes of Hickory, NC: Barnes is a solid all around player with an advanced skill set. We really liked his size and ability to shoot the ball. He has a velvet shooting touch. He has the right mindset on the court and understands what is needed to play team basketball. His unselfish play was refreshing and didn’t try to force shots. He took good shots within the framework of the game and his strong understanding and IQ are positive attributes. He is a willing rebounder and plays both ends of the court. Barnes will have an opportunity to play beyond high school, but what appropriate level is to be determined.

#177 6’7 2015 Marcellis Purvis of Chester, VA: Purvis is a strong and powerful combo forward that is excellent in using his body and girth. He is really aggressive in the low post area and has outstanding footwork. He dominated the post at times with him advanced post moves and strength/power. He has soft hands and is a willing rebounder on both ends of the court. Purvis is a highly competitor player and will give maximum effort. He is a strong D1 prospect.

#5 5’11 2014 Gerald Vaughn Jr. of Columbia, SC: Vaughn is a solid all around player. He has a strong work ethic and plays extremely hard. He is a hustle player that competes on both ends of the court, which is one of his strongest attributes as a young player. His gave a strong effort on defense utilizing his quickness to his advantage. He is a solid on the ball defender as well as understanding team defensive principles.

#20 5’11 2015 Tavarus Peterson of Raleigh, NC: Peterson played with purpose throughout the day and played well within the team structure, which is a strong attribute for a PG. He has a firm foundation in fundamentals and various skills sets that will pay dividends down the road. He does a lot of simple things on the court and his effort and attitude is outstanding.

#78 6’2 2014 Stefan Kostic of Weddington, NC: Kostic is a really good all around player, but has a knack of sharing the ball and getting others involved in the game. More importantly, Kostic is a lights out shooter especially 3 pointers. Kostic would improve in creating his own shot, but his fundamentals and unselfish play wouldn’t allow him to manufacture his own shot. He has a good upside with his shooting fundamentals/technique that will carry over to the next level.

#67 6’2 2015 Micah Smith of Goldsboro, NC: Smith has a physically mature body and his strength and athleticism is impressive for his size/position. What will surprise you with Smith is his velvet shooting touch. The super athletic guard has high elite level athleticism and with time on his side to garnish and fine tune his offensive skill sets, especially ball handling and more perimeter skills. Smith has the ability to become a solid D1 prospect. 

#155 6’4 2014 Nick George of Charleston, WV: George has excellent size and skill for his SG position. He can simply shoot the cover off the ball and his fundamentals and basketball IQ is advanced. George understands the game and has the ability to put points on the board quickly and efficiently. He is an advanced ball handler and passer for his position. He plays the game the right way and his skill set, especially his shooting will make him a priority for many D1 schools.

Team 12 coached by Greg Crosby

#176 6’6 2014 Jarrett Williams of Swansea, SC: Williams is a physically imposing combo forward. He has a true inside/outside game and can score from various spots on the floor. While he is effective on the interior, he has surprisingly good handles and a delicate shooting touch. He has a good understanding of the game and runs the floor well in transition. He has the ability to dominate a game with his rebounding. More importantly, he will compete and give maximum effort all the time. Williams will be a strong D1 prospect.

#186 6’7 2015 Nate Williams of Richmond, VA: Williams is a long and lanky PF with good athleticism. He is somewhat raw offensively and is defensive ability is further along. He is an active defender in the post and willing shot blocker and rebounder. Williams will need to add strength in his core and some additional stamina, but Williams will be one to watch at the lower D1 schools.

#79 6’2 2013 Kyshawn Jones of Danville, VA: Jones has a physically mature college ready body and he uses his strength to his advantage. Jones has high elite level athleticism and punished the rim on many occasions throughout the day. He has outstanding penetration ability and finishes with aggressive dunks. He has tremendous leaping ability and was one of the best on the ball defenders at camp. He did display range on his perimeter jumper and was an adequate 3-point shooter, which will make him an attractive D1 prospect.

