May 24, 2013

Posts Comments

You are here: Home / Archives for Jackson Kent

11th Annual MLK Day North Carolina Scholastic Classic

January 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Phenom Hoop Report was on hand to cover the 11th Annual MLK Day North Carolina Scholastic Classic at the Greensboro Coliseum. Six games were played and we will recap the team scores along with the top individual performances by the perspective players.

Greenfield 69, Charlotte Christian 62

Greenfield played without 2014 PG Xavier Mills and 6’7 2014 WF Logan McClane, but they were led by the 1-2 scoring punch of 6’5 2014 WG Ashley Williams with 18 points and 2014 SG Jaime Johnson tallied 21 points knocking down seven 3 pointers for the game. 6’3 Clemson signee Patrick Rooks finished with 23 points while 6’4 2014 WG Matthew Fisher-Davis scored 13 points for the losing team. Ashley Williams continues to have a solid all around year and has been instrumental in the team’s overcall success. We have seen Williams countless times in evaluation camps and through AAU basketball and he is the perfect team player. He plays the game the right way and has an outstanding understanding of the game and high basketball IQ. Williams is averaging 15 PPG and 6 RPG and already sports several D1 offers.

Jaime Johnson is a name to remember, as he is a prolific marksman from the 3-point line. He finished with 21 points knocking down seven 3 pointers. Johnson is averaging 14 PPG and is shooting 45% from the 3-point line. Coming into the game, Johnson had connected on 65 3 pointers and added seven to his total against Charlotte Christian.

6’3 senior WG Patrick Rooks should be an instant impact at Clemson next season. Rooks is a scorer’s deluxe and has a beautiful shooting stroke from the perimeter. Rooks is averaging 20 PPG for Charlotte Christian. He has improved on his ball handling and passing skills and should be a perfect fit for Clemson. Matthew Fisher-Davis is a mult-dimensional player and can play both the guard and forward position. He is averaging 17 PPG and has the skill set and fundamentals to be a legitimate D1 prospect.

Oxford Webb 64, Mt. Tabor 63

The Oxford Webb/Mt. Tabor game was clearly the best game of the day. Oxford Webb featured consensus All American and UNC signee 6’8 Isaiah Hicks. Hicks came into the contest with impressive stats and looks to be a lock as a McDonald All American. He averages 20 PPG and 11 RPG. In addition, he is one of the country’s best-shot blockers as he has impeccable timing. He is quick off his feet and will be an important member of the 2013 UNC recruiting haul. Hicks finished with 18 point and 12 rebounds. The backcourt duo of Tyrek Beverly and Stefan Cates played well and finished with 13 and 14 points respectively.

Mt. Tabor was 15-0 coming into the contest and is coached by Andy Muse, who we consider one of the top high school coaches in North Carolina. He has a veteran squad and unfortunately they dug themselves a deep hole by trailing Oxford Webb by 20 points in the first half. That being said, Coach Muse installed confidence in his team and you knew a comeback was eminent. He starts five seniors and every one of the starters averages in double figures. Mt. Tabor was led by 6’3 Matthew Madigan with 16 points while 6’3 Lepreece Lynch tallied 15 points, 6’5 Nate Long with 12 points, 6’4 Deion Robinson with 10 points. 6’7 Tquan Biting only chipped in 6 points, but did an admirable job of the boards and battled hard against Isaiah Hicks. Madigan has signed with Brown University, but the remaining four seniors for Mt. Tabor remain unsigned. We personally like the upside and potential of 6’7 Tyquan Biting and feel like he can be a quality player in the Big South and Southern Conference. Lynch, Long and Robinson should continue to garnish lower tier D1 interest. They are well coached and play the game the right way. All three had good athleticism and proper skills and fundamentals.

High Point Christian 68, Greensboro Page 49

High Point Christian came into the contest with a 15-3 record and the talented group of seniors proved too much for the youthful Greensboro Page Pirates. 6’0 PG Diante Baldwin ( UNC-G signee) led the way with 15 points while 6’6 Jackson Kent (James Madison) and 6’8 Mike Kobani (Appalachian State) scored 12 and 10 points respectively. Greensboro Page was led by 5’11 2016 PG Ty Graves with 17 points knocking down four 3 pointers for the game. Graves is a solid D1 prospect and if he continues to grow and develop will have many high major programs knocking on his door. He has a great feel for the game and played with poise and purpose. He has a beautiful shooting touch and his fundamentals and basketball IQ are advanced for his grade/age. 6’0 2014 Anthony Eaves also played well and finished in double figures with 13 points.

Greensboro Day School 67, Fayetteville Northwood 42

This game was a TKO early in the 1st quarter as GDS roared out of the gates and never let up. Without question, Coach Freddy Johnson is the best high school coach in the state of North Carolina. GDS was led by 6’7 2013 point forward Christian Hairston (Furman) with 18 points and his size/skill/athleticism is advanced and we have a hard time understanding how so many teams in North Carolina missed out on this young man. He was clearly one of the better players at the MLK event on Monday. He can shoot the 3 pointer and has the ability to dribble drive and penetrate, but he is also an outstanding teammate. He is unselfish and knows how to play the game the right way. All I can say is “shame on you schools in NC for letting this young man slip away.” 6’3 Reggie Dillard (Presbyterian) chipped in 15 points and was solid all game. He has a physically mature body and is tremendous on the defensive side of the ball. 6’3 Reed Lucas (West Point) did what he does best. He is an excellent perimeter shooter and is under-valued for what he brings to the team. Lucas is a high basketball IQ and fundamentally sound player. Another player we liked was 6’3 senior Montel Goldston who finished with 8 points. While his offensive stats will not blow you away, but his young man flat gets after it on the defensive end of the court. He has superb athleticism and clearly should be recruited by schools in the Big South or equivalent. Greensboro Day now moves to 26-0 and did not have any leftover effects from their impressive win over High Point Wesleyan.

