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'
6'10 '23 Jaydin Spillman-Martin (Lions 2.0)
Despite displaying constant flashes over the last calendar year, Jaydin Spillman-Martin has rapidly gone from minimal recognition to being widely discussed as a high-level prospect. It should be fairly easy to understand what will make him coveted by Division I programs, given his combination of size, skill, and rim-protection instincts. Spillman-Martin moves very well for his height and has done a tremendous job of developing his frame over the last few months, which only makes him tougher for opponents on both ends of the floor. He already possesses reliable touch, solid athleticism, and a useful perimeter stroke, and has only continued to improve in those areas. Again, the product of a 6-foot-10 fluid big man with length, rebounding, offensive ability, and rim-protection ability should be pretty self-explanatory. After transferring to Winston-Salem Christian and reclassifying to 2023, Spillman-Martin should expect a massive uptick in his recruitment going forward.
6'8 '23 Mekhi Grant (Team Charlotte)
There are numerous situations where a prospect legitimately has all the tools to be incredible but require time to harness their abilities, which includes someone like Mekhi Grant, who appears to be turning the corner. He's shown some extremely impressive flashes over the years, but is turning the flashes into consistency and beginning to dominate opponents. During their matchup against a top team, Grant flipped the switch and it was clear through his intensity and overall aggression. He looked to dunk on any victim in his pathway and mirrored that same edge on the defensive end as a rim-protector. Grant is long, athletic, and quite skilled for his size/position, which makes him a pretty notable matchup problem for all types of forwards. He's also a useful rebounder and defender with the ability to switch across multiple positions. Although he already holds high-level offers, it wouldn't be shocking to see Grant reassert himself into national discussions very soon.
6'6 '21 Mike Herrin (Manzer)
There's something to be said for quality, well-rounded programs, and that describes Manzer Basketball Club to a tee. They had a roster full of college-level talent, and Mike Herrin stood out nicely as their leader throughout the weekend. Standing at a smooth 6-foot-6, Herrin possesses great IQ, length, and overall skill'which allowed him to shine as a focal point on offense. He showcased the full arsenal while scoring at an efficient rate from all three levels and setting up others as much as possible. Herrin doesn't really possess any glaring weaknesses on either side of the ball, given his fairly complete skillset and reliable defensive presence. He's a nice defender that understands how to utilize his length to play in the passing lanes, which often leads to forced turnovers and easy transition play. Herrin is simply a quality all-around player that scholarship-level coaches should be pursuing with haste, as he's only going to continue turning heads over the coming months.
6'7 '21 Terrence Johnson (Defenders Elite)
Different than most on this list, Terrence Johnson seems to be entering a favorable basketball situation that perfectly intersects with the overall development of his game. Previously, we've seen Johnson as a long, wiry, powerful athlete with the occasional flash of perimeter ability. He's maintained the highlight-reel ability and excitement, but has clearly taken the next step within the progression of his overall skillset. Johnson looked simply terrific as the main leader for this Defenders Elite squad, and figured out how to produce in various ways throughout each contest. He attacked the rim, utilized his length and explosion, and still looked to dunk on any defender in sight. However, Johnson's perimeter fluidity and ability to operate off the bounce looked as impressive as ever. He plays with a massive chip on his shoulder and legitimately wants to annihilate his assignment on both ends of the floor. Johnson rebounded well and effectively defended multiple positions while posing his usual threat in transition. Many scholarship-level programs should be putting Johnson's name atop their list.
6'7 '22 Davis Molnar (Mint Hill Lakers)
The Mint Hill Lakers were easily one of the most exciting teams on display. While others were enamored with high scoring totals, Davis Molnar quietly stood out as one of their more enticing long-term prospects. He's a big, fluid, versatile forward prospect with a blossoming inside-out skillset. Molnar already looks quite comfortable on the perimeter, both as a penetrator and defender in space, and should only continue to get better. He has a strong, sturdy frame with quality length and utilizes his physical tools well to battle around the basket. Molnar is a nice athlete with IQ, motor, touch, and phenomenal passing instincts. He's still progressing as a three-point shooter but possesses the necessary mechanics to become an above-average threat from distance. Molnar is pretty well-rounded and, at 6-foot-7, has the ability and identity to continue warranting Division I offers for the foreseeable future.