On Saturday, Phenom Hoops traveled out to Reid Ross Elementary School in Fayetteville, North Carolina for Underrated Athletes’ second annual Southeast Invitational. Event Director Chris Ewell put together a lineup of seven games (featuring both men’s and women’s matchups) with a mix of quality local teams. Between the individual prospects and overall competition, there were a lot of takeaways. Let’s take a closer look at some personal favorites from the day…
5’9 ’26 Karsten Swinney (Freedom Christian)
There are a lot of talented scorers in North Carolina, and Karsten Swinney deserves to have his name mentioned among the best. At 5-foot-9, Swinney doesn’t necessarily look like the guy who spectators expect to light it up. However, it takes about one possession to recognize and appreciate the effortless way he controls the action. Swinney is an extremely polished scorer who applies constant pressure from all levels. He’s a reliable penetrator, finisher, and three-point shooter, but is clearly at his best when attacking the midrange. Swinney is brilliant at getting to his spots and converting, yet sees the floor well and looks to set up others when necessary. He’s excellent at generating separation and is able to largely disregard defensive pressure when pulling up off the dribble. Although Swinney shines as a scorer, he sets set the tone in various ways. He’s an engaged defender with quickness, toughness, and a high motor. Swinney rebounds well for his size and looks to push the break whenever possible in transition. Folks should anticipate him being one of the most productive players in the state over these next two years.
6’6 ’28 Baganley Donzo (Trinity Christian)
Every year, we see players enter the high school ranks who are physically equipped to contribute right away—and Baganley Donzo certainly fits that bill. Despite being built like an NFL prospect, he’s a very meaningful piece on the basketball court for this incredibly balanced Trinity Christian squad. Donzo possesses unbelievable strength with the toughness and mentality to impose his will on both ends of the floor. He’s already an incredible rebounder who pursues the ball with aggression. Donzo positions himself very well on the glass, but also possesses a much faster first and second jump than the majority of big men. He lurks for lobs, putbacks, and drop-offs but truly doesn’t need offensive touches to impact a game. Donzo blocks shots at a high volume and runs hard in transition. He’s shown flashes of floor-spacing ability, but is still at his best when slotted around the basket. Already a useful piece, it’ll be interesting to follow Donzo’s growth going forward.
5’10 ’28 Alena Dilione (Westover)
Although there were several standouts from the women’s games, it’s easy to see what separates Alena Dilione from other prospects—especially at this stage in her development. Her size and strength give her an obvious advantage, but her general instincts make her so problematic for opponents. Dilione is already a phenomenal rebounder who utilizes her body to control the glass and involve herself in every second-chance opportunity. She has a magnet-like attraction to the basketball and seems to position herself for success on every possession. Dilione is a solid finisher and displays flashes of feel as a passer. Though she has a strong base, she will only become more imposing as she continues to add muscle. Dilione also blocks shots at a solid rate and competes with consistent energy on both ends of the floor. Add in her genetic makeup, and it feels like she will only keep trending upward.
5’9 ’28 AJ Morman (Southern Durham)
Despite being one of the youngest kids in the event, AJ Morman continues to impress. Where most freshmen would struggle to dictate the action for a yearly contender in win-now mode, he’s been nothing short of incredible. It’s exciting to consider the possibilities of Morman’s growth as a player, simply because he’s already so talented and impactful without any type of physical advantage. Sure, he’s very quick and plays with the IQ, pace, and maturity to naturally succeed in this position. However, so much of his ability is predicated on raw talent (whereas so many other freshmen rely solely on strength, athleticism, etc.). Morman handles the ball with poise, dissects defenses rapidly, and consistently makes the correct decision as a creator. He’s arguably at his best when generating looks for others, but has gotten progressively more assertive at picking his spots as a scorer. Morman is a brilliant passer with the ability to finish, hit jumpers, and regularly access his nice arsenal of floaters. He’s also a quality defender who anticipates well to force turnovers and push the break in transition. Clearly a difference-maker, it’ll be exciting to watch his production blossom.
6’6 ’25 Jackson Keith (Southern Durham)
It should go without saying, but Jackson Keith (Butler commit) was quite clearly the best player in the event. He’s the perfect leader for this balanced team who offers an ideal blend of IQ, assertiveness, and unselfishness. Keith can consistently score from all levels but understands how to take what the defense gives him and actively mix it up from everywhere on the floor. He’s very strong and utilizes his body extremely well to essentially throw opponents out of his way when attacking the basket. Keith is among the few players who actually can and will post up smaller players, which typically yields very positive results. He finishes with both hands, plays above the rim, and converts jumpers at a quality percentage. Add in his rebounding presence and ability to make plays defensively, and it’s easy to see the way he impacts all facets of the game. In addition to the production and leadership, Keith is simply the type of guy you want in the locker room. He should have a highly successful career for the Bulldogs.