Many ACC coaches were in attendance to watch 6’10 Sidy Mohamed Djitte of Northwood. He came into the contest with impressive outing of 25 point/rebound games, but one has to question the level of competition. Djitte finished with 13 points, but the majority of points came later in the game when the outcome had already been decided. While high major schools because of his size, length and athleticism will recruit Djitte, he is missing a “go to” move on the interior. He does have a strong upside and potential and should be considered a top 150 recruit nationally.

Christ School 83, Ravenscroft 47

We expected this game to be a little more competitive, but Ravenscroft simply had a bad day at the office. That being said, 6’8 2013 PF Shannon Hale (Alabama) was simply fantastic for the Greenies of Christ School. Hale has improved tremendously since last year and especially from the perimeter. Hale consistently knocked down 15-foot jumpers and will be a valuable member of the Crimson Tide next season. Hale finished with 23 points and showed great maturity on the court. Another player to definitely put in your SIM card is 6’5 2017 D.J. Harvey. Harvey is a physically mature 8th grader that played like a seasoned veteran. He finished with 12 points and could be special if he continued to develop. 6’3 2013 SG Jaylen Allen chipped in 10 points for Greenfield.

Leading the way for Ravenscroft is 6’8 Marcus “Double Double” Bryan. Bryan came into the contest averaging 17 PPG and 15 RPG and is the only player in the school’s history to record a 1000 career points and rebounds. Bryant finished with 18 points and proved he is going to be a priority for many mid major schools. 6’0 2014 PG Chris Corchiani is the team’s second leading scorer with 8.6 PPG and 4.7 APG. He enjoyed a solid game, but unfortunately Ravenscroft was simply outmanned as a team.

High Point Wesleyan 65, Greensboro Dudley 56

Greensboro Dudley led the majority of the game, but the superior size and length of HP Wesleyan was simply too much for the underdogs. That being said, the star of the game was 6’2 Sam Hunt (Jacksonville) Hunt tallied 27 points and was scoring from all areas on the court. He was knocking down jumpers and driving beautifully to the basket with nifty and crafty moves. Clearly, HPW simply had no answers for him. Again, we are left scratching our heads on how this young talented PG was not heavily recruited by schools within the immediate area. I will simply say no more! On the other hand, High Point Wesleyan has a who’s who list of the nation’s top prospects in 6’5 2014 Theo Pinson, 6’0 2014 PG JaQuel Richmond and 6’8 2016 Harry Giles, who may be one of the best players in the state regardless of class. Then you throw in 6’7 man-child Donovan Gilmore and this game should have been a no contest! Leading the way for HPW was Gilmore with 18 points while Theo Pinson chipped in 13 points. JaQuel Richmond and Harry Giles both tallied 11 points each. Gilmore play was impressive and he reminds me of a stronger version of Davidson College 6’8 Brooks. Gilmore is a relentless warrior in the paint and will battle you tooth and nail for rebounds. Much has already been written about Pinson and Richmond who are both ACC targets. That be being said, one of the most gifted freshman players we have seen in a long time is 6’8 Harry Giles. Giles has tremendous length and skill set and sports a size 17 shoe so there is plenty of room for growth. He has advanced ball handling and passing skills and we really believe he could be a Kevin Durant clone by the time he is a senior in high school. Yes, he is that good!

Filed Under: Phenom Reports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Oak Hill moves to 6-0 with hard fought win over High Point Christian

November 15, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Oak Hill entertained a tough and talented High Point Christian team coached by Brandon Clifford on Tuesday night. Oak Hill moved to 6-0 for the season before Coach Steve Smith and the Oak Hill Warriors were able to pull away in the final quarter of play for a 79-63 win over the visiting Cougars from High Point Christian. There were several story lines, but the sold out Turner Gymnasium was packed with fans from both schools. The gym was loud and raucous at times and had it’s own share of webs and flows to the game. High Point Christian won the 1st and 3rd quarter while Oak Hill won the 2nd and 4th quarter and more importantly the game.

High Point Christian jumped out to an early 20-15 first quarter lead before a strong 2nd quarter by Oak Hill as they outscored the Cougars 22-10 and went into the locker room at half time with a 37-30 lead. High Point was able to get into the lane off dribble penetration and out hustled the Warriors at times and closed the gap by outscoring the Warriors 18-14 in the 3rd quarter and trailed 51-48. That being said, the nationally ranked Warriors went on a 4th quarter run and outscored High Point Christian by the score of 28-15 for a tough 79-63 victory.