#72 6’2 2014 Freddie Rambert of Greenville, NC: Rambert is a long and athletic guard with good perimeter skills. He gives good effort and has a chance to be a solid player with continued work ethic and determination. He has good quickness and moves well without the ball. He competed hard and hustled in the earlier games of he day, although he missed his last game.

#115 6’3 2015 Jawan Wright of Fayetteville, NC: Wright has the physical intangibles for his size/position. He is a long, slender WG that has the ability to show consistently from the perimeter, plus has the ability to put the ball on the floor and finish at or above the rim. He has a knack for finishing in traffic and drawing fouls. He has the skills on both sides of the ball and with added strength could become a D1 prospect.

#94 5’11 2015  Juwan Chambers of Cedar Grove, NC: Chambers has a good attitude and work ethic. He tried hard and played to his potential. He needs to continue developing his fundamentals and skill sets.

#45 5’9 2016 Kory Pulley Jr. of Raleigh, NC: Pulley has the physical quickness and exhibits an outstanding attitude and work ethic. He has adequate ball handling skills, but has good court awareness and passing skills. As a young PG, he knows the nuasances of his position and could develop into a college prospect with hard work and dedication.

#42 5’9 2014 William White of Norfolk, VA: White is a solid lead PG and is excellent in pushing the ball in transition. He has good quickness and can really step out and knock down the 3 pointer with consistency. His attitude and work ethic will enable him to continue his improvement and we expect good things to happen to him. He was a good defender and competed on both ends of the court.

#121 6’0 2014 Jay Sealy of Garner, NC: Sealy displayed a willingness to work hard on both ends of the court. He competed hard and played to his potential. He did a lot of the little things on he court well and gives effort.

#62 6’2 2015 Adrian White of Chester, VA: White is often known as the little brother of 6’6 KU Andrew White. That being said, the younger White is making a name of himself. Adrian is a true PG with excellent size, skill and athleticism. He has all the components to become a legit D1 prospect. He did an excellent job of running the team with poise and was one of the better players at the Phenom camp in the 2015 camp. Like his older brother, Adrian is a late bloomer and schools should start on him early. He is a keeper and one to watch.

Recruiting Round Table Part 3

In today’s issue of Recruiting Round Table Part 3,  we want to introduce players that are currently “under the radar”.

Player: 6’3 Anthanee Doyle
City: Holly Springs, North Carolina
Class: Rising 2013
High School: Holly Springs
Twitter Name: @anthaneedoyle
AAU Team: Showtime All-Stars
AAU coach: James Black
Interest: Presbyterian, Elon, Radford, Virginia Tech, Carolina Central, East Carolina. Appalachian State
Evaluation:  Doyle is a long and athletic WG with a quick first step. He is excellent in using the “crow hop” to get into the teeth of the defense. While Doyle has an effective shooting touch from the perimeter, he is best at creating his own shot off the dribble. He does a nice job of mixing up his offensive moves and sports a nice floater and is one of the better mid-range jump shooters in his class.

Player: 6’6  Deojunique Flippin (DeeJay)
City: Holly Springs, North Carolina
Class: Rising 2013
High School: Holly Springs High School, Holly Springs, NC
Twitter Name: @djflipp21
AAU Team: Showtime All-Stars
AAU coach:  James Black
Interest: Presbyterian, Richmond, Jacksonville, Mercer, Florida Gulf Coast, Elon, Radford
Offer: Jacksonville
Evaluation: Flipping is a physically mature WF that possesses a nice blend of athleticism and skills. Flippin’s strongest attribute is his ability to attack the rim with aggressiveness and power.  He finishes well in traffic and his hard- nosed approach to the game is another strong attribute. Flippin has a high motor and we love his “no prisoners” attitude on the court.

