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NC Phenom 150 Camp Team 2 Player Evaluations

April 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Douglas-Elks

The 11th Annual NC Phenom 150 Spring Evaluation Camp took place Sunday, March 24th and the talent level was strong from top to bottom. As a matter of fact, this may have been one of the strongest fields in quite some time. Today, we will take a look at some of the players from each individual team. Each camp coach was to fill out a detailed individual player evaluation. While we try to focus on upside and potential, we also look carefully at intangibles such as attitude, cooperation, work ethic and team play. We hope to capture a thorough detailed resume for each player in attendance.

Team 2 (Coach James Myrick)

5’2 2019 Charlie Mensh of Wiley MS in Winston-Salem, NC

Charlie was one of the younger players at the NC Junior Phenom Camp and more than held his own against the older players. He has tremendous basketball IQ for his age/grade and is fundamentals are advanced. Coach James Myrick stated, “Charlie did a great job hanging in with the older players today. He worked hard at improving and did a good job of listening to criticism. He had a nice sense of floor spacing and solid shooting fundamentals. As he gets bigger, he’ll be more competitive with older players.” Currently, Charlie’s biggest attribute is his ability to shoot the ball especially from the perimeter. The next step in his development is to focus more on ball handling with his head up and continue to make his teammates better. Overall, a talented young player with plenty of upside!

5’5 2017 Tre’Von Williams of Western MS in Burlington, NC

Tre’Von is another talented young middle school player that you will be hearing about once he gets to high school. He displayed an excellent attitude and had a great work ethic. Coach Myrick stated, “Tre’Von has a chance to be a very good player. He’s got a really solid group of fundamental skills and can tell he works on them consistently. He did an excellent job of listening and adjusting to coaching request. When he grows a few more inches and puts on some weight and strength, his ability to finish around the rim will increase tremendously.” Tre’Von has a nice shooting stroke with proper technique, extension and follow through. Like many young players, he needs to use his quickness to his advantage more by applying more ball pressure. In addition, he has a tendency to over penetrate on his drives at times. Overall, a solid young player that will be making a splash at the high school level in years to come!

 5’8 2018 Drew Cottrell of Gainesville MS in Flowery Branch, GA

Drew displayed an excellent attitude and work ethic throughout the day. He is a fundamentally sound player that simply does a little bit of everything. He has an advanced knowledge of his age/grade and will pay dividends as he develops and matures. Coach Myrick stated, “ Drew showed improvement throughout the day. He really shot it well, especially in game 3 of the day. He bought into team concept and pulled for his teammates while he was not playing. Drew even requested feedback from his coach and showed that he really likes to work on his game. (This is a rarity at camps at any level) He did a nice job playing within his strengths and displayed a nice use of ball fakes.” Overall, a great learning experience for Drew and the next step in his development is to continue to work on ball handling against strong man-to-man defensive pressure. 

5’10 2018 Austin Wooten of East Alexander MS in Taylorsville, NC

Austin is another young player that does things the right way. He displayed an excellent attitude and strong work ethic and always played within the team structure. Coach Myrick stated, “ Austin worked hard to improve during the day. He listened to coaching requests and did a great job of playing within his strengths, rebounding, screening, and running the floor.” Austin has good size for his age/grade and a proper skill set. He is an adequate shooter and understands court position. The next step in his development is to increase foot speed and lateral quickness. He just needs to continue to work on fundamentals such as ball handling. He will also benefit from practices finishes in transition because he runs the floor so well. Austin should translate into a solid high school player. He has the right mindset and work ethic.

6’0 2017 Douglas Elks of St. Timothy’s School in Raleigh, NC (pictured above)

Douglas received one of the highest individual player evaluation and rightfully so. He combined an advanced skill set and attitude that was second to none for the day. Coach Myrick stated, “ Douglas was a pleasure to coach! He has a strong fundamental skill set and plays with great energy and focus. He is a very strong ball handler with a great sense of court vision and more importantly, he sought feedback throughout the day on his performance. He asked repeatedly what he was doing right and wrong and used this opportunity to absorb and get better. The areas of improvement is to improve this perimeter shot and could benefit from fundamental mechanic work which he will do since he wants to be great!” Overall an outstanding performance for Douglas and could project as one of the top players in his class for NC. He is definitely a young prospect to put in your SIM card. He has the size and skill set to be really good.