The one Achilles Heal for Oak Hill has been their perimeter shooting especially from the 3-point area and again it was a concern for Coach Smith on Tuesday night. The Warriors went 5-21 from the beyond the arc for a disappointing 24% and it was just an off night shooting overall. Oak Hill went 47% from the floor going 31-66, but the most disappointing statistic was going 12-23 for 52.2% from the free throw line. It was another balanced scoring attack for Oak Hill as 6’7 Troy Williams (Indiana) led the way with 21 points. Williams went 9-15 from the floor and went 1-1  from the free throw line. He was also the team’s leading rebounder with 11; dished out 3 assists and was clearly the most productive and best player on the court. 6’5 senior Sindarius Thornwell (South Carolina) finished with 14 points going 5-9 from the floor and 4-6 from the free throw line. He tallied 7 rebounds and played another stellar all around defensive game. 6’1 senior PG Nate Britt (UNC) finished with 11 points going 3-7 from the floor and 5-7 from the free throw line. He also had 3 steals and dished out 2 assists. 6’2 senior guard Ike Iroegbu (Washington State) provided a spark off the bench with 10 points going 4-7 from the floor but went 0-3 from the free throw line. Iroegbu also dished out 2 assists. 6’5 senior RJ Curington (uncommitted) chipped in 9 points and struggled from the floor. He went 4-11 from the floor and 1-5 from the 3-point line. Curington grabbed 3 rebounds and dished out a team high 3 assists. 5’11 sophomore PG Terrence Phillips also provided a spark off the bench with his hustle and quickness. He finished with 7 points going 3-10 from the floor and 1-2 from the free throw line, but more importantly grabbed 5 rebounds.

High Point Christian also enjoyed a balanced scoring tally as well. Four players were in double digit scoring with 6’6 Jackson Kent (James Madison University) led the way with 16 points and 11 rebounds. 6’7 Mike Kobani (Appalachian State) also achieved a double- double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. 5’11 PG Diante Baldwin (UNC-G) enjoyed a solid all around game as he tallied 11 points, 8 assists and grabbed 9 rebounds. 5’11 junior Joey McLean also chipped in 12 points for the Cougars from High Point.

For Oak Hill, it was another early season test and again showed the resiliency of a championship team. There were times in the game when the Warriors bent but didn’t break, but found a way to close out High Point Christian. Both teams can takes positives for the game. As usual, Oak Hill will take everyone’s best shot and on a night where they had an off game was able to find a path to victory, which is a mark of a well-coached team. Oak Hill now moves to 6-0 and entertains Moravian Prep Thursday night. For High Point Christian, Coach Brandon Clifford can build on the momentum of playing toe to toe against one of the top teams in the country, if not the test. While High Point opened up their season with a loss, it will be a big momentum booster to them as they battle in the tough NCISAA 3 A.

Filed Under: Phenom Reports Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Team Loaded 17U wins Fab 48

July 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment

We were able to watch Team Loaded 17U team at great length during the early July “live period” and came away impressed with the potential of Coach Blackwell’s team.

During the Big Shots II tournament, we wrote the following:

“Team Loaded 17U coached by Mike Blackwell used a ten man rotation throughout the tournament and won the Big Shots II Championship easily over Seattle Rotary by the score of 70-42. Along the way, Team Loaded cruised past two EYBL teams in the Georgia Stars and All Ohio Red. Coach Blackwell has ten D1 players on his roster. 6’0 PG Jay Daniels is committed to Howard University, 6’3 PG/SG Troy Caupain is committed to the University of Cincinnati and 6’3 SG Patrick Rooks is committed to Clemson of the ACC. 6’6 WF RJ Curington and 6’0 Frank Mason are receiving high major interest while 6’6 WF/PF Brian White has offers from Big South and Southern Conference schools. 6’0 PG/SG Andrew Rowsey has offers from VMI, UNC-Greensboro and Mount St. Mary while 6’6 Jackson Kent has the majority of Big South and Southern Conference schools on his offer list as does 6’8 Jerome Simmons and 6’11 Chuck Ogbogo. One of the toughest things for a coach is juggling playing time with ten legit D1 players and keeping them all happy. That being said, Coach Blackwell deserves special credit for his rotations and keeping guys fresh throughout the tournament. While many teams were wearing down due to lack of depth, Team Loaded got stronger deeper into the tournament. On championship Sunday, Team Loaded breezed through the competition and saved their best for last in the championship game. Team Loaded crushed and I mean crushed a very good Seattle Rotary team by the score of 70-42 and it was the total overall depth and balance that was the key”! 

During the month of the July, Team Loaded went an impressive 19-3 record and the ten player rotation of Division One players were the key in their success. As we eluded to in the Big Shots II tournament, Coach Mike Blackwell deserved special credit for carefully manipulating a lineup of talented young players. One of the more difficult jobs as a coach at any level is to balance the egos of players and parents during the most important evaluation period of the summer. That being said, we have had advocated a philosophy of “Team work makes the dream work” and if a team is successful, then the players will be successful and this statement couldn’t be more truthful of Team Loaded 17U team. Just recently, 6’0 PG Frank Mason picked up an offer by Kansas. Again, we were ahead of the bell curve with our recent article where we commented that Mason would be recruited by HM schools.