Player: 6’1 Xavier Mills
City: Greenville, North Carolina
Class:  2013
High School: South Central High School
Twitter Name: @_TheRealXMAN_
AAU: Swish City Magic
AAU Coach: Deshannon Morris
Interest: Gardner Webb, Appalachian State, Elon, Campbell
Evaluation: Mills has been on our radar for quite some time. He is one of the better shooting PG’s in the state for the class of 2013. As a matter of fact, he is so efficient from the perimeter many teams prefer to put him at the SG position. That being said, he does a solid job at running the PG position and is good in transition and in a half court set. He is patience and rarely gets in a hurry and this is a strong attribute for a young PG. We really like his ability to shoot the 3 point shot off the dribble and his ability to penetrate in the lane by utilizing his nice arsenal of floaters and mid range pull up jumpers. Mills should be recruited hard by Southern Conference and Big South schools.

Player: 6’3 Joshua Luke Folwell
City: Burlington, North Carolina
Class: 2013
High School: Burlington Christian Academy
Twitter Name: joshf345274848
AAU Team:  Midstate Magic
Evaluation: Flowell is a fundamentally sound WG with good basketball IQ. He plays smart and is effective by doing so many little things on the court. He has good ball handling and passing skills but can fill it up nicely from the perimeter. Folwell is a high character young man and excels in the classroom.

Player: 6’3 Logan Chaucer
City: Wilmington, North Carolina
Class:2013
High School: New Hanover High School
High School Coach: Chris Angel
AAU Team: Blizzard Athletics
AAU Coach: Paul Chaucer
Evaluation: Chaucer will completely surprise you with his athleticism and his leaping ability and should be on the radar of many D2 and NAIA schools. He has a nice all around game with solid basketball fundamentals and IQ. He is a fairly accurate perimeter shooter, but can also put the ball on the floor and use his mid-range pull up jumper.

Player: 6’9 Tyler Wagner-Wilk
City: Rock Hill SC
Class: 2013
Twitter: @callmetizzle
High School: Rock Hill
Class: 2013
AAU Team: Prime Time Players
AAU Coach: Kenny Orr Twitter
Evaluation; The slender, but long 6’9 Tyler Wagner-Wilk has shown flashes of D1 potential at past performances at the NC Phenom 150 Camp. Bothered by knee problems due to growing too fast early on, Wagner-Wilk skill set is now catching up with his height. He runs the floor rather well and competes and plays hard on both ends of the court. The next step for him is to get physically stronger. Once he can get physically stronger, his recruitment will definitely pick up.

Player: 6’5 Lucius McMillan
City: Waxhaw, North Carolina
Class: 2013
High School:  Cuthbertson
Evaluation: Lucius has really good size for his age/grade and the crafty southpaw should be garnishing interest from D2-D1 schools.  He has a good basketball IQ and understands how to play the game the correct way. He has the ability to shoot from the perimeter or take his man off the dribble and his sneaky athleticism could make him an outstanding high school player. He will need to get stronger in the weight room and continue to fine tune his perimeter skills such as ball handling, passing and shooting. With dedication and effort, he could see his recruitment take off. “Crafty lefty with the ability to put together quick offensive spurts. Deceptive quickness allows him to get to the basket. As he improves his desire to defend and do the intangibles he will continue to shine on the court”.

Player: 6’5 Jordyn Propst
City: Hudson, North Carolina
Class: 2013
High School: South Caldwell
Twitter: Air_JordynP
High School Coach: Lee Swanson
AAU Team: Team Charlotte
AAU Coach: Jeff McInnis
Evaluation: Propst was Co-MVP of his conference last year and the strong undersized PF is showcasing his mid-range and perimeter skills that will make him a solid candidate at the D2 or NAIA level. Propst is a model student and sports a 3.95 weighted GPA and is currently an Honor Student at South Caldwell High School. Propst is an extremely hard worker on and off the court and has the right attribute and work ethic to be successful at the next level.

Player: 6’7 ‘Trey’ Weston
City: Burlington, North Carolina
Class:  2014
High School: Walter Williams High School
Twitter Name:  Tdubs23
AAU Team: Mid-State Magic
Evaluation: A long and athletic WF that is your classic run/jump athlete and is quite effective in slashing and attacking the rim. He plays with passion and purpose and will give you maximum effort. Weston length and athleticism should make him a key focal point for many lower tier D1 schools. He has two more years of high school basketball and has good potential.