5’10 2015 Collin Cooper of Ardrey Kell of Charlotte, NC

Collin only played one game for the day and it is difficult to get a full read on his performance. He does have good quickness and athleticism for a PG and has excellent north/south speed. Coach Myrick stated, “Collin has nice strength and athleticism and showcased an ability to shoot” Collin has the physical intangibles and we hope to watch him more in the future. 

5’10 2015 Isaiah Felder of Wilkinson HS in Orangeburg, SC

Isaiah has the physical attributes to become a really good PG. He has the blend of speed and athleticism that is needed for his size, especially on the defensive end of the court. Coach Myrick stated Isaiah is a high potential player who can handle, score and pass! At times, he was excellent on the ball defensively. The next step in his development is consistent effort, which was lacking at times during the day. Once he finds the motivation necessary to become a great contributor on his future teams.” Without question, Isaiah has the ability to become a really good player. At times, he showed flashes, but needs to implement 100% effort 100% of the time.  For example, Isaiah played unbelievable on the ball defense and even took a charge, which is unheard of in a camp setting. 

5’11 2016 Tristen Reese of Cresset Christian Academy in Durham, NC

Tristen is another young player to put in your SIM card. He has excellent speed and lateral quickness. Coach Myrick stated, “ Tristen is a talented young man who has a chance to play college basketball. He can be a very good ball handler but tends to over dribble at times. As he learns to use the dribble more efficiently, he will see tremendous improvements. He has a scorer’s mentality, but had a blend of scoring and passing.” The next step in his development is mental maturity with improved attitude when facing adversity. If he continues to work hard and become more efficient, he has a chance to be a really strong player. 

6’3 2017 Tahj Small of Mt. Zion of Durham, NC

Tahj is long and athletic young player. While many players for his size/grade, his physical attributes exceed his overall skill set. That being said, it is hard to teach length and athleticism, which are two components necessary at playing at the next level. Coach Myrick stated, “Tahj is a high potential player that will benefit from playing in a competitive and skill oriented environment. He is so athletic, but is a capable shooter and ball handler.” He has a good upside and the potential is definitely there. The next step in his development is to focus more and become more mentally aware of the game, plus needs to improve his off ball awareness. Once he gets into high school, he will be able to get into a strength and conditioning program that will allow him to become stronger which will allow him to finish better around the basket. That being said, Tahj has all the tools to become a special player at the high school level. 

6’4 2015 Akim Mitchell of United Faith in Matthews, NC

Akim is the younger brother of UVA standout Akeem Mitchell and if his improvement is anyway near big brothers, watch out!  Akim has a physically mature body and uses his size and frame extremely well. We were also impressed with his ability to shoot the ball. He has a beautiful shooting touch with proper fundamentals, extension and follow through. Coach Myrick stated, “ Akim has a chance to be a very good player. He has advanced ball handling and passing skills for his size/position, plus he owns a nice shooting stroke. He seemed to understand principals of spacing and angles especially in the post area. He definitely prefers to play on the perimeter, however he can be effective on he inside. The next step in his development is improving his core strength and conditioning which will reveal an additional level of athleticism.

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VIDEO: Spring NC Phenom150 highlights

March 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Video Tagged With: ,

Spring NC Phenom 150 post-camp hub

March 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Phenom150Hub

Now that the Spring Phenom 150 camp is in the books, we take a look back at the weekend that was. Talk about a major success. There were a number of players that emerged from the camp. There were a number of players that solidified their place among the best of the best. We will collect of the news and notes from the camp and place them here on the post-camp hub page. This space will be updated regularly over the next couple of weeks. Please bookmark and check back often as all of the player evaluations will be housed here, too.

CAMP RESOURCES

NC Phenom 150 head shots: Please tag yourself on the Facebook photo. We also invite you to download the picture by going to “Options” on the individual picture and click “Download”. You can use the image for your personal use (social avatar) or for sharing with friend, family or media outlets.
Numerical roster

POST CAMP MEDIA COVERAGE

TRENDING: Ricky Council earns the respect of the scouts
TRENDING: 2016 CG Curtis Jones emerges
TRENDING: Class of 2014 shines at #Phenom150
What people are saying about the #Phenom150
Impact players from the Spring NC Phenom 150 camp

