It was the start of the season for Phenom Hoops and high school basketball, and our first stop on the season was downtown Charlotte. 1of1 Academy, a team loaded with talent, traveled to Laby City to take on Lab U, a rising program looking to make noise this year with a tough schedule.
The atmosphere was electric to start the season, and both teams came out strong. 1of1 was able to secure the first quarter lead 27-21, as the threes fell early and then this team was able to get out in transition with its guard play. Lab U settled down and shots started to fall from outside, bringing the crowd into the game. 1of1 Academy started to flex their muscles more in the second half, creating havoc defensively and also attacking on offense. 2026 Yohance Connor and 2024 Sebastian Akins were the go-to players early on, as they combined for 34 of the team’s 52 first-half points. Demarco Reynolds had it going for Lab U with 15 first-half points.
The second half was much of the same, with Lab U finding ways to score but they weren’t able to slow down the firepower of 1of1, whether it was the guards creating and finishing at the rim, or the bigs being strong in the paint. Juwann Argant got going more in the second half for Lab U, but it wasn’t enough to cut into the lead, as 1of1 Academy walked away with an 87-63 victory to start the season.
Final: 1of1 Academy 87 – Lab U 63
Stats:
1of1: Yohance Connor 23pts/ Sebastian Akins 22pts/ Jeremiah Jackson 12pts/ Tayeshaun Smith 10pts
Lab U: Demarco Reynolds 20pts, Juwann Argant 12pts
Standouts:
1of1 Academy:
2026 Yohance Connor: Connor is regarded as one of the top players in his class and it showed. He is electric on the court, and brings so much energy. A high-flyer for sure with NBA bounce, Connor was putting on a show at the rim time after time, creating off the dribble, and hit a jumper or two. But his relentlessness and energy on the defensive end was just as impressive, as I believe so many schools will be looking his way.
2024 Sebastian Akins: The Denver commit was leading the charge, showing his pace, how well he can create, his vision and court awareness, and his ability to score the ball from all levels. Whether it was knocking down shots off the bounce or catch, he has a smooth confident release, while also having strong instincts in creating, getting inside the defense, and finishing.
2026 Jeremiah Jackson got things going once again, as he continues to prove that he can be a deadly shooter with terrific range in his game. He can knock down shots with a ton of confidence. I also really liked what I saw on both ends from 2025 Taye Smith, as he continues to see his stock rise. Strong, mobile, agile, strong on the boards and altering shots, and physically finish around the basket well.
Lab U:
2024 Demarco Reynolds: Reynolds came out hot in this game and played with a ton of confidence. He was able to mix it up well, knocking down shots with range consistently but also creating off the dribble and finishing over defenders—impressive showing from the senior guard in this one.
2024 Juwann Argant: Argant was a familiar name, as the 6’4 guard had a strong moment throughout the game. He was at his best when the ball was in his hands. Argant was able to create and get downhill, attack the paint, and use his size to his advantage in finishing over defenders. Time after time he made strong moves and finishes, and I believe he should be on more radars for college programs.