Player: 6’2 Justice Cuthbertson
City: Thomasville, North Carolina
Class: 2014
High School: Westchester Country Day
Twitter Name: @JcubCuthbertson
High School Coach: Dagan Nelson
AAU Team: Swish City Elite
AAU Coach: Julio Evans
Interest: Clemson, Virginia Tech, Wofford, UMass, College of Charleston, And Wingate
Evaluation: We have written about Cuthbertson on several occasions and the NC Phenom 150 alum is gradually making improvements/strides in his game that will make him a solid D1 prospect. Cuthbertson has a strong frame that definitely passes the airport test and then some. Sporting a college ready frame, Cuthbertson has worked hard in all areas of his game and enjoyed a solid and production tournament at the Reebok Showdown in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He has a great disposition and attitude on the court and has developed outstanding leadership skills at the PG position.

Player: 6’4 Nick George
City: Charleston, West Virginia
Class: 2014:
High School: Charleston (WV) Catholic
Twitter Name:  @nickgeorge30
HS coach:  Bill McClanahan
AAU Team:  WV Wildcats Select
AAU coach: Jay Cinco and Scott Long
Interest:  University of Pennsylvania; Elon; Princeton
Evaluation: George is a model student athlete and is already getting serious interest from several Ivy League schools plus Elon College. George is a solid player that is fundamentally sound and has outstanding basketball IQ. He has good size and surprisingly sneaky athleticism, but his calling card is his ability to shoot from the perimeter. He has a good shooting technique and should be a top priority for schools looking for the academic/athletic SG.

Player: 6’5 Daniel Kanadanui
City: High Point, North Carolina
Class: 2014
High School:  Ragsdale
HS Coach: Craig Shoemaker
AAU Team: NC Court Kings
AAU Coach: Eliot Brooks
Evaluation: We wrote about Kanadanui in the NC Phenom 150 recap. We really love watching the physically mature combo forward as he continues to play the game with passion and purpose. He is a fierce competitor and will give maximum effort 100% of the time. His athleticism, strength and skill combination should make him an attractive D1 prospect.

Player: Riley LaRue
City: Lewisville, North Carolina
Class: 2014
Twitter: @rlarue2
High School: East Forsyth High School
High School Coach: Mike Muse
AAU Team: NC Spartans Elite 16u
AAU Coach: Brant Short
Evaluation: The son of former Wake Forest standout Rusty LaRue and current assistant coach. Riley is an alum of the NC Phenom 150 camp and has always enjoyed a solid camp performance. He has a quick release and is very effective from his perimeter shooting, especially in a cat and shoot situation. He is fundamentally sound and has a great understanding of the game and possesses a high basketball IQ. His current AAU coach Brant Short best stated “Riley has multiple assets and abilities. He is best when playing the best. When he has the ball in his hands, he makes good things happen. He is able to make shots from deep and has the vision to set his teammates up. Riley is our glue guy for the 16U Spartans Elite.

Player: 5’11 Matt Milovic
City: Charlotte, North Carolina
Class: 2014
High School: Charlotte Catholic
High School Coach: M.D. King
AAU Team: Charlotte Royals
AAU Coach: Jody Barbe
Evaluation: Matt Milovic averaged 10.5 PPG and 5 APG as a sophomore for Charlotte Catholic. The southpaw has a solid understanding of the game and has an advanced basketball IQ for his age/grade. Milovic has a smooth shooting touch and has good accuracy from the 3 point area. Milovic should be a high priority for high academic D3 schools and will continue to garnish interest at the D2 or NAIA level. He is a hard worker and is the ultimate gym rat.

Player: 6’2  Isiah Taylor
City: Charlotte, North Carolina
Class: 2014
High School: Myers Park
Twitter Name:@Isiah_Taylor11
AAU Team: D-One Sports
Interest: Boston University
Evaluation: Taylor is a quick and athletic combo guard that is just now getting D1 interest and look for this list to grow by summer’s end. He will be running with D One Sports and Taylor should have the opportunity to display his overall game. Taylor does a lot of things well and has good fundamentals and solid understanding of the game. He has improved immensely over the past year and should see his improvement and interest continue to grow.

