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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!

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Phenom Hoop Report: NC Phenom Hoop Report Part 1

March 28, 2012 by 1 Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Best of the 2012 Dave Telep Carolina Challenge: 1-10

March 27, 2012 by 2 Comments

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

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Then & Now: Looking back at Carolina Challenge players part 2

February 23, 2012 by 1 Comment

We will took a look at last year’s Dave Telep Carolina Challenge yesterday and highlighted some of the players at the event and how they are doing today. We continue our series today with more players from the prestigious event.

Theo Pinson – 6’5”, 170 SG (2014 – High Point Wesleyan)

THEN: Just looking at Pinson’s frame gets people in basketball excited.  At 6’5” and a wingspan that goes for days, there’s no telling how tall TP will be in three years time.  At this moment in time the young SG (WF?) is flashing a fairly consistent stroke from deep and above average ball handling.  Continued honing of his perimeter skills and a couple more inches, which seems inevitable when you look at the kid, could mean Pinson could fill any number of needs for a high-major college coach.  Quincy Miller-like upside? That being said, Pinson is a very unselfish (team first) player, which is an unusual character trait of someone so young and talent.

NOW: Theo Pinson is widely considered one of the elite level players in the 2014 class. Pinson has solid basketball IQ and fundamentals accompanied with his athleticism. The next stage in his development is to fine tune his shooting technique and become more of a consistent outside threat. Pinson is extremely dangerous off the dribble and has little to no problem getting into the lane and finishing well at or near the rim. He will become a major recruiting target on Tobacco Road in the ACC. 

Patrick “Microwave” Rooks – 6’3”, 170 SG (2013 – Charlotte Christian, Charlotte, NC)

THEN: Rooks took over the first game of the day.  Mixing in a steady diet of runners, pull-ups, and gliding finishes around the rim with both hands, the 6’3” lefty did more than announce his arrival as one of the best players in North Carolina – he screamed it.  Beautiful mechanics on the jumper and can light it up quickly and in bunches and thus why we nicknamed him “microwave.” He is long and lanky and looks like he could fill out to a 6’5 or taller frame. He is definitely one to put in your SIM CARD.

NOW: Since the DTCC, Rooks has verbally committed to the University of Clemson. Rooks is currently one of the premier shooters in the state for the 2013 class. He has deadly accuracy from the perimeter and his shot is textbook. He has proper lift and extension and outstanding ball rotation. He is one of those guys that when he shoots, every shot looks like it is going through the net. He has worked hard in the off season to improve his ball handling and passing skills and is now a better all-around player. 

Madison Jones – 6’1”, 165 PG (2012 – Ravenscroft, Raleigh, NC) –Jones

THEN: Completely dominated the first game of the day in Gym 2, producing points for his squad virtually every time down the floor.  The junior point guard thrives in the open court and, like the injured Tyler Lewis, has flair to his game while managing to keep his passes “user-friendly”.  What that means for onlookers is that he’s fun to watch.  Jones dialed it up from long range, finished in transition with both hands (including dunks with both hands), and fought through contact to manufacture buckets on a couple occasions.  Midrange game is something we didn’t see Saturday (because he didn’t need it in the up and down affair), but Jones’ well rounded offensive game would be even more polished with a consistent floater in the arsenal and a consistent outside jumper.

NOW: We have always been a big fan of Madison Jones and he has enjoyed an outstanding senior season for Ravenscroft, which is one of the premier teams in the state. Jones has good length and surprising athleticism and does possess good hops and quick leaping ability. The next stage in his development to gain strength and muscle which will come in due time once he gets to college. 

Allerik Freeman – 6’4”, 200 SG/PG (2013 – Olympic, Charlotte, NC)

THEN: The best way to describe Freeman is this: he’s the random guy nobody’s heard of who’s lighting up your favorite college team before the conference season starts.  Freeman scored in transition, from midrange off the bounce, and finished at the rim in the half court.  He’s exceptionally well built for a HS soph. and uses his upper body strength quite well to get to “kill spots” from 15’ in.  Prospect to watch!  Does EVERYTHING well, though not exceptional at anything. Freeman will also need to work on shot selection, but is going to be a promising young prospect for 2013.

NOW: Freeman used the DTCC as a springboard for his rapid accession in the national rankings accompanied by an outstanding performance at the Nike Camp in St. Louis. Freeman does sport a college ready frame and his strength and power for his position is appealing. While many people are touting Freeman as a potential PG, we see Freeman best used as a SG at the next level. He is excellent in creating his own shot off the dribble and is extremely dangerous in attacking the rim. 

Josh Level – 6’4”, 190 SF (2014 – Christ School, Arden,  NC)

THEN: Level has really grown into his body over the last year and he’s now reaping the benefits against high level competition.  The freshman SF played well above the rim at the CC and displayed a level of athleticism that was a notch above most of the other ‘athletes’ in attendance.  Finished with his left hand through contact.  Showed range out to 20’ spotting up.  If he can hit those shots off the dribble this time next year, he’ll shoot way up this list.

NOW: Level has attended the NC Phenom on several occasions and he has always been one of our favorites. He sports high elite level athleticism and could easily fill up a “mix tape” with acrobatic dunks in a hurry. He has worked extremely hard on his outside shooting and has become a lethal 3 point shooter for Christ School. Level is only scratching the surface on his ability as he as the unique blend of skill and athleticism that will project him as a high major prospect. 

James Demery – 6’4”, 170 SG (2014 – Oakwood School, Greenville, NC)

THEN: Demery lit it up in the final game of the day in Gym 2.  The long SG utilized ball fakes nicely before blowing by opponents for pull-ups or finishes at the rim.  Absolutely fearless for a kid his age/size.  HIGH ceiling with his skill set – I’m not sure how high, but he was one of the quickest and more explosive players at the CC. In addition, he played extremely hard on the defensive end and counted for countless steals in the game I watched. Clearly, he was one of my favorite young players at the event.

NOW: Demery is one of those young prospects that doesn’t realize how good he can become. He has elite level athleticism combined with advanced skill sets in his ball handling and passing ability. More importantly, Demery is a high character young man and when speaking with Demery, he is a “yes sir, no sir” type of kid and has already mastered the words “thank you.” While Demery has a high ceiling, he is very well grounded in his approach to the game and life in general. He is a very humble young man! Don’t be surprised to see him skyrocket up the national rankings this spring and summer.

 

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

October 26, 2011 by 1 Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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