This past weekend, Phenom Hoops concluded the high school season in Rock Hill, South Carolina with our Hoopstate Championship and Post Grad Nationals. While plenty of attention was directed at the bracket play among independent programs, the Post Grad Nationals also gave us a ton of exciting basketball. The competition was intense throughout the three-day period, but Speights Academy had little to no issue asserting themselves as the top team in attendance. They had obvious talent, but their execution and meticulousness were undeniably important in the title run. Guys like David Dixon and Jamar Franklin have already committed to programs at the next level, but this team has a slew of scholarship-worthy talent. Let's take a closer look'

Their roster has a variety of useful guards, starting with guys like 5'10 AJ Wright and 5'11 Maxwell Alexander. Wright is a quick, heady, playmaking point guard with IQ, toughness, and quality creation instincts. He handles the ball with poise and displays craftiness when looking to attack. Defensively, Wright offers a pesky presence at the point of attack. He forces turnovers at a nice rate, pushes the break, and makes smart decisions in transition. Though he's a capable scoring option, Wright's unselfishness and scrappy nature are what allow him to consistently shine. Meanwhile, Alexander is another balanced lead guard who can create for others or score in various ways. Like Wright, Alexander utilizes a blend of quickness and craftiness to breakdown opposing defenders and make the appropriate reads. He's somewhat unassuming at first glance, but caused plenty of issues for the opposition. 

Although they don't really need a lot of ink, 6'3 Jamar Franklin (South Alabama) and 6'9 David Dixon (Duquesne) definitely stand out as two of the main driving forces for this squad. Franklin is a dynamic guard with no real weaknesses on either side of the ball. He creates for himself and others, scores at an efficient clip from all levels, and regularly overwhelms opponents with his rugged defensive presence. Given his blend of IQ, playmaking, and lethal three-point shooting, Franklin is able to truly dominate a game from either backcourt position. On the other hand, Dixon is their two-way interior anchor. He's a big, strong, mobile, explosive post prospect with excellent length, feel, and shot-altering instincts. Dixon is equally dangerous at collecting steals and blocking shots (doing both at a high volume), and also more than carries his weight on the glass. He set the tone as a leader and posed constant problems for whoever they faced.'

Another separating factor for this group is their heap of complementary wing/forwards, like 6'6 Jalen Keago, 6'4 Jordan Johnson, 6'5 Calik Thomas, and 6'5 Evan Stinson. Keago is a strong, high-motor forward with the ability to knock down jumpers at a high percentage while naturally affecting all facets of the game. He's smart, tough, and understands how to make hustle plays at a strong rate. Johnson made a lasting impression as one of the main glue-guys for this team. He can expand his production as needed, but really excels at producing within his role. Johnson is a quality defender who works hard, utilizes his length, and plays bigger than his size. He's excellent at filling in the gaps on both ends. Additionally, Thomas is probably the guy we've seen the most. He's a long, tough, rugged shot-maker with range, defensive prowess, and the ability to make an impact with or without the ball in his hands. Thomas has always offered a ton of appeal as a 3-and-D wing, and his status with Speights Academy should only further solidify his enticing identity. Finishing up this grouping, Stinson stood out as one of their main players who emphasized doing the dirty work. He can assert himself as needed offensively, but doesn't necessarily require the ball to make an impact. All four guys should be considered priorities by scholarship-level programs. 

While the previous eight names would be enough to excite plenty of college coaches, they still have more pieces to highlight. Their forward trio of 6'8 Jaylen Jordan, 6'9 Alex Garcia, and 6'7 Isaiah Jones each embrace their respective identities. Jordan is a big, strong-bodied post prospect with a sturdy frame, quality motor, and the necessary physical tools to cause problems inside the paint. He's a useful rebounder with solid mobility and an understanding of how to block/alter shots defensively. Next, Garcia is a long, athletic prospect who can work the two-man game as a roller or popper. He's capable of finishing above or through contact around the basket or knocking down jumpers at a nice clip. Garcia rebounds the ball and blocks shots at a respectable rate. Finally, Jones is somewhat of a cross between the previous duo. He's a reliable perimeter shooter with a strong frame, high motor, and the ability to operate as a hustle player or as a focal point. Jones visibly outworks and overwhelms opponents through his physicality. 

In short, all of these prospects should be coveted and aggressively pursued by college coaches. They came to Rock Hill, took care of business, and headed back to Florida with the championship belt. Given the number of next-level programs in attendance, offers should start quickly accumulating for this extremely talented, disciplined, well-coached Speights Academy squad.'