247Sports.com’s Jerry Meyer report

Basketball Elite report

All-Star Preps part 1
All-Star Preps part 2

VIDEO: Highlights from the Spring NC Phenom 150 

Filed Under: Featured, NC Phenom 150 Tagged With:

NC Phenom 150 & Junior Phenom Evaluation/Exposure Camp

August 15, 2012 by 1 Comment

The 10th Annual North Carolina Phenom 150 Evaluation/Exposure Camp and North Carolina Junior Phenom Evaluation/Exposure Camp will be held the weekend of October 6-7th, 2012. The NC Junior Phenom Camp for grades 5-8 will be held Saturday, October 6th while the NC Phenom 150 Camp for grades 9-12 will be held Sunday, October 7th, 2012. The event will be held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina at the Gateway YWCA. The NC Phenom 150/NC Junior Phenom Camp is the largest regional camp in the country.

The NC Phenom 150 Camp/NC Junior Phenom Camp is a regional camp and is open to players from all states. The camp was created to give players an opportunity to test their skills and game against the best players in the state and region. This camp is highly recommended for competitive players who want/need exposure and have the opportunity to earn an invitation to the National Phenom Camp in San Diego, California. Our camp will give each player a barometer of how they measure and rank among the top players in the region. If you have what it take and want to be part of his exciting exposure camp and showcase and showcase, then this camp is for you.

Phenom Hoop Report will be sponsoring the 10th Annual NC Phenom 150 Camp/NC Junior Phenom Camp and will have a host of top media and scouting outlets attending. Each player will be given an evaluation from his camp coach and the Phenom Hoop Report will be doing extensive write ups/reports on all the top players in camp. This camp is an “open invitation” camp and is intended to help each player get maximum exposure for his skill and talent. Attached is the camp brochure and our goal is to provide a platform to get your name out to college scouts and coaches.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A CAMP REGISTRATION FORM

Deadline
Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012

You can also pay online this year by clicking on the button below. All online charges will have a $5 service charge, which is billed into the price on the next screen. The total will be $130.




Below is important camp information for the upcoming 10th Annual North Carolina Phenom 150 Exposure Camp.

Mailing address

Phenom Hoop Report
c/o Rick Lewis
2433 Falcon Lane
Statesville, NC 28625
Cell: 704-902-4975
Email: rlewis57@gmail.com

Important camp notes

Registration will start promptly at 8:00-9:45am each morning in the lobby of the Gateway YWCA. Each player will receive a reversible numbered jersey.  You will be pre-assigned a team and number and are not allowed to switch teams or uniform numbers. We will provide a program for the many scouting services in attendance that has the pre-assigned team listing and uniform number. In addition, you must bring your own shoes, warm-ups, and any other basketball gear. Players will return their jersey top at the end of the event. Camp T-shirts will be given out.

Remember, this is strictly an exposure camp that allows each player an opportunity to showcase their skills!  Being selfish and not sharing the ball is not a skill. We do not keep track of points and we are looking for well rounded players that play both ends of the court and plays hard and with a purpose.

·         Teams are assorted by grade and height- We try to make sure the teams are equal by grade level and height

·         Players are not allowed to switch teams or uniforms

·         Uniform numbers are pre-assigned to each player

·         Scouting services will have camp roster of all players that is listed by numerical sequence

·         All players receive equal playing 

Important camp links

Camp venue & directions
Hotels
Common questions
What to expect from this year’s camp
Video from last year’s camp from Film Kings
Full video library from The Wolfpacker

Filed Under: Featured, North Carolina adidas Jr. Phenom Camp, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

NC Phenom 150 Camp Recap, part 4

April 5, 2012 by 1 Comment

In today’s issue we will take a close look at Part 4 of the NC Phenom 150 Evaluation Camp. Over 30 division I prospects attended this event and wanted to give a thorough and detailed look at the below players. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at @coach_rick57.

Player: 6’7 Brian White
Hometown: Chesterfield, VA
School: Sports Academy
Class: 2013
Evaluation: Brian White has been a regular of the NC Phenom 150 Camp and he is an extremely long and fluid athletic WF. He has extremely good mobility and versatility may be his strongest attribute. He has a high basketball IQ and understanding of the game that makes him a major target for mid major schools and could develop higher interest if he could develop a more consistent outside jumper. What’s impressive about White is his ability to defend the low post. He has quick feet and his footwork in the post is advanced for his size/position. He uses his length extremely well and can guard taller players in the post or can step out and guard smaller/athletic wings on the perimeter. He has good lateral quickness and plays with a high motor.

