This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled down to the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center in the heart of Rock Hill, South Carolina for our Post Grad Nationals. There was a slew of high-level programs in attendance from all over the country (in addition to a squad from Canada) that came to compete and determine whose who within the post-grad ranks. Moreover, tons of college coaches came through and extended offers to worthy prospects. It was an extremely entertaining event with a variety of standouts, and this article will take a closer look at some personal favorites…
6’3 ’23 KJ Vasser (The Skill Factory)
The Skill Factory is known for their ability to consistently put talented players into college, and it feels like KJ Vasser should definitely be among the numerous candidates to start blowing up from their current group. Between playing with their Global and National squads over the weekend, he was nothing short of spectacular. For starters, Vasser is an elite shooter in basically every possible way. Whether off the catch, bounce, or movement, he’s a knockdown threat. Vasser is able to play with or without the ball in his hands, but is arguably more destructive for opposing teams when slotted as an off-ball cog. Between the constant cutting and only requiring a glimmer of daylight to get off clean looks, it legitimately forces opponents to stay attached to his hip at all times. That being said, Vasser is much more than just a spot-up threat. He’s a capable creator, both for himself and others, with the necessary polish to get to his spots off the bounce. Though exceptional from distance, Vasser is also lethal in the midrange and finishes well around the basket. He stands out as a quality teammate, natural leader, and smart overall player on both ends of the floor. While others might receive more attention, Vasser is someone that countless scholarship-level programs should be pursuing.
6’0 ’25 Dylan Craven (Combine Regional)
Any true enjoyer of basketball will love to watch Combine Regional and their cast of talented pieces, which certainly includes Dylan Craven. Despite being one of the younger players on the roster, he’s an incredibly intelligent, unselfish, true point guard with an understanding of how to run a team and set the tone on both ends of the floor. Craven is such a savvy playmaker who breaks down defense, sees the entire floor, and makes the correct read with unwavering consistency. He’s a capable scorer but clearly prioritizes getting his teammates quality looks in their ideal scoring positions. Craven sees the game multiple steps ahead of others, as evidenced by how he utilizes angles, forces defenses to collapse, and rarely has a lapse in judgment. He’s crafty, yet handles the ball with care and still gets wherever he wants on the floor with relative ease. It doesn’t seem to matter if bigger or more athletic opponents try to contain him, as Craven’s feel, methodical approach, and ability to put defenders where he wants them always seem to win out. Add in his quick first step, transition instincts, and active presence defensively, and it’s easy to see his overall value.
6’5 ’23 Julius Harrison (Piedmont Classical)
Given the fact that the majority of Piedmont Classical’s core has either committed or secured college offers, it’s genuinely perplexing to try and understand Julius Harrison’s lack of recruitment. After building his foundation as a tough, versatile, well-rounded wing/forward prospect, he’s only continued to progress and expand his overall identity. Harrison is a knockdown three-point shooter with a great blend of size, athleticism, and the ability to impact the game with or without the ball in his hands. He rebounds, defends multiple positions, and naturally does a little bit of everything offensively. Harrison can initiate the offense and create shots off the bounce when necessary, but simply knows how to pose a major threat as an off-ball threat. He passes the ball well and understands how to make proper reads as a creator. Harrison has all the tools to be a productive addition to a variety of different programs, so it’ll be interesting to see how things shake out going forward.
6’8 ’23 Eric Holmes (Speights Academy)
There are so many enticing pieces within the Speights Academy roster, which certainly includes Eric Holmes and everything he brings to the table. At 6-foot-8, he’s built like a tank with the blend of length, mobility, and toughness to consistently impact the game on both ends of the floor. Though Holmes is quite physically overwhelming, it’s clear that his instincts and general IQ separate him from other similar prospects. He’s a well-rounded athlete, which allows him to play above the rim, defend in space, and run the floor effectively in transition. Holmes is explosive enough to protect the rim, but also takes charges and willingly does the dirty work. He displays a high motor, communicates extremely well on defense, and applies pressure as a finisher around the basket. Holmes also utilizes his body to overpower opponents on either side of the ball. He’s the type of player that visibly contributes to winning, so various types of programs should be in pursuit.