At the Fab 48 tournament in Las Vegas, it was the depth and overall talent that proved to be the keys in the impressive run by Team Loaded. On opening night, Team Loaded was playing without Frank Mason and the team dropped a hard fought OT game to Play Hard Play Smart. In speaking with Coach Blackwell, he stated “the top performers were 5’11 shooting PG Andrew Rowsey (be sure to check out our article from February 13th, 2012) with 22 points, 6’6 Brian White 18 points, 6’3 Clemson verbal Patrick “Microwave” Rooks 15 points, while 6’11 Chuck Ogobado and 6’5 RJ Curington both with 9 points each.”

Game two at the Fab 48was a little easier for Team Loaded as they cruised to an 64-47 win over the Kansas City 76ers. It was another well balanced attack as four players were in double figures. Leading the way was RJ Curington with 16 points, Brian White 13 points, Andrew Roswey and Cincinnati verbal Troy Caupain with 10 points each. However, game three proved to be another tough test for the well balanced Team Loaded as they squeaked by an excellent Wisconsin Swing team by the score of 87-85. Again, four players were in double figures but it was the outstanding play of PG Frank Mason with 28 points that received game high honors. RJ Curington 13 points, Andrew Rowsey 12 points, and Patrick Rooks 11 points balanced out the scoring attack.

After winning a tough Super Pool at Fab48, the competition in the championship bracket was equally tough and demanding. Team Loaded opened up against Magic Red (CA) and pulled out another exciting win by the score of 76-74. Frank Mason led the way with 17 points while Patrick Rooks and Brian White chipped in 16 and 14 points respectively. Next up, Team Loaded played a very talented Team Breakdown (FL) and came out victorious by the score of 66-59. It was the trio of Frank Mason 18 points, Patrick Rooks 16 points, and Brian White 12 points that led the way. Just like the formula used at Big Shots II tournament in Myrtle Beach, SC, Coach Mike Blackwell talented group of ten division one players were getting stronger as the tournament forged deeper into championship play. Next up was New Rens (NY) and after a nip and tuck battle, Team Loaded pulled away in the final minute for a 65-58 victory. Brian White was the game’s leading scorer with 19 points while Frank Mason chipped in 18 points and Andrew Rowsey with 10 points. Team Loaded then advanced to the Final Four to play against another excellent UA team in Net Gain Sports of Minnesota. Team Loaded won on a tip in at the buzzer for the thrilling 65-64 win. More importantly, Team Loaded trailed by 11 points with over 2 minutes in the game to pull out the come from behind win. Brian White again was the game’s leading scorer with 18 points while Andrew Rowsey and Frank Mason chipped in 12 points each. In the championship game, Team Loaded depth again proved to be the winning formula as they won by the score of 62-52 over the Arkansas Hawks. Andrew Rowsey and Troy Caupain with 13 points.

The success of Team Loaded during the July “live period” helped pave the way for more offers for all ten players on the roster. While Patrick Rooks (Clemson),  Troy Caupain (Cincinnati), and Jay Daniels (Howard University) are already committed, it is no secret that the seven uncommitted players enhanced their stock/status with division one schools. That being said, the guys that took their game to another level were Frank Mason (Kansas offer) and Brian White, Andrew Rowsey and RJ Curington. Look for White, Rowsey and Curington recruitment pick up immensely in the upcoming months and the beauty of it all is “Team work makes the dream work.”

Filed Under: Phenom Reports Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

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.

Filed Under: Phenom Reports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hoop Hall Classic recap

January 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment


Prior to leaving for the 2012 Spalding Hoop Hall of Fame Classic, Oak Hill returned to school after a ten day lay-off. They played Christian Faith Academy and won easily by the score of 87-57. Jordan Adams led the way with 25 points going 10-21 from the floor (1-4 from the 3 point line) and 4-6 from the free throw line. He also grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double for another solid all around performance. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera tallied 18 points going 6-11 from the floor (3-5 from the 3 point line) and 3-4 from the free throw line. Tyler Lewis pumped in 17 points going 5-11 from the floor (1-3 from the 3 point line) and 6-8 from the free throw line. Lewis also dished out 5 assists and had 3 steals. AJ Hammons also finished with a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds. Oak Hill now stood with a 26-0 record and traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts against national powerhouse and the prestigious City of Palms Champions Prestonwood High School of Texas.

Oak Hill jumped on Prestonwood early and never looked back as they recorded an impressive 85-55 win over a really good team. One of the unsung heroes for Oak Hill was 7’0 senior center AJ Hammons. Hammons set the tone early on both ends of the court. While his stat line will not wow you, but it was his enormous frame and girth that created problems for 6’9 Junior All American Julius Randle and 6’9 Kansas signee Zach Peters. Hammons finished with 6 points and 8 rebounds while blocking 4 shots and even dished out 2 assists. More importantly, Hammons altered countless shots for the opposing team and his presence alone in the middle was huge. Leading the way for Oak Hill was Jordan Adams with 23 points. Adams was an efficient 9-14 from the floor (5-7 from the 3 point line) and had 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists. Simply put, this was Adams best game of the season and it came at the opportune time. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera tallied 16 points going 5-17 from the floor (2-9 from the 3 point line) and 4-4 from the free throw line and also dished out 4 assists. Tyler Lewis finished with 15 points going 5-9 from the floor (3-4 from the 3 point line) and 2-2 from the free throw line. Lewis also dished out 10 assists and had 4 rebounds and recorded 4 steals to record an effective and efficient floor game. Charlotte signee 6’6 PF Darion Clark also got into double figures with 10 points going 5-6 from the floor and also collected 6 rebounds.

