We at Phenom Hoops are fortunate the go to scouting eyes in possibly the most fertile ground of talent in the country. NCAA Research came out with a study that showed North Carolina is the #2 and Virginia is the #5 state in the United States with the 'Percentage of HS Boys Basketball Players Recruited by a Division 1 School'. In fact 4 of the top 5 states in the study were all on the Eastern Seaboard.
Taking a quick look at the Verbal Commits twitter feed, you notice that about half of the players getting offers (daily) are coming from the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard. The ground is so fertile and the talent is deep.
After the April Live Period, once coaches have seen player, the offers have started flowing. Check out the players from this region who have 'blown up'.
6'8' 2018 Ian Steere
Team CLT
Steere has always had the tools. Even when he first came through our doors and put himself on the seen three years ago, he was strong, lengthy and very explosive. Now it is all coming together for him and it is impressive. Steere's recruitment has taken on a Top 100 type of feel, with high majors from across the country (including blue blood Kansas) putting their hand in the mix. Steere, who has incredible blood lines, is a paint protector and heavy dunker around the basket. Everything he does is loud and his recruitment should continue that say way.
6'10' 2018 Immanuel Bates
Team Felton
Bates, like Steere, first came onto the scene at an NC Phenom 150 exposure camp. Even early on you see that you cannot teach his length, athleticism and timing. Also, like Steere, it has been a process with Bates and that process seems to be paying off full dividends. Bates is an elite shot blocker, swatting over 4 per game on the Under Amour Association. He has touch and soft hands and his offensive game is starting to round out. Still developing, Bates is picking up offers left and right (around 15 since April). The likes of Purdue, Oklahoma St, UConn, Georgia, Georgia Tech and others have jumped on board in that time frame. His upside is immense.
6'10' 2019 Armando Bacot
Team Loaded Va 17s
Bacot came into April as a Top 50 recruit, by most accounts. We said after our Virginia Top 80 that we though Bacot was the top big man in the region. It appears that the national scene is catching up to that praise. Bacot has incredible length which he uses to block shots and rebound strongly throughout the game. He has soft hands, good feet and touch from the mid-range and in. As his strength continues to develop, so will his game. Right now, he can dominate games without scoring a basket, a true testament to a game changing big. McDonald's All American'
6'7' 2018 Jimmy Nichols
Garner Road
Nichols has picked up 10 offers in April. Coming in he had Longwood, now he boasts offers from the likes of Georgetown, Miami and Arizona State. We've been talking about Nichols since his first South Carolina Top 80 performance, in 2016. He has been able to showcase his game fully as a skilled forward who can finish around the rim or step out and create from the wing. A lot to like with his length in the passing lanes and easy vertical bounce. As the strength comes, the production will continue. It will be fun to watch where his recruiting plateaus at as it has taken a gigantic leap.