Player: 6’5  Kevin Williams
City: Charleston, West Virginia
Class: 2014
High School: South Charleston High School
AAU Team:WV Wildcats
Interest:  Ohio University
Evaluation:  Williams has freakish athleticism and his strongest attribute is his ability to slash to the basket. He uses his strength and athleticism well and is nearly impossible to keep out of the lane. He has excellent length and plays much taller than his 6’5 listed frame. More importantly, he plays extremely hard on both ends of the court and doesn’t back down from a challenge. His passion, desire and effort are his calling card along with an elite high level athleticism makes him a can’t miss D1 prospect.

Name: 5’9 Garrett McCarty
City: Charleston, West Virginia
Class: 2014
High School: Charleston Catholic High School
AAU Team: WV Wildcats
Evaluation:  McCarty is a heady, scrappy and quick PG that has excellent ball handling skills, but more importantly has a solid understanding of the game. He is the ultimate team facilitator and is excellent in leading his team in the half court situation. Like most young,quick and fast PG, they are best in transition and McCarty is no exception to the rule.

Player: 6’4  Harrison Brown
City: Huntington, West Virginia
Class: 2014
High School: Huntington High School
AAU Team: WV Wildcats
Evaluation: :  Brown has excellent size for the SG position and the only thing better than his size is his ability to put the ball through the basket. He simply knows how to score and score he can. A deadly perimeter shooter especially when he gets his feet set. He has a good understanding of the game and moves well without the ball. As the old shooter’s saying goes, “he does his work early” and is also effective coming off down screens and curls.

Player: 6’1 Scott Meredith
City: Pilot Mountain, North Carolina
Class: 2014
Twitter: @slmeredith3
High School: East Surry
High School Coach: Jason Anderson
AAU Team: Carolina Bearcats
AAU Coach: Marcus Wilmoth
Evaluation: Meredith enjoyed a outstanding sophomore season at East Surry. He averaged 14.6 PPG and 3.9 APG and his play earned him First Team All Conference in the Northwest 1A/2A Conference. Meredith skill set and fundamentals should make him a strong target of D2 and NAIA schools.

Player: 5’7 Daryl Antwan Myers
Class: 2016
High School: Oak Hill Academy
Twitter Name: daryl3jr
AAU Team: VA Assault & Spotsylvania Knights
Evaluation: Myers is a speedy PG with “jet like” quickness. While he is only in the class of 2016, he is already receiving interest from mid majors and above. Myers is an alum of the NC Phenom 150 camp and his impressive performance was evident by his quickness, speed and athleticism for his age/grade, but more importantly he has a solid understanding of the game. He has the ability to make a difference on both ends of the court and he takes as much pride in his defense as his offensive game.

Player: 5’9 Billy Thomas
Class: 2016
High School: Academy of the Sacred Heart
AAU Team: Judges Court
AAU Coach: Antoine Joubert
Evaluation: Billy Thomas is a promising young prospect in the 2016 class. Thomas will be an incoming freshman in high school and already has left his mark in middle school and AAU basketball. He has been a proficient scorer and is already getting D1 interest. Be sure to check out his link to his you tube:

Player: 5’6 Chandler Murray
City: Charlotte, North Carolina
Class: 2016
AAU team: Charlotte Nets 15U
AAU Coach: Cortez Brown
Evaluation: Murray is an alum of the NC Phenom 150 Camp. The talented young PG has excellent speed and quickness that dovetails with his basketball knowledge and IQ. His AAU Coach Cortez Brown stated “ Chandler Murray is a one of a kind basketball player. His skills are more advanced than the kids at his age. He has the uncanny ability to create offense off the dribble and break down any defense. He is definitely a true competitor with the hunger to be the best. Not only is he an offensive threat, but a defensive stopper as well. With his intangibles the future is bright.”

Player: 5’6 Michael Melvin
City: Fayetteville, North Carolina
Class: 2016
High School: Freedom Christian Academy
Twitter Name: @iSnatch_Ankles
AAU Team: Freedom Flyers
Evaluation: Melvin is another young PG to put into your SIM CARD. The speedy PG does an excellent job of creating for his teammates as well as himself. He has advanced ball handling and passing skills and plays with passion and desire.