For Prestonwood, 6’9 PF Julius Randle finished with 23 points going 10-23 from the floor (0-3 from the 3 point line) and went 3-3 from the free throw line. Randle also collected a team high 9 rebounds. Kansas signee Zach Peters tallied 9 points going 3-9 from the floor and 3-5 from the free throw line. Peters also collected 4 rebounds for Prestonwood. Rounding out the bright spots for Prestonwood was 6’8 freshman sensation Mickey Mitchell who some are already touting as the best freshman in the country. Mitchell finished with 9 points going 3-9 from the floor (3-6 from the 3 point line.

For the game, Oak Hill shot the ball extremely well and they went 51% from the floor and an impressive 52% from the 3 point line. They also went 8-8 from the free throw line. On the other hand, Prestonwood shot 38% for the game and only 27% from the 3 point line. That being said, the big difference in the game was the ability of Oak Hill to share the ball as they had 19 assists for the game.

In another marquee matchup on Saturday, Gonzaga (Washington DC) defeated Riverside of New Orleans by the score of 77-65. The star of the game belonged to 6’6 junior Kris Jenkins as he tallied a game high 30 points going 12-16 from the floor (2-4 from the 3 point line) and 4-6 from the free throw line. Jenkins also grabbed 11 rebounds to record an impressive double-double. We went back to the Phenom Hoop Report archives from August 2010 and this is what we had to say about Jenkins two years ago.

August, 2010

Player: 6’6 Kris Jenkins
High School: Gonzaga
Hometown: Upper Marlboro
Class: 2013
Phenom Hoop Report: HM-

Jenkins is a strong and powerful PF that uses his strength extremely well. HE may be one of the best young 6’6 PF that really knows how to use his body and post up on the block. He has really soft hands and does an excellent job of finishing in the paint. In addition to being a strong PF, he has the ability to step out and know down the open 15 foot jumper to be a nice face up 4.

It looks like we were again spot on in our evaluation of Jenkins two summers ago!

6’1 junior PG Nate Britt finished with 16 points going 7-16 from the floor (0-1 from the 3 point line) and 2-2 from the free throw line. Britt dished out 2 assists, but had an enormously high 8 turnovers for the game. For Riverside, it was 6’8 senior PF Ricardo Gathers leading the way with 22 points going 8-21 from the game (0-2 from the 3 point line) and 6-7 from the free throw line. Gathers also grabbed 8 rebounds for the game. Gathers is simply a “man among boys” and his strong physical play always leaves you with a lasting impression of the coveted unsigned senior. Gathers already sports a NBA body and knows how to use his body extremely well in the post area. That being said, we felt Gathers settled for too many midrange jumpers and didn’t attack the basket as in previous tournaments.  In addition, he does have a nice mid range jumper. We were also impressed with the play of senior SG Lucas Martin-Julien who finished with 19 points. Martin-Julien went 8-17 from the floor (2-4 from the 3 point line) and 1-2 from the free throw line. That being said, college coaches should put the following names in their SIM card for future reference. 6’1 freshman PG Tharvon Julien finished with 11 points going 4-7 from the floor (1-1 from the 3 point line) and 2-2 from the free throw line. While he does possess outstanding speed and quickness, the next step in his development is to play more under control and cut down on careless turnovers, which is typical of a young PG. Another name to remember is 6’9 8th grader Khalea Turner who finished with 7 points. This young man has a soft touch around the basket and has huge and soft hands which are a complete luxury for big men.

The game changing stat was the inability of Riverside to take care of the basketball. Riverside committed 19 turnovers and only had 7 assists for the game. On the other hand, Gonzaga had 15 turnovers but had 16 assists for the game.

We will now move to the action on Monday at the 10th Annual MLK Day North Carolina Scholastic Classic and finish with some final thoughts on the 2012 Spalding Hoop Hall Classic.

In one of the day’s most surprising games was between High Point Wesleyan and Greenfield. HPW entered the contest with a 10-3 record and has one of the state’s most talented trios in 6’7 senior SF Montay Brandon (Florida State), 6’5 sophomore WG Theo Pinson, and 6’0 sophomore PG Jaquel Richmond. Greenfield is led by 6’8 senior WF Aaron Roundtree (Wake Forest) and 6’4 senior WF Sam Hughes (UNC-Asheville) who was the difference maker for the game as Greenfield won going away with a 73-64 victory over High Point Wesleyan. Between Brandon, Pinson, Richmond and Roundtree, you have four high major college players, but it was the play of Hughes that made the biggest impression. Hughes finished the game with 22 points while Roundtree had another all around performance with 15 points. In addition, Greenfield got balance scoring as 5’11 senior PG T.J. Hinnant chipped in 14 points while 6’3 junior SG Jordan Sharpe finished with 10 points. Theo Pinson led the way for HPW with 16 points while Montay Brandon chipped in 15 points and Jacquel Richmond finished with 12 points. While Greenfield’s coach Rob Salter is one of the state’s best coaches, he too was surprised with the impressive win over a very talented Wesleyan team. Greenfield who is ranked number 1 in the NCISAA 1-A  led by as many as 17 points in the 3rd quarter over the NCISAA 3-A number 5 team in the 3rd quarter. Greenfield now moves to 16-1 for the season while High Point Wesleyan drops to 10-4.