Player: 6’5 Gejuan Long
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
School: Mt. Tabor
Class: 2013
Evaluation:  Gejuan Long is alum of the NC Phenom 150 Camp and he introduced himself to us last October. Here is what we wrote about Long in October. “Without question, Long was the surprise player on the camp. Simply put, Long introduced him to the scouts and spectators in attendance with a dribble drive baseline move for a power dunk that sent the gym into frenzy. More importantly, he has a high motor and his overall intensity on both ends of the court was contagious. He is long, lanky and athletic wing that attacks the basket with vengeance at every opportunity. His full throttle approach to the game and his lock down pressure defense was refreshing to see. He definitely made a name for himself this past weekend with his freakish athleticism. He has good handles and is excellent in transition. The next step in his development is to play under control and develop a consistent outside jump shot.” Fast forward to March, 2012 and Long once again enjoyed another outstanding performance and provided several high flying and crowd pleasing dunks in transition, but the most impressive dunk was over 6’10 Chuck Ogbodo. Without question, Long flourishes in camp settings and is able to use his elite level athleticism by attacking and yes punishing the rim in transition.

Player: 6’0 James Daniel III
Hometown: Hampton, VA
School: Phoebus
Class: 2013
Evaluation: James “J Byrd” Daniel is one slick ball handling wizard and basically has the ball on a string. Last October, we wrote “Daniel has a tremendous arsenal of offensive moves with the basketball and is truly a scoring PG. He has excellent 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.” Fast forward to today and Daniel has made vast improvements in these areas. He still has the ability to take over a game by his impressive one on one offensive skills, but looked to be more of a facilitator and team leader.

Player: 6’0 Robert Story
Hometown: Durham, NC
School: Durham School of the Arts
Class: 2012
Evaluation: Low major schools that are need of an elite level athletic PG immediately need to look no further as Robert Story is one of the “freakiest” athletes in the state of North Carolina. The powerfully built PG resembles a potential college running back with his strength and athleticism, but can be a surprise player for the right school. He is quite impressive in attacking the rim and doesn’t mind punishing the rim with some powerful and thunderous dunks. He has exceptional quickness and will surprise you with his court vision and basketball IQ. He is extremely unselfish and plays the game the right way. He plays with energy, passion and purpose.

Player: 6’8 Tyler Creammer
Hometown: Parkton, NC
School: South View
Class: 2015
Evaluation: There’s an old saying, “you can’t teach height” and at 6’8 and a baby face, there is still plenty of time for growth for Tyler Creammer. Creammer is a promising young prospect that can play on the interior or step out and be an effective face up PF. Creammer has a wide body and sturdy frame, but looks like he has room for growth and muscle that could make him a very popular player in the next few years. While not overly strong, he does an outstanding job of posting up on the interior, but has the ability to knock down jumpers out to 18 feet will make him an appealing prospect for many years to come.

Player: 6’5 Gregory Harper
Hometown: Snow Hill, NC
School: Greene Central
Class: 2013
Evaluation:  Harper was really one of the surprise players at the camp. The 6’5 Harper has a strong frame and has a nose for the rim. He was exceptional finishing in and around the basket for his size. Harper displayed a tremendous desire of playing hard on both ends of the court and rarely took a play off which is unusual in a camp setting. Defensively, he got back in transition and played hardnosed defense and rebounded his position extremely well. He was active on the boards and anticipated missed shots and stepped into passing lanes for steals off the pass. Offensively, Harper was effective in attacking the rim. His aggressive play was impressive and with continued improvement in his perimeter game should garnish interest from lower tier division one schools.

Player: 6’3 Osandai Vaughn
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
School: Phillip O ‘Berry
Class: 2012
Evaluation:  While Osandai Vaughn may not be on the collegiate radar at the current moment, a year of Prep School may just do the trick in the right setting. Vaughn is a 6’3 explosive and athletic WG that plays plays extremely hard. Hustle is definitely in his young man’s vocabulary and he simply knows how to compete. Vaughn’s strongest attribute is his ability to attack the rim and he was quite effective in finishing in traffic against bigger players. While he is an adequate shooter from the midrange, the next stage in his development is to become more proficient from the 3 point line.

