This past weekend, Phenom Hoops hosted our annual Summer Havoc at the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center in downtown Rock Hill, South Carolina. There was a ton of basketball between the two sessions and four total days of action, which presented college coaches of all levels to get out and evaluate prospective talent. While most of the attention was directed to rising seniors (and rightfully so), there were numerous junior prospects worth the notice of college coaches. We will take a closer look at a few of these breakout candidates…
6’3 Lance Gill (Charlotte Royals)
Although the Royals have generated a ton of buzz throughout the last calendar year, it still feels like Lance Gill is somewhat underrated in the bigger scheme of things. The appeal should be fairly obvious with a long, skilled wing prospect with the ability to score at an efficient rate from anywhere on the floor. While he did battle some injuries, Gill has shown more than enough to warrant opportunities from scholarship-level coaches. He understands how to be an impactful contributor as the primary option or as a complementary piece—both resulting in success. Gill can effectively spot-up, create his own shot, or find seams within the defense as a cutter. He also provides a reliable presence defensively and on the glass.
6’3 Brandon Nelson (Ace Elite)
Despite being one of the youngest players on this roster, Brandon Nelson already stands out as an incredibly enticing cog. He’s always been able to shoot, so a lot of his progression came directly through physical development. Now, Nelson simply moves different and his quality two-way feel is evident in how he conducts himself on the court. He has the combination of IQ, perimeter shooting, and instincts to operate comfortable within three dribbles to consistently generate clean shots against opposing guards. Nelson defends his position well, intercepts passing lanes, and does a great job of getting to his spots in transition. His ability to apply pressure from midrange and beyond the arc will always make him valuable, but Nelson could be even better than he realizes.
6’5 Nick Dorn (Anthony Morrow Elite)
While his family linage has circulated most of his buzz to this point, Nick Dorn appears to have turned the corner while solidifying himself as a college-level prospect. His physical growth has allowed for his game to really blossom, as he now possesses the size, athleticism, and perimeter shooting to be a very useful piece for a variety of programs. During his time with Anthony Morrow Elite, Dorn has shown the ability to amass high scoring totals as a role player or primary option. His spot-up presence allows him to make an impact without necessarily needing the ball in his hands. While Dorn has already displayed tremendous growth, one should expect his game to continually trend upward over the next calendar year.