In the city matchup between private school Greensboro Day and Greensboro Smith, it was Coach Freddy Johnson and the Bengals winning easily over cross town Smith by the score of 61-48. As usual, it was a total team effort on behalf of Greensboro Day and balanced scoring once again was the point of the day for the Bengals. 6’3 senior SG Reed Lucas led the way with 17 points and his stock continues to soar. Lucas has always been an excellent catch and shoot player, but he has added strength and athleticism to his game and is able to put the ball on the floor with authority as he made a nifty baseline cross-over move for a beautiful slam dunk that put the explanation point for his MVP performance. Without question, schools in the Big South and Southern Conference should definitely be recruiting his young man. He has outstanding basketball IQ and has a great feel for the game. 6’7 senior PF Quayshad Williams chipped in 10 points and is quickly regaining his stamina after pre-season injuries. Williams made a big time college low post move where he had a drop step and then went in for a reverse layup that showcased his skill and ability. He is another player area schools in the Big South and Southern Conference should be recruiting. 6’7 junior Christian Hairston finished with 9 points while 5’10 PG Eastern Michigan signee Jalen Ross chipped in 8 points. Hairston is a long and athletic WF that rebounded well and has the ability to put the ball on the floor. Ross is simply the engine of the Bengals well balanced team. He is a heady PG that plays with excellent poise and will be an excellent prospect for Eastern Michigan. Greensboro Smith was led by 6’5 senior WF Adrian Wimbach with 15 points while 6’3 senior WG Tracy Gathings chipped in 14 points.

In the fifth game of the day, it was Oak Hill Academy vs. Greensboro Dudley. Oak Hill was fresh off its impressive win Saturday over Prestonwood and flew home Sunday. Oak Hill players attended class on Monday and then made the 2 ½ hour drive down to the Greensboro Coliseum. Oak Hill won easily by the score of 84-58 and it was another good homecoming for senior PG Tyler Lewis. Lewis finished with 21 points going 7-11 from the floor (2-4 from the 3 point line) and 5-6 from the free throw line. Jordan Adams tallied 16 points going 6-15 from the floor (2-7 from the 3 point line) and 2-2 from the free throw line. AJ Hammons continued his impressive play with 10 points, 8 rebounds and 4 block shots while RJ Curington enjoyed double digit scoring with 10 points going 4-7 from the floor (1-1 from the 3 point line) and 1-3 from the free throw line. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera finished with 9 points going 4-9 from the floor (1-3 from the 3 point line) The top player for Greensboro Dudley is 6’1 junior PG Sam Hunt who is a legitimate division one prospect. Oak Hill now moves to 28-0 for the season and should secure the number one spot in both USA Today and the ESPN high school poll.

In the final game of the day and the most exciting game, it was High Point Christian squeaking out a 59-58 OT win over Quality Education. Leading 52-48 with less than a minute remaining, HPC could have iced the game on several occasions but missed 7-8 free throws that allowed QEA to get back into the game. Coach Brandon Clifford and HPC moves to an impressive 19-0 record for the season while QEA falls to 12-4. Leading the way for HPC was 5’11 junior PG Diante Baldwin with 23 points. Baldwin is a crafty and quick PG that can easily get into the lane. Without question, Baldwin is a solid division I prospect and area schools in the Big South and Southern Conference should continue to monitor and recruit. Baldwin attended the 8th Annual NC Phenom 150 Camp last October and below is our evaluation of him.

Player: 5’11 Diante Baldwin
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
School: High Point Christian
Grade: 11 (Class: 2013)
Evaluation: IQ 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.

Next up for HPC is the ever improving Jackson Kent. The 6’7 junior WF has always been known as a “lights out” shooter, but he has improved his athleticism and especially his lateral quickness. He has also shown the ability to handle the PG responsibilities if need be. Kent also attended the NC Phenom 150 camp last October and here’s what he had to say about him then.

Player: 6’7 Jackson Kent
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
School: High Point Christian
Grade: 11 (Class 2013)
Evaluation: Kent recently transferred to High Point Christian and reclassed to the 2013 class. Kent is another regular at the NC Phenom 150 camp and I’m totally impressed with his improvement over the past year. Basically known as a “dead eye” from the 3 point territory, he has worked hard on his ball handling and passing skills and has really raised his level of play. He even played PG at times at camp. Kent is excellent in transitions and with improved strength and quickness, he is more comfortable attacking the basket and finishing well. He has always been a fundamentally sound player with a high basketball IQ and is a legit D1 prospect.

That being said, Kent continued improvement will garnish interest from mid majors and even some high majors. Currently, Kent has the overall skills and ability to score and the next step in his development is to gain strength. If he continues to improve as much in the next two years as he has in the past year, don’t be surprised to see him playing at a high level. Kent finished with 16 points. 6’11 junior center Chuck Ogbodo played with a severe ankle sprain and gave 100% effort, but it was evident he was having trouble playing on it. He had little to no elevation but one has to give the young man tons of credit for playing with heart and passion. Below is our evaluation from our NC Phenom 150 Camp on Ogbodo.