Player: 6’10 Ibrahiima Diallo
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
School: Quality Education Academy
Class: 2014
Evaluation:  Diallo is 6’10 with an impressive 7’5 wingspan and a body frame that can easily add weight and muscle. Diallo has been hampered by growing pains and the long and athletic center was grimacing many times during the course of the day. That being said, Diallo stuck it out and continue playing while on-lookers could easily see the pain in his face. That being said, Diallo has a high ceiling for growth and upside and his potential is unlimited. While he is still somewhat young in basketball experience, all he needs is to continue his steady growth of improvement in the area of offensive skill sets. Diallo had a solid, but not spectacular camp and should be an intriguing prospect over the next few years.

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NC Phenom 150 Camp Recap, part 3

April 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment

In today’s issue we will take a close look at Part 3of 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: 6’3 Christian Terrell
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
School: Creekside
Class: 2014
Evaluation:  Christian Terrell traveled up to North Carolina from Jacksonville, Florida and we are glad he did. He was a surprise player since he wasn’t from the area and we knew little about him. Simply put, Terrell deserves credit for various reasons, but his attitude and work ethic was second to none. Terrell has a unique blend of fundamentals, basketball IQ and great blend of athleticism that surprised many with his extra bounce in transition. Coach John Allen stated it best, “he showed some leadership when placed on the floor with some of the younger players in one substitution pattern and worked on getting them shots.” While many parents and players objected to playing down a substitution pattern, Terrell enjoyed it and even volunteered showcasing an attitude that was simply refreshing. Terrell was outstanding in transition and finished extremely well at the rim and has the ability to dial it in from the 3 point range. Currently, Jacksonville University is showing interest, but watch for this list to grow. Colleges that are looking for an outstanding young man with high quality traits on and off the court should look no further. Terrell is a winner at all levels!

Player: 5’11 Spencer Wilson
Hometown: High Point, NC
School: High Point Wesleyan
Class: 2015
Evaluation: We have written on Spencer Wilson in the past with that being said, today we will talk about Spencer Wilson the basketball player. After overcoming dramatic life changing events, Wilson has focused his efforts to the basketball court and his overall skill sets were on full display at the NC Phenom 150 Camp. The southpaw is very adept at handling the basketball and enjoys a passing game that exceeds his peers. Wilson is fundamentally sound with outstanding basketball IQ, but has the court awareness and vision that is unequal to anyone in his class in North Carolina. The southpaw sports a silky smooth jumper and has outstanding range with his picture perfect jumper. The next step in his development is to get physically stronger and there is no doubt this young man will do just that. 

Player: 6’9 Jordan Robinson
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
School: Quality Education Academy
Class: 2013
Evaluation:  What’s not to like about the 6’9 man-child Jordan Robinson! Robinson is a high major prospect that combines the strength, muscle, power along with finesse. Robinson is a wide bodied PF that can play with his back to the basket or step out and consistently knock down the open 15 foot jumper. Robinson has excellent form, technique and fundamentals on his jump shot. Robinson has an enormous wingspan and his long arms and athleticism allow him to rebound his area with authority. He is a two handed rebounder and once he captures the ball with his huge hands, his handprints are definitely on it and it screams “it’s mine.” Robinson has excellent footwork in the low post area and does an exceptional job of establishing position and has the unique ability to pass out efficiently to open perimeter shooters. Once he passes out of the low post, he is advanced in re-establishing low post presence. The highlight of the day was his physical encounter with Caleb Martin as the two tangled up in a fierce and competitive match up that is not often seen in a camp setting. Robinson was equally impressive on the defensive end of the court and used his length, power and size to intimidate the opposition. Back in February, we stated Robinson is a sleeper at the high major level and his play at the NC Phenom 150 camp only solidified our previous opinion.

Player: 6’6 David Sharpe
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
School: Englewood
Class: 2014
Evaluation:  David Sharpe is a bruising powerfully built PF that should be a perfect fit for the Big South, Southern Conference and even the CAA. Sharpe is excellent in establishing low post position and “sits” down extremely well and uses his girth and strength to push taller players underneath the basket. He is active on both ends of the court and is simply a rebounding warrior. He anticipates well and has been properly coached in the art of boxing out. While Sharpe was most effective in the low post area, he did step out and knock down some open 10 foot jumpers and even showcased some surprising ball handling skills.