Phenom Hoop Report: NC Phenom Hoop Report Part 7

In today’s issue we will take a close look at Part 7 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: 6’0 Bryan Rouse
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
School: Ragsdale
Class: 2013
Evaluation: His camp coach gave him one of the biggest compliments when he stated “Bryan Rouse is a coach’s dream.” Without question, Rouse is D1 prospect simply because of his overall skill set and understanding of the game. I thought he exhibited a high basketball IQ and played with passion throughout the camp. He has the right attitude and his willingness to learn and get better should allow him to become the best he can be.

Player: 6’1 Brice Robertson
Hometown: Thomasville, NC
School: Gospel Light Baptist
Class: 2012
Evaluation: Robertson is a solid lead guard and excellent team player. His strongest attribute is his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter especially when he gets his feet and shoulders square to the basket. He doesn’t try to manufacture his own shot, but tries to obtain his shot from the framework of the offense. .

Player: 6’2 Deandre Kellan
Hometown: Martinsville, VA
School: Martinsville
Class: 2014
Evaluation: Kellan made an impression quickly with his tremendous athleticism and leaping ability for a player his age/grade. We thought Kellan had a great attitude and played equally on the defensive end of the court as he did on the offensive end. He has a physically mature body and his strength and quickness allowed him to be one of the camp’s strongest defenders. His lateral quickness was advanced and the next step in his development is to work on the fundamentals of the game and become more rounded as a player.

Player: 5’10 Adam Durden
Hometown: Matthews, NC
School: Charlotte Christian
Class: 2014
Evaluation: Durden is a promising young PG that can break down the defense with his ability to dribble penetrates in the lane. He has natural PG skills and exceptional quick feet. He was a solid defender and understands man to man defensive principles. While Durden is solid in all facets of the game (being well rounded), his next step in his development is to become a more versatile shooter from the perimeter. He is playing for Coach Shonn Brown of Charlotte Christian and you know he will improve immensely over the next 3 years.

Player: 5’6 Chandler Murray
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
School: Randolph Middle
Class: 2016
Evaluation: Murray is a gifted young PG that has the ability to pass or score. He has strong passing skills, but has the ability to knock down perimeter shots with consistency. One of his strongest attributes is his passion to win and play hard. He hustles on both ends of the court and competes at a high level. These physical intangibles along with his basketball IQ and overall knowledge of the game should make him an outstanding player down the road.

Player: 5’11 Jeffrey Waters
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
School: Bartram Trail HS
Class: 2014
Evaluation: Waters enjoyed a solid camp and maximize his potential at the current time. He plays hard and competes on a high level, but will need to fine tune his perimeter skills become more effective. Currently, his athleticism and defensive skills are more advanced than his overall offensive skills. One of his strongest attributes is his ability to get to the rim and finish on a regular basis. The next step in his development is to refine his offensive skill sets especially ball handling and passing.

Player: 5’8 Tre Armstrong
Hometown: Clayton, NC
School: Riverwood Middle
Class: 2016
Evaluation:  He is physically mature for his age/grade and his strength is one of his strongest attributes at this early age. He plays extremely hard on both ends of the court and uses his speed and quickness in the open court to his advantage. As he gets older, he will gain more maturity in terms of basketball IQ and overall understanding of the game. While he is bigger and stronger than many of his peers, he needs to continue to work and fine tune his perimeter skills such as ball handling and passing.

Player: 5’3 Mark Billups
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
School: Kipp Christian
Class: 2017
Evaluation: Mark is solid PG that has a nice blend of athleticism and skills that will separate him from his peers at this early stage. He has advanced ball handling skills for his age/grade and his overall offensive skill sets are solid. He has a great attitude and work ethic and plays the game the correct way. He is unselfish and allows the game come to him while many kids his age have a tendency to hunt or manufacture their own shots. I thought Mark did an adequate job of getting his teammates involved. The next step in his development is giving more effort on the defensive end of the court.