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.

 

Leading the way for Quality Education was 6’4 senior combo guard Tevin Findlay. Findlay tallied 13 points while 6’7 senior PF Dominique Williams tallied 11 points. QEA has tons of talent and 6’9 Freshman Ibrahima Diallo is a promising young prospect that high majors should be all over.

Final thoughts from the 2012 Spalding Hoop Hall Classic

All Tourney Players: 

National: Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman

2012 Hoophall Classic All-Tournament First Team
Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman
Nerlens Noel, Tilton
Tyler Lewis, Oak Hill
Aaron Thomas, Brewster
Kyle Anderson, St. Anthony

2012 Hoophall Classic All-Tournament Second Team
Dominic Artis, Findlay
Kris Jenkins, Gonzaga
Katin Reinhardt, Mater Dei
Grant Jerrett, LaVerne Lutheran
Jabari Parker, Chicago Simeon

While we were not physically able to watch the Sunday and Monday games in person of the 2012  Spalding Hoop Hall Classic, we were fortunate to tape and watch the games shown on ESPN. After watching Shabazz Muhammad countless times this past summer, there is no question that he is the number one player in the 2012 class and there is no close second. In addition, we simply don’t buy the fact that many scouting experts are touting junior Jabari Parker as the best player in the country regardless of class. I will agree Parker may be the most complete all around player and his overall skill package at 6’8 is second to none. That being said, the Phenom Hoop Report went against “conventional wisdom” and selected 6’11 Nerlens Noel as the number one player in the 2013 class and here are the reason why. First of all, Noel may be the best defensive player at the high school level since a Patrick Ewing or Alonzo Mourning and his ability to change the outcome of the game is unequal without scoring a single point! That being said, his defensive and shot blocking ability is far ahead of his offensive skill set, however after watching his development and improvement on the offensive end of the court against Brewster, we are confidence that Noel may even become the number one pick in the draft by the time he enters his name for the NBA. Below is our evaluation from this past August after watching him at the NBA Players Camp.

August 2011 Report

Player: 6’11 Nerlens Noel
High School: Tilton School
Hometown: Tilton, MA
Class: 2013
Committed: Undecided

Phenom Hoop Report: What is there not to like about this young man!  Noel is an extremely long and athletic shot blocking machine and is one of the few players in the country that can impact a game without scoring a single point. His length, timing, and quick bounce off the floor are a recipe for many balls ending up in the first and second row of spectators. On the offensive end of the floor, he didn’t get many touches but that had little to no effect on his ability to play hard and with a passion and purpose. While Noel only averaged 7.4 PPG, he put together two strong performances in the semi final game and also in the championship game. (18 & 15 points respectively) His team lost by one point and if his team had won, one could make a strong argument that he could have been named the tournament MVP. The majority of his points came off missed shots and running the floor in transition, but in a few games we noticed him taking a jump hook shot as his main offensive weapon. Without question, Noel has no equal on the defensive end of the floor and reminds me of a younger and lankier Alonzo Mourning.

In the next couple of days, we will be updating our 2012 national rankings!

 

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

8th Annual North Carolina Phenom 150 Evaluation Camp: Part 2

October 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment

In today’s issue, we will look at the next group of talented young players that attended the 8th Annual North Carolina Phenom 150 Camp.

Player: 6’10 Thor Emilsson
Hometown: Winston-Salem (Foreign exchange student)
School: Forsyth Country Day
Grade: 12 (Class: 2012)
Evaluation: Emilsson is a big body post player that is fundamentally sound. He is not overly athletic, but does use his body rather well on the interior. He runs the well and does possess a nice drop step move to the basket. He does a very good job of boxing out on the defensive end of the floor. Schools in the Big South and Southern Conference should definitely monitor his progress for FCDS.

Player: 6’7 Mark Pollock
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
School: Charlotte Catholic
Grade: 11 (Class 2013)
Evaluation: Pollock’s biggest attribute is his ability to knock down shots. He has excellent fundamentals and shooting technique and has a high release point. He has great rotation on the ball and he is deadly from midrange and can also stretch out the defense with his outstanding range from the 3 point area. He is fundamentally sound and has a high basketball IQ. He recently received his first offer from Presbyterian College and look for that list to grow. He has been a regular at the NC Phenom 150 camp and he continues to improve and get better.  He is player that should be recruited heavily by Southern Conference and Big South schools. In addition, he is an excellent student and high character young man.

Player: 6’6 Quayshad Williams
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
School: Greensboro Day School
Grade: 12 (Class 2012)
Evaluation: Williams has been saddled with a foot injury for part of the summer and early fall. While he has to work his way back into shape, Williams enjoyed a stellar camp. Although he is undersized at the post position, he worked extremely hard in the paint getting open. Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to coach Williams 2 years in AAU and know he has potential to be really good. He has “soft” hands which is essential for a PF or post player. He is always moving without the ball and is quite active on the boards. One thing for sure, Williams doesn’t mind banging on the inside and mixing it up. In addition, Williams has enjoyed the opportunity to play for Greensboro Day and one of the best high school coaches in the business with Coach Freddie Johnson. That alone will tell you he is coachable and knows how to play the game the right way. Williams looked like he had something to prove and he looked like the Quayshad of old. I look for big things this coming season for him.  He should be a target for Big South and Southern Conference Schools.

