This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled out to the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina for another quality event. There was plenty of talent in the gym, featuring an abundance of new faces and guys we've seen numerous times throughout the years. The competition level was high, which made for some excitement, and various standouts emerged. This article will take a closer look at some personal favorites throughout the weekend, each of which have emerged as noteworthy underclassmen prospects but don't necessarily possess high-profile reputations'
6'8 '24 Brayden Crump (NLPB)
After quickly become one of the hottest names in grassroots basketball, Brayden Crump has probably generated more buzz than anyone on this list. His trajectory over the last twelve months is basically unprecedented. It's certainly possible for a player to drastically improve, but his progression is far from probable'at least for most. Now, Crump is clearly tracking as one of the top prospects in North Carolina's Class of 2024. He's morphed into a high-level shooter with size, fluidity, and quality athleticism. Crump possesses excellent feel for the game, both inside and outside the paint, and shows the ability to score in a variety of different ways. He moves well for his size and displays great instincts as a rebounder and shot-blocker. As a 6-foot-8 rising freshman with a fluid skillset, the appeal should already be fairly obvious. Expect to hear Crump's name a lot over the next few years.
6'8 '23 Aaron Hall (Charlotte Nets Gainey)
The Charlotte Nets' organization quietly goes about their business but always seem to have an enticing young prospect somewhere within their program, and Aaron Hall could easily be that guy. He's been playing up two age groups throughout the summer and genuinely showing flashes of dominance as one of the primary cogs for Charlotte Nets Gainey. Hall moves and plays like a legitimate wing/forward prospect, highlighting a ton of perimeter skill for his size. He possesses a lot of quality physical tools and stands out as a pretty useful athlete, both laterally and vertically. Hall scores the ball with solid efficiency from all three levels and is capable of creating his own shot off the bounce. He's far from a finished product, so it'll be exciting to monitor Hall's growth going forward.
6'6 '24 Draven Pilson (Basketpoint USA)
While everyone's name on this list should have increased circulation, Draven Pilson should have folks as excited as anyone. We'd previously seen him at our Jr. Phenom Camp, where he was nothing short of incredible and secured the Mr. Defense award. Fast-forward six months and Pilson continues to make noticeable strides within his development. Not only has he grown in stature, but has also furthered his perimeter skills and two-way versatility. He displayed useful ball-handling and three-point shooting while maintaining his tough, intelligent identity from the forward position. Pilson has always been a great finisher around the basket and utilizes his length extremely well to score, alter shots, and secure rebounds. He's already quite impressive but has the upside to be a top-tier talent within this class, especially if he continues on his current path.
5'10 '23 Arturo Overton (HYB Raps Extreme)
Like the previous name, Arturo Overton is someone we've become quite familiar with over the last few years due to his dominance at our camps. Though his foundation was established as a nonstop three-level scorer, Overton has taken the necessary steps to become a complete guard. He's able to operate as a reliable floor general with pace, vision, and the understanding of how to actively get his teammates involved. Overton has always been a quality shot-creator for himself, and still is, but now shows a heightened sense for getting others involved. That being said, he's absolutely maintained his status and abilities as a lethal scorer from all areas on the floor. His IQ, craftiness, and decisiveness allow him to breakdown majority of opponents, which leads to generating space for jumpers or getting downhill and finishing within the paint. After standing out as a strong varsity contributor as a freshman, expect Overton to continue making his mark in South Carolina.
6'4 '23 Taft Johnson (Basketpoint USA)
Unlike most prospects on this list, Taft Johnson is a relative unknown to majority of the grassroots basketball community. However, we've had eyes on him since he first entered North Carolina. Even then, Johnson's advanced feel for the game was quite evident. He was a sharp, quick-twitch creator with downhill ability and clear long-term potential. In the years since, he's only continued to solidify himself as someone worth noting. Johnson has really grown in terms of stature while maintaining his electric, savvy identity as a point guard. At 6-foot-4, he's a natural matchup problem for most opposing guards. Between his IQ, size, and quickness, Johnson is very difficult to prevent from getting wherever he wants on the court. He's a brilliant passer with the craftiness to access some unthinkable angles, but also displays scoring ability from multiple levels. Given his high school situation, Johnson could easily emerge as a breakout prospect over the next few years.