South Brunswick
6’6” Jace McKinney (2019)
We saw McKinney featured as the focal point for South Brunswick’s offense, and he more than held his own against a strong Eastern Guilford program. He showed phenomenal toughness, frequently taking a beating inside and fighting through all contact. McKinney is a proven athlete, however, the uptick in his perimeter skills is quite refreshing and he’s starting to become a well-rounded player on both ends of the floor.
6’0” AJ Rossi (2020)
Rossi made noise last month at our NC Phenom 150 camp and looked even better running the show today. On offense, he played effectively with and without the ball; Rossi is able to stretch out the defense with his perimeter shooting [off-ball] while also consistently making fantastic reads and decisions as the lead ball handler. He’s already a high IQ, team-first guard with great production, so he will definitely be one to watch going forward.
Eastern Guilford
6’7” Nic McMullen (2020)
McMullen made his Phenom debut this July and has only become more intriguing since we first saw him. Blessed with great size and athleticism, McMullen understands how to properly utilize his body to fight on the glass and gain extra possessions. Though he may not have a defined position right now, McMullen is expanding his skillset in each passing game and has already shown capabilities as a power forward. He’s so young and has incredible upside on both ends of the floor.
6’1” Antonio Gadson (2018)
Though Eastern Guilford was missing Nic Cheely (commonly regarded as their glue-guy), they didn’t miss a beat with Gadson stepping in. He showcased a high motor and played full-throttle from start to finish. Gadson got to the basket whenever he wanted and made numerous plays inside amongst the trees while also knocking down open jumpers. Gadson played a major role in Eastern’s victory and should continue to be a key cog going forward.
Fayetteville Academy
6’9” Emmanuel Izunabor (2019)
Of all the players on display during the first day, Izunabor is one that all D1 schools should take a hard look at. Izunabor relentlessly pursues the ball on the glass, potentially making him the best rebounder in the state. However, he is more than just an incredibly athletic rim-runner and elite rim protector; Izunabor shows brilliance with his interior passing and overall instincts on offense. He currently only holds an East Carolina offer, but should accumulate (at least) a dozen more over the next year.
6’6” Williams Onyeodi (2019)
Though Onyeodi battled through foul trouble, his fingerprints were all over this contest and the team absolutely needed his two-way production in order to win. His offensive game continues to expand and his defense/motor combination already makes him a dominant presence on the floor. Onyeodi possesses a next-level frame and does a quality amount of everything on both sides of the ball; he should be recruited by a wide variety of D1 programs.
Cape Fear Christian Academy
6’8” Milos Galogaza (2018)
It’s hard to believe Galogaza doesn’t have a single D1 offer given his ability to play efficient, high IQ basketball on both ends of the floor. He has a variety of moves on the low block with his back to the basket and can face-up on all three levels whenever he wants. Galogaza is a strong rebounder with a college-ready frame; his recruitment should pick up in the coming months.
6’0” Isaiah Tatum (2018)
In many ways, Tatum was the strongest performer for Cape Fear Christian, setting the tone early and often on both ends of the floor. He set the nets ablaze from three-point range and created shots extremely well for his teammates all game. It’s unbelievable that Tatum doesn’t hold any offers, as he has D1 ability but could be a downright dominant D2 player.
Porter Gaud
5’10” Denham Wojcik (2021)
After playing last season with Porter Gaud as an eighth grader, Wojcik appears to be right on track with his progression. Though still building his frame, Wojcik is already a nice defender with phenomenal instincts and positioning. He understands how to make an impact with or without the ball and is a gritty, chippy presence on both ends of the floor.
6’7” Josiah James (2019)
James has clearly added strength to his long, wiry frame, and looks ready to start truly dominating each and every opponent in his path. He already possessed all the tools and intangibles necessary to be a high-level player, but now he’s showcasing a formidable three-point shot, which is a scary sight for opposing defenses. James still makes the moves beautiful plays look simple and rebounds better than nearly every point guard in the country. It’ll be fun to see where James chooses to further his career at the next level, especially given his plethora of options.
6’6” Aaron Nesmith (Vanderbilt commit)
It’s easy to see why Nesmith became such a coveted player over the last year, and tonight he continued to further the notion that he is a top-100 player in the country. He’s such a gifted scorer, but also sets the tone on defense and pursues every rebound available. Nesmith dominated this contest despite enduring foul trouble, and made winning plays down the stretch in their win.
Village Christian
6’11” Derrick Quansah (2019)
Quansah controlled the interior throughout this game and easily walked his way into a double-double. His rebounding really allowed Village Christian to stay within reach when jumpers weren’t falling and he looked exceptional on both ends of the floor. Quansah has tremendous upside, but showcased what he’s already capable of doing; his recruitment will be worth watching going forward.
6’7” Khuath Gatkouth (2019)
The heart and soul of this Village Christian team is Gatkouth, who they frequently looked to for scoring. He scored however, wherever and whenever he wanted with a variety of next-level separation and dribble moves. He’s at his best when playing with aggression and hunting for his shot, but he brings great unselfishness to the team. Gatkouth’s frame is long and incredible for a perimeter player; it’s hard to fathom that he only holds a Campbell offer, but he will certainly acquire more in the near future.