Player: 6’2 Larry Curry III
Hometown: Kernersville, NC
School: East Forsyth
Class: 2014
Evaluation:  Larry Curry is a promising young PG that has tremendous athleticism and speed in the open court. Curry has “blow by” speed and may have the best speed from foul line to foul line with the ball in his hands. Curry is exceptional in attacking and finishing at or near the rim. The lefty had little to no problem penetrating at will and very few players could physically stay in front of him all day. He has the strength, speed and athleticism that will make him a favorite for many mid major’s schools. Just a sophomore, Curry will become a hot name in the next two years of his high school season. (If not sooner)

Player: 6’1 Nate Motley
Hometown: Hampton, VA
School: Kecoughton (He did state he may transfer and re-class)
Class: 2014
Evaluation:  Nate Motley is another high level PG to keep tabs on over the next few years. Currently in the 2013 class, Motley stated he may transfer and re-class into the 2014 class. Motley has athleticism, strength and speed at the PG position that will make him a hot commodity over the next few years. He is extremely efficient at the PG position and really distributes the ball with high effectiveness. He has solid court vision and is very unselfish. Currently, Motley can play both the lead or off guard position and has a beautiful and textbook jumper. He has good lift and elevation on his jumper and can create his own shot off the dribble or easily beat his man off the dribble. He is adept in attacking the basket. Definitely a name to put in your SIM CARD!

Player: 6’1 Cotton Bishop
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
School: Forsyth Country Day
Class: 2014
Evaluation:  Cotton Bishop is yet another young promising PG in the loaded NC class of 2014. Bishop is a slender and long PG that looks like he can grow into a 6’3 frame or taller. Bishop has excellent ball handling and passing skill and sports an all around game. He has tremendous court vision and is very unselfish as he constantly has his head up surveying the basketball court landscape and has the unique ability to pass ahead efficiently and effectively. While Bishop has all the ingredients for a division 1 PG, he is an excellent 3 point shooter. He has outstanding range and has the ability to create his own shot off the dribble or simply spot up and be a lights out long distance shooter. In addition to being an outstanding player on the court, Bishop is an excellent student and even better young man. He has waited patiencely for his time at FCDS and look for his junior season to be a break out year! Big South and Southern Conference schools should definitely be recruiting his young man.

Player: 5’11 Xavier Mills
Hometown: Greenville, NC
School: South Central
Class: 2013
Evaluation: We have seen Xavier Mills on several occasions and he continues to impress us in every event. The solidly built PG has good speed and athleticism, but we really love the way Mills can stroke the outside jumper. He has a sweet shooting touch from the perimeter and can punish the opposing team in various ways. Without question, you can’t give him room or he will simply knock down the open shot. Push up to much on him and he will beat you off the dribble, but is also extremely effective in shooting off the dribble. In addition, Mills has good court vision and can pass easily off the dribble. Defensively, he sits down low on his on the ball defense and understands team defensive concepts. Another PG that schools in the Big South and Southern Conference should be monitoring.

Player: 6’0 Timmy Walker
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
School: TBA
Class: 2016
Evaluation: Timmy Walker is a promising young player in the 2016 class. Walker has unbelievable athleticism and his speed and strength is a strong attribute. He has a strong young body and looks and plays like he is a junior in high school. He simply has all the physical tools to be a special player in years to come. He has attended many of our Drills and Skills Camps and I can fully attest Walker has a tremendous work ethic and willingness to learn. Currently, he is most effective at attacking the rim and does a solid job of finishing against bigger and older players. The next step for his development is to develop a consistent outside jumper. Look for Walker to become one of the top 10 players in the North Carolina class of 2016.

Player: 6’2 Spencer Scott
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
School: Charlotte Christian
Class: 2014
Evaluation:  Coach Shonn Brown of Charlotte Christian has another outstanding prospect on the horizon with Spencer Scott. Scott has good size and strength and plays the game the right way. Scott plays under control and rarely is seen rushing a pass or a shot and is the ultimate team player. He plays equally well on both ends of the court and takes great pride in his defense, which is a rarity in camp setting. His strongest attribute currently is his ability to put the ball through the basket. Scott has a nice shooting touch with the correct fundamentals and technique to make him an effective shooter at the next level.  Scoot is a strong combination guard that should transition nicely into the PG position over the next few years.

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Phenom Hoop Report: NC Phenom Hoop Report Part 1

March 28, 2012 by 1 Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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