Year after year, there are programs that can nab a few steals when talking about a player that has the potential to produce at the next level; it happens almost every year, especially in North Carolina. One prospect that may end up falling into that picture is 2021 6'10 Zachary Stone from Victory Christian.
Stone is a name that Phenom Hoops got introduced to a while back, as we got our first glimpse of the big man in open gym last season at Victory Christian. Then we got a little bit better view of him at our Phenom 150 camp, where we had this to say in his evaluation:
'He's a long, wiry big man prospect that can score in a variety of different ways and assert himself as a matchup problem from inside or outside of the arc. Stone possesses a high IQ and terrific defensive timing, which allows him to protect the rim and secure rebounds at a consistent rate.'
Now, after missing some time early at Victory this year, he has come back to North Carolina and he still brings intrigue to the floor despite playing with a loaded roster at Victory.
We are talking about a big man that has potential and is still developing his overall feel for the game, but he gives you flashes of what the end product could look like. A player with terrific size and mobility and feels comfortable in stretching the floor with his outside shot but also a good feel in the paint. Though he is far from what he may end up as, if a college program gets his hands on him and continues to develop his game at the next level, Stone could fall into that picture of being a steal in the 2021 class.
And when talking to Stone about playing once again at Victory with a loaded squad, it should only continue to help him on the court.
'It's a completely different team from last year, and I learned that when I got back, we have a reloaded roster and we're competing at a high-level than we were. Everyone, new guys and vets, are working really well together. I've been focusing on my mid-range/high-post game, to complement our new big guy and his inside dominance.'
Right now though, Stone mentioned schools like VMI and Simon Fraser (D2) have shown some interest but it has been relatively quiet. However, he knows that he just got back to North Carolina and more schools will be hopefully coming his way.
Stone though is still is a project but you can't teach size and with the flashes he gives you at times, he could certainly be one that molds into a productive player at the next level.