The Phenom Hoops’ travel schedule is officially back in full swing, as we traveled down to the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina for our Queen City Showcase this past weekend. There was an abundance of talent in the gym, which led to numerous standout performers across the weekend. This article will take a closer, more detailed look at some of those personal favorites…
6’1 ’21 Joshua McClary (Charlotte Nets McClary)
Certain basketball powerhouses, like North Mecklenburg, have so much talent year after year that a player like Joshua McClary can slide under the radar. Well, the secret is officially out, as McClary was nothing short of exceptional with the Charlotte Nets at our Queen City Showcase. He was their undisputed leader, both by example and through communication, and established the tone extremely well on either end of the floor. McClary is long, wiry, and possesses a great quick-twitch defensive prowess when defending the point of attack. His IQ is very high, which was evident in the decisive way he consistently made the right play and set the floor for others. McClary displayed excellent craftiness with the ball in his hands and had no trouble breaking down defenders and creating off the bounce. He touched the paint seemingly whenever he desired, but also offered a nonstop mix of three-pointers and midrange pull-ups. McClary was quite memorable in all facets of the game and has the necessary mentality to really overwhelm opposing guards. Though his role during the season is still unclear, McClary should have definite scholarship-level suitors going forward.
6’7 ’22 Treyvon Byrd (Tea Marie)
Although Treyvon Byrd is already a noteworthy name, his showing this past weekend only continued to solidify the rangy wing as a Division I prospect. He burst onto the scene years ago with a posterizing dunk but has clearly added a lot of polish since then. Now, Byrd is simply a matchup problem at 6-foot-7 with athleticism and quality perimeter skills. He has the ability to rebound the ball or force turnovers through his ridiculous length and immediately push the break in transition, where he can finish himself or set up others. Due to length and athleticism, Byrd has no issue defending multiple positions and can actively switch across opponents of various sizes. He attacks the basket and finishes through contact very well, but can also knock down jumpers at a decent rate. Byrd has a great blend of size, skill, and athleticism, which should ultimately make him a priority for numerous programs over the next few years.
6’0 ’21 Isiah Golden (Charlotte Dragons)
The Charlotte Dragons were quietly among the more consistent teams on display, largely due to the leadership and play of Isiah Golden. He’s incredibly smart and tough with the necessary skillset to control the action on both ends of the floor. Golden is very quick and effortlessly breaks down opposing guards, which allows him to get downhill and touch the paint at a nonstop rate. Although he’s a great playmaker with excellent timing and precision on his passes, Golden also stands out as an efficient scorer from all three levels. He’s an intense, rugged defender with great anticipation for jumping into passing lanes and forcing turnovers. Golden makes his presence consistently felt in transition and rarely has a lapse in judgment on either end of the floor. Despite being somewhat under-the-radar entering the event, Golden certainly solidified himself as a scholarship-level floor general.
5’11 ’22 Marcus Willis (Charlotte Royals)
Sometimes flashiness isn’t necessary when it comes to effectively running a team on both sides of the ball, and Marcus Willis is a prime example of that notion. He was the youngest prospect on a senior-laden roster and arguably looked as poised and mature as any floor general on display. Everything Willis brings to the team is fundamental and straightforward, which is actually somewhat uncommon these days. He’s a smart, unselfish point guard with the ability to consistently get downhill and make plays for others. Willis is a reliable scorer from all levels and understands how to assert himself within the flow of the game, rather than just hunting for his shot. He’s a great defender, decision-maker, and overall floor general that made his surrounding teammates better throughout the weekend. Willis should definitely be able to stand out to college coaches during the upcoming season.
6’9 ’22 Jai Smith (Tea Marie)
There are hundreds of high school players with size and athleticism, but those tools plus fluidity is a massive part of what makes someone like Jai Smith so enticing. He’s a long, strong big man with impressive mobility and the ability to anchor the paint on both ends of the floor. Smith mainly operates within five to ten feet but showed the necessary skill to handle the ball and attack the basket against opposing post players. He finished above the basket, displayed touch with either hand, and ran the floor properly in transition. Defensively, Smith does a nice job of patrolling the paint for rebounds and shot-blocking opportunities. It’s easy to see the appeal within his physical tools and overall skillset, which should lead to a flood of Division I offers over the next few years.