Player: 6’3 JT Miller
Hometown: Clinton, NC
School: Clinton
Grade: 12 (Class 2012)
Evaluation: The undeniable adjective that attaches itself to Miller’s game is explosive. Without question, Miller is a big time athlete who plays above the rim. Miller showed solid ball handling capabilities in both the half court and in transition. He has really good end to end speed and absolutely loves to attack the basket. The next step in his development is to develop a consistent mid range jumper. That being said, Miller plays with passion and purpose and is Mr. Hustle on both ends of the court.

Player: 6’6 Trey Chapman
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
School: High Point Wesleyan
Grade: 11 (Class 2013)
Evaluation: step Chapman recently transferred to High Point Wesleyan. He is a tremendous athletic WF that has excellent length and bounce that enables him to play above the rim. He is like a gazelle in transition and uses his length and athleticism in attacking the basket. He is very active on both ends of the floor and can be a disruptive force on the defensive end. Chapman played with a lot of energy and hustle which is refreshing in camp settings. The next in Chapman’s game is to utilize a midrange jumper. He has the physical tools to be a really good player in high school and at the next level.

Player: 6’7 Jackson Kent
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
School: High Point Christian
Grade: 11 (Class 2013)
Evaluation: Kent recently transferred to High Point Christian and reclassed to the 2013 class. Kent is another regular at the NC Phenom 150 camp and I’m totally impressed with his improvement over the past year. Basically known as a “dead eye” from the 3 point territory, he has worked hard on his ball handling and passing skills and has really raised his level of play. He even played PG at times at camp. Kent is excellent in transitions and with improved strength and quickness, he is more comfortable attacking the basket and finishing well. He has always been a fundamentally sound player with a high basketball IQ and is a legit D1 prospect.

Player: 6’8 Thaxter Spruill
Hometown: Clinton, NC
School: Clinton
Grade: 10 (Class 2014)
Evaluation: Spruill is an extremely long and thin “run jump” athlete! He has an enormous wingspan and looks like he could grow even more. He is excellent in transition and also has “soft hands.” Offensively, getting out in transition and running the court is his game, but on occasions Spruill was able to post up and utilize a jump hook shot. Defensively, he can be an absolute terror by blocking and altering shots. The next step in his development is adding strength and girth. He has a tremendous upside and is oozing with potential. It should be fun watching his development over the next few years and mid major schools should find a road atlas to Clinton, NC to monitor his progress.

Player: 6’5 Matthew Madigan
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
School: Mt. Tabor
Grade: 11 (Class 2013)
Evaluation: According to Coach Mike Muse of Mt. Tabor, Madigan will be transferring to play for him this coming school year. The southpaw is known for his ability to put points on the scoreboard and he didn’t disappoint at the NC Phenom 150.  He does have a “sneaky” athleticism with his hops, but the biggest attribute for Madigan is his fundamentals and high basketball IQ. He simply knows how to play the game the right way. In addition, he plays extremely hard and doesn’t take plays off and should be a priority for schools in the Big South or Southern Conference. He is also an excellent student.

Player: 5’11 James Daniels III
Hometown: Hampton, VA
School: Phoebus
Grade: 11 (Class 2013)
Evaluation: “J Byrd” is a slick and ball handling wizard that can wow you with his skills. He has a tremendous arsenal of offensive moves with the basketball and is truly a scoring PG. (Not many people would beat him one on one) Daniels has good speed and quickness and knows how to change speeds in the half court and then knows how to accelerate in the open court. The next step in his development is improving his shot selection at times, but is a great looking prospect with promising skills and abilities.

Player: 6’7 Stavian Allen
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: Word of God
Grade: 10 (Class 2014)
Evaluation: Allen is another long and athletic WF in the class of 2014. He has a nice wingspan and is excellent in transition. He did a tremendous job of running the lanes and finishing above the rim and had some nice thunderous dunks as well.  Allen may separate himself from others at his position with his solid ball handling and passing skills. Without question, he does need to get stronger, but his young man has a promising future. He sports a quick first step to the basket and gets there with relative ease. The majority of his moves seem effortless as he enjoys a fluidness and smoothness to his game.

Player: 6’7 Robert Brown
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: Millbrook
Grade: 9 (Class 2015)
Evaluation: Simply put, please go ahead and put this young man in your memory bank or “SIM CARD.” He’s 6’7, young, athletic and loves to run the court! He got out in transition and had some big time dunks, but played with passion and intensity on both ends of the court. While he may be somewhat raw offensively, he does get after it on the defensive end of the court. In addition, Brown has “soft” hands and does have a huge upside with his athleticism and desire to play hard.

Player: 6’2 Justice Cuthbertson
Hometown: Thomasville, NC
School: High Point Westchester
Grade: 10 (Class 2014)
Evaluation: Cuthbertson recently transferred to High Point Westchester and reclassed to the 10th grade. That being said, he has good size and strength for a combination guard. He plays extremely hard and doesn’t take any plays off and was outstanding in his perimeter shooting. He simply enjoyed a stellar camp performance. Cuthbertson worked equally work on the defensive end of the court and played with passion and emotion. He definitely set out to prove a point and his play was outstanding.

Related posts: 

Camp review 1
Videos

Filed Under: Phenom Reports Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,