This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled to the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center to host our partnered event with 1 of 1 Elite'the Lamelo Ball Invitational. The event was loaded with talent and noteworthy matchups, which subsequently generated a lot of buzz throughout the Carolinas. Between the three days, there were a healthy variety of standout prospects. This article will take a closer look at some personal favorites….

6'8 '24 Clash Peters (Team Loaded)

While other guys on this roster definitely receive more attention, Clash Peters was arguably the best big man on the floor in each of his outings. He's a skilled, athletic forward prospect who plays with toughness and somewhat of a chip on his shoulder. Peters can reliably finish with either hand, above the rim, or through contact. He's also a quality passer who can space the floor, attack within a few dribbles, and make plays with the ball in his hands. Peters naturally causes matchup problems, and knows how to properly exploit them. Between his size, activity, and positioning, he displays a strong presence on the glass and is able to gather a ton of second-chance opportunities. Defensively, Peters showcases an understanding of where to be and how to position himself to get stops or force turnovers. He's also pretty mobile for a 6-foot-8 forward/post prospect. Peters really burst onto the scene in March, but hasn't seen a ton of action in his recruitment for whatever reason. That being said, he should still expect to see his recruitment skyrocket over the next twelve months. Peters has all the tools to be successful at a variety of Division I programs. 

6'9 '25 Gevonte Ware (1 of 1 Elite)

After being sidelined for most of the high school season, it was extremely refreshing to see Gevonte Ware back on the court'and possibly even better than before. He's clearly trimmed down over the recent months, displaying a lean frame with IQ, length, mobility, and the necessary strength to overwhelm opponents on either end of the floor. For what it's worth, Ware has as much raw appeal and long-term upside as anyone in North Carolina's Class of 2025. He's a big, physical, athletic post prospect with great hands, feet, and the ability to control the paint on both ends of the floor. Ware is a reliable finisher with either hand, but can also make sharp passes or space the floor at a nice percentage. He highlights great defensive instincts, both in the two-man action and as a shot-blocker, and can push the break or run the floor effectively in transition. Ware already does everything at an above-average level, especially for his size and age, but is truly only beginning to scratch the surface of his ultimate potential. Expect him to trend upward over the foreseeable future, as he has all the tools and ability to be special. 

5'10 '26 Max van Weerdhuizen (Team United)

There's an impressive amount of talent within the roster of this young shoe-circuit squad, and Max van Weerdhuizen is possibly as polished as any guard in his class. He's a very smart, unselfish point guard with an extremely fundamental, team-oriented approach to the game. Weerdhuizen is truly incredible at consistently making the right decision with the ball in his hands. While he is comfortable at calmly, patiently running the team and dictating the action, he's also more than capable of showcasing his craftiness and efficient scoring prowess. Weerdhuizen shoots the ball at a high percentage, both from midrange and beyond the arc, but also finishes well around the basket. He touches the paint and makes great decisions in traffic, seemingly able to locate the open man at every single opportunity. Weerdhuizen can adapt to whatever role or area of emphasis as needed. He offers a scrappy defensive presence, able to utilize his positioning and sharp instincts to force turnovers on a frequent basis. Weerdhuizen might not the most discussed player on this roster, but he's certainly deserving of attention. He brings clear value to a team, and should only continue to turn heads going forward.'

6'3 '23 Jalante Edwards (Team Winston)

Despite (or perhaps due to) getting sidelined during the event, Jalante Edwards is someone who should be warranting more action within his recruitment. Why would an injury and'not'playing actually help him' Well, it simply reaffirmed his value to this team (and most teams in general). They still had plenty of quality college-level pieces and a top-tier coach, but were clearly missing their x-factor in Edwards'and it showed. Given his size, position, and overall skillset, Edwards is somewhat of a unique player. He's a natural glue-guy who consistently affect all facets of the game. At 6-foot-3, Edwards defends and rebounds way bigger than his listed height would imply, but possesses the skillset of a perimeter player. He's an excellent rebounder who utilizes his body, motor, grit, and sheer toughness to outwork others on the glass. Edwards is a versatile defender who can reliably switch and contain three to four positions at the high school level, and force turnovers at a nice rate. He's skilled enough to push the break in transition and make decisions with the ball in his hands. Edwards scores from all levels, finishes through contact, and is legitimately capable of adapting to any role on the court. His impactful presence definitely contributes to winning. College coaches should be more involved.'

6'4 '23 Nick Elliott (New Light Disciples)

Given the value of three-point shooting, someone like Nick Elliott should quickly become a priority for various types of college programs. His knockdown ability is nothing new, but it would be quite difficult to ignore his showing at the event. Between his size, toughness (required for all New Light Disciples), and perimeter shooting, Elliott brings clear value to a team. He's long, wiry, and shoots the ball at an incredibly high percentage. Elliott is more than comfortable at attacking closeouts or hitting jumpers off the bounce, but seemingly thrives in a spot-up role. He doesn't look to force the action, moves very well without the ball, and does a solid job of utilizing his length to be disruptive defensively. Elliott is a useful athlete and complementary player who can expand his production as needed. His range, effortless mechanics, and accuracy across the entire three-point arc makes him very enticing. Elliott should be poised for a very big eight-month stretch.