Player: 4’11 Ajzahn Kea
Hometown: Fayetteville, NC
School: Village Christian
Class: 2017
Evaluation: Ajzahn is a feisty young player that isn’t afraid to mix it up with the bigger and older kids. More importantly, he showed an advanced understanding of the game for such a young player and we were impressed with his overall basketball IQ. His offensive skill sets are advanced for his grade level and with continued hard work he can develop into a solid player at the middle school and high school level. Since he is still in the infant stages of his development (being a 7th grader) he just needs to continue his focus on getting better. He has a lot of years ahead of him.

Player: 5’6 Michael Melvin
Hometown: Fayetteville, NC
School: Freedom Christian
Class: 2016
Evaluation: Melvin is a true pass first PG that is absolutely fun to watch. He has amazing court vision and makes plays that allow his teammates to excel which is the first trait you are looking for in a PG. He is the ultimate team player and has the ability to get into the lane easily and effectively. His basketball IQ is and fundamentals are advanced for his age/grade.

NC Phenom 150 Camp Recap, part 2

In today’s issue we will take a close look at Part 2 of the NC Phenom 150 Camp Recap. We will be publishing additional reports in the next several weeks. Next week, we will have Part 3 and 4 up on our website.

1.      Player: 5’9 Dalen Dotson
Hometown: Matthews, NC
School: Charlotte Christian
Class: 2015
Evaluation:  
The thing that stood out about the young point guard’s game for me was his outstanding North/South speed.  Little to no wasted movement/dribbling when Dotson hones in on the rim.  Could be an invaluable 64-foot guy in a few years for a college program in years to come (getting the ball FT line extended from a big after a defensive rebound/penetrating to the opponents’ FT line within 3 secs.).  Add to that his ability to contort his body and absorb contact in the lane while finishing and you start to realize the impact he could have down the line.  Quiet-ish demeanor will need to be tweaked a bit for this PG to reach his full potential.  He’s doesn’t necessarily need to become the often used “vocal leader”, but he will need to at least be vocal.  One to watch.

2.      Player: 6’6 Craig Hinton
Hometown: Kernersville, NC

School: East Forsyth
Class: 2013
Evaluation:  I debated on where to place Hinton in my list, if at all.  First off, the fact of the matter is that he will play Division 1 ball (most likely in a power conference).  His athleticism allows him to TRULY play above the rim when he wants to.  It’s the “want to” part of that equation that has Hinton at #17 on my list instead of in the Top 5, where he absolutely could be.  His body language in the two contests I took in was poor.  Playing defense rarely, if ever, crossed his mind.  I understand that most players at events like this don’t play defense – but Hinton isn’t like most players.  They dream of college scholarships and playing on television – he’s virtually guaranteed it yet seemed content to coast through on Sunday.  Broke down a defender at the top-of-the-key and got to the rim in one dribble in a move during the last game of the day that cemented the fact that his talent may eventually override any attitude/energy issues.  For basketball’s sake, I hope we see a motivated Hinton soon because the potential is sky high.

3.      Player: 6’11 Chuck Ogbodo
Hometown: High Point, NC

School: High Point Christian
Class: 2013
Evaluation:  It would have been nice to see Ogbodo square off against more posts with a variety of body types.  Heck, seeing him match up with Kane every game would have been more beneficial for a true read of his game – but it is what it is – these games are absolutely dominated by guards.  In the lone game of Ogbodo’s I was able to catch he displayed above average hands, understanding of offensive spacing and how to properly roll in a PNR situation (actually got a feed off one of ‘em for a finish!), and the willingness and strength to pass out of double teams.  Conversely, he didn’t hustle.  Rarely did he run the floor after corralling a defensive board and giving it up to a teammate, but the few times he decided to he looked agile and fast.  His length allows him to block/alter shots at a high rate.  Rebounding success at the next level will be about positioning, effort, and improved lower body strength.

