2026 6’5 Kohi Strickland (Greensboro Day): Strickland is an intriguing young prospect with his game and size. From what we saw on the court, Strickland had his hand in a bit of everything on the court, whether it was making plays for others, helping on the boards, finding his teammates well, and scoring in a variety of ways. He has a well-rounded feel to his game and believe that he is a name that will start catching on more the more we view him in the coming years.
2026 5’10 LJ Rush (1 of 1 Academy): Rush is a familiar name for sure with Phenom Hoops and he showed why he is looking to be one of the premier guards for the Class of 2026. Rush is an athletic guard that excels in pushing the pace, getting downhill, and finishing above the rim. He consistently gets paint touches and uses his quickness and shifty handles to create. Really love his playmaking ability with the ball in his hands.
2026 5’9 Dionte Neal (Reidsville): Neal is another point guard we have raved about for some time now and going up against the best, it shows why he is looking to be one of the top point guards in North Carolina. Neal just has a natural feel in running the show, seeing the floor, creating off the dribble, and displaying tremendous IQ/feel at a young age. Neal just makes everyone better on the floor and is a leader on the court. He has a balanced game as a point guard and will only get better; great instincts on the court.
2026 6’2 Yohance Connor (1 of 1 Academy): Connor showed why he was the top player at the event. Whether it was his scoring or his two-way presence, Connor gave us a bit of everything on the floor. It is easy to see why he is regarded as one of the top two-way guards in the state, no matter what class you are talking about. He can stifle opponents and allow his defense to turn into offense. Connor also is excellent in creating his own shot, getting out in transition, finishing at the rim, and just finding ways to score the basketball. He was off the charts at the event.
2026 6’6 Elton James (Legion Collegiate): Got a feeling that James is going to be a name you will be hearing a lot more with national outlets. But you will hear about him a lot early on with Phenom Hoops. James just has that natural, fluid feel to his game as a forward that makes him a matchup nightmare. He understands how to operate in the paint, is much quicker than other opponents, can put on the deck and create, runs from rim to rim, has nice touch, and makes his presence felt on the boards. Got a feeling he is going to be a big name around the region for the Class of 2026.