This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled out to the Rise Indoor Facility in Bermuda Run, North Carolina for our annual June Team Camp. The two-day event featured a ton of the top public and private teams throughout the state. There were plenty of noteworthy takeaways from the event, both in terms of individual performances and overall team showings, and this article will take a closer look at some personal standouts. Let's take a look'
6'4 '24 Jaylen Cross (Northwest Guilford)
There is seemingly always a prospect who soars under the radar for no real reason, and Jaylen Cross continues to stand out as that guy. We've beat the dead horse (and genuinely don't care about sounding like a broken record) simply because he is a Division I player and someone who should have far more action within his recruitment. Cross carries himself with the utmost poise and maturity, and would be a likeable piece within any locker room. On the court, he has all the necessary tools to dominate game. Cross possesses IQ, size, athleticism, and an understanding of how to legitimately thrive (and produce) within any type of role. He comfortably creates for himself and others while displaying a decisive, unselfish nature. Cross makes great decisions with the ball in his hands, but also forces opponents to stay attached without the ball. His handle and three-point consistency are already quite useful, yet continue to steadily improve over time. Cross naturally affects all facets of the game, embraces doing the little things, and is capable of leading or playing within a role. His abilities should be common knowledge at this point, so whoever extends the first offer is going to look very intelligent.
6'6 '24 Jayden 'Juke' Harris (Salisbury)
Although the event was truly loaded with a ton of noteworthy names, Jayden 'Juke' Harris had a very strong case as the top prospect in attendance. He's a long, incredibly smooth wing prospect with impressive creation skills and the ability to score the ball from anywhere on the floor. Harris is a nice ball-handler and capable playmaker with vision and a willingness to make the correct read when attacking. He scores with terrific efficiency from all three levels, but can also impact a game without requiring a ton of shots. Harris utilizes his length really well to finish, rebound, block shots, and disrupt opponents attacking off the bounce. He rebounds consistently and pushes the break effectively in transition, but also knows how to move without properly as a cutter. Given his blend of size, length, and feel, Harris also possesses clear upside as a versatile defender. He is extremely talented and already seems like a (conservatively) top-ten player in North Carolina's Class of 2024, but should only continue to progress over the foreseeable future. Expect Harris' name to continue trending upward amongst nationally regarded outlets, as he has the makings of a special prospect.
6'1 '23 Will Gray (East Forsyth)
Similar to the previous two entries, Will Gray is someone who definitely deserves more attention amongst college coaches. It's really perplexing to try and make sense of his lack of recruitment, especially given his productive and well-rounded identity. Gray is smart, strong, and athletic with the ability to comfortably control the action with the ball in his hands. He has unorthodox shooting mechanics, but truly scores the ball with efficiency from all levels. Gray is phenomenal at getting downhill, playing through contact, and finishing or setting up others with craftiness. He finishes well with both hands, above or below the rim, and is displays great body control around the basket. Gray is a strong rebounder and exceptional defender who forces turnovers, relentlessly pushes transition play, and makes intelligent decisions with the ball. He plays with such impressive pace, patience, and overall poise as a two-way leader. Gray genuinely has no real weaknesses on either end of the floor, and should have numerous offers at this point. He has the tools to succeed at a variety of different levels.
6'6 '24 Kaden Hammond (Cummings)
It was easy to be impressed with the entire Cummings roster, and Kaden Hammond is probably someone who is underrated by the general public. He's a big, sturdy, strong-bodied post prospect with touch, strength, and some floor-spacing ability. Hammond utilizes his body really well to secure position, screen defenders, and finish through contact. He scores the ball effectively with either hand and displays great footwork around the basket. Hammond is quite useful in the two-man action, both when rolling and popping, but doesn't force anything offensively. He moves well for his size, passes the ball extremely well, and dominates the glass on both ends of the floor. Hammond carves out space properly and overpowers opponents (often multiple times in the same possession) for extra opportunities inside the paint. He's pretty much a guaranteed double-double with points and rebounds, but can also accumulate numerous assists out of the post. Hammond has always been a quality player, but only seems to get better with each viewing. He should be a prospect for scholarship-level coaches to aggressively pursue over the next calendar year.
6'11 '23 Jordan Butler (Christ Church)
Given his status as a highly regarded national prospect, no one should be surprised by Jordan Butler and his incredibly appealing long-term appeal. Though he's already a strong, fluid, skilled 6-foot-11 post prospect who possesses a modern identity. Butler's ability to move, rebound, block shots, and score from all levels should lead to obvious excitement. While he didn't necessarily shoot the ball at his normal percentage over the weekend, it's clear that he's a high-level perimeter shooter. Butler also looked more than comfortable at attacking the basket, accessing jumpers off the bounce, and operating out of the post. He rebounds well and understands how to utilize his length to overwhelm opponents. Butler protects the rim, moves effectively in space, and should only continue to get better over the coming years. Add in the path of his older brother, and folks should be really bought-in to his overall trajectory going forward.