4.      Player: 6’1 Hansen French
Hometown: Durham, NC
School: Trinity School of Durham
Class: 2012
Evaluation:  A true coach on the floor, French led his team on Sunday by playing the right way.  He set guys up, made the extra pass, reversed the basketball if spacing was there, hustled for loose balls, and basically anything else you can think of.  He wasn’t the best player on the court but he defied the stereotype of a typical white guard anywhere around 6’.  Led the break well and finished strong around the cup.  Surprisingly athletic – can dunk with two hands from a dead stop type athletic.  Could absolutely play at the D3/D2 level and possibly scratch his way onto a D1 squad as a walk-on.

5.      Player: 6’1 Gregory Joyner, Jr.
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
School: Kannapolis Middle School
Class: 2016
Evaluation:  Absolutely dominated the younger division at the event.  Unveiled a spin move with his back-to-the-basket that’s difficult for most guys his age to pull off when they’re alone in the gym.  Unselfish – plays hard on every possession (both ends), solid overall handle but needs to work on his left.  Jumper needs a lot more lift and reps.  A player.

6.      Player: 5’6 Chandler Murray
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
School: Randolph Middle School
Class: 2016
Evaluation: I was excited about this kid after about 2 minutes of watching him play.  Smooth.  Excellent court vision, hit a 17’ catch and shoots j with no hesitation, and finished around the rim regularly.  Sour body language early turned into competitive fire as the day wore on and he found more success.  Needs to initiate the offense from the left side of the court – one trick pony’s are easily broken at the level he wants to get to.

7.      Player: 5’4 James West
Hometown: Woodbridge, VA
School: Rippon Middle School
Class: 2017
Evaluation:  For being as young and slight as he is, West commanded attention on the floor.  He’s a very good ball handler at this stage and proved capable of knocking down the deep 3.  Although he has the ball on a string, he tends to stay within a 25 ft. square radius when dribbling in the half court (which a ton of players do).  Dribbling with a purpose and showing the ability to put it on the deck and either finish or exploit the kill spots with runners/floaters/pull-ups is next on his agenda.

8.      Player: 5’9 Gibson Jimerson
Hometown: Mechanicsville, VA
School: Oak Knoll Middle School
Class: 2017
Evaluation:  Jimerson doesn’t pass the eye test.  He looks like the only thing he could possibly do is shoot.  And, to be honest, I don’t remember him doing much else.  But his stroke was so consistent and so effortless that leaving him off our list just felt wrong.  Could become an absolute assassin.  Learning how to play in a structured continuity offense in the half court will be huge for the young gunner (LEARN HOW TO NEGOTIATE SCREENS!).  Every time he shot it I anticipated it was going down.  May end up being just another shooter – but could become elite.

9.      Player: 6’6 Harrison White
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
School: High Point Wesleyan

Class: 2013
Evaluation:  Got better and better as the day wore on.  Fundamentally sound with good size, White looks like a prototypical 2/3 college player.  Physically strong and not afraid to bang down low.  Looked good off the bounce in one-on-one situations and rebounded nicely.  Didn’t do anything spectacularly but did a little of everything.  And did them well.  D2/D3 guy at this point with a low major D1 ceiling as of this date.  He grows 3 inches this year and it’s a different conversation.

10.  Player: 5’10 Adam Durden
Hometown: Matthews, NC
School: Charlotte Christian

Class: 2014
Evaluation:  He’s 5’10, a good player, but didn’t show me anything exceptional at the event.  That said, he was THE HARDEST WORKING PLAYER AT THE CAMP AND IT WASN’T CLOSE.  There are guys with motors and there are guys with scary motors (think Rodman).  That’s how active this kid was.  He was involved in every exchange – diving for loose balls, hugging up on his man on defense, rebounding, getting out in transition, taking open looks if they were there, etc.  None of it looked ‘pretty’ but when you put the Durden package together it is EFFECTIVE.  For his sake I hope he grows 4 inches, tightens up his handle, and becomes a great shooter off the catch (either spotting up or coming off screens).  If he can do some/all of those things, he can be a great college player.

At the Phenom Hoop Report we rate guys on what we see.  Stay tuned in the next several weeks as we will have more updates added to the NC Phenom 150 Recap.