Phenom Hoops traveled to Lincolnton to cover open gym at Combine Academy. In only his second year at Combine, Head Coach Mike Wright has assembled talent and depth, and may be one of his most talented teams. Last season, Combine Academy was nationally ranked and finished as a top 25 team, not to mention winning the prestigious Phenom Hoop State Championship. Combine Academy has the luxury of practicing with its post-grad program, which also has been nationally ranked.
With a roster that is talented and yet deep, look for Combine Academy to grace the national rankings as a top 25 team and will once again be looking to add another Hoop State Championship banner as the premier independent team in the state. With the overall depth of Combine Academy, we will break this report into two parts.
Today, we will look at Part 2, but be sure to read Part 1 https://www.phenomhoopreport.com/phenom-open-gym-combine-academy-part-1/
6’7 ’24 Manny Okitondo
What’s not to like about a 6’7 athletic power forward who plays with a full-throttle approach' Okitondo brings energy, passion, and enthusiasm to the court all while bringing an infectious smile. Currently, Okitondo sports offers from Bryant, Fairfield, Hampton, NJIT, Rutgers, St. Louis, and Towson. In addition, he communicates nicely on the floor and displays excellent body language throughout the day. That being said, Okitondo is an aggressive rebounder who also has the ability to score efficiently in the post and step out and knock down the midrange jumper.
7’0 Ebrima Jabbi “Big Foot”
Jabbi is a physical “Big” that can alter, change, and affect shots. Excellent rim protector who continues to improve each outing. With Jabbi, what you currently see is not the finished product. He has an impressive work ethic on and off the court and will compete at a very high level. With Jabbi, you don’t have to coach effort and most importantly he is willing to listen and learn to be the best player he can be. Last, but not least, he’s a great listener and very coachable which are two great intangibles to possess as a “big.”
6’8 ’24 Mason Hagedorn
Hagedorn is a high academic student-athlete who has worked extremely hard on the court and in the weight room. He has definitely gotten stronger, especially in his legs and base. We were impressed with his ability to step out beyond the 3-point line and consistently knock down shots. Hagedorn has nice shooting mechanics for his size/position and can stretch the defense with his ability to perimeter shots. In addition, Hagedorn is a fundamentally sound player who also sports a high basketball IQ.
6’9 ’26 Rivers Knight
Talk about a bright future! Knight is a high-major prospect who has all the tools to become one of the elite players nationally in his class. Currently, Rivers sports offers from LSU, Illinois, Mississippi State, and VCU. While Knight will need to continue to get stronger, he has an advanced skill set for someone his size and grade. We’re talking about a 6’9 player that has an impressive skill set. He’s an efficient and effective shooter from all three levels, understands the game as a seasoned veteran, makes excellent reads, and is a willing passer out of the post. Look for Knight to be a future Five Star prospect nationally. He has all the tools.