This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled down to Rock Hill, South Carolina for our annual Queen City Showcase. There were dozens of quality teams from each age group and countless prospects worth noting for college coaches. Though they’ve been somewhat underrated as a program throughout the years, the Carolina Flyers possess the necessary mentality and prospects to consistently attract colleges. They were quite successful at our Queen City Showcase, both in terms of winning games and highlighting prospects for the next level, and this article will take a closer look at each individual…
It should be fairly obvious that Toby Harris is the star of this group, which we covered at length in our, “Bendel’s Best: Queen City Showcase” earlier this week. He’s still vastly underrated by the grassroots community but has seen a noticeable uptick in his recruitment over the recent months. Harris is a long, wiry, intelligent wing/forward prospect with an all-around game and the intangibles to shine as a leader. While he garners a lot of attention for his silky-smooth perimeter jumper, Harris is far more than just a lethal shooting threat. His offensive arsenal is fairly complete, given how consistently he impacts all facets of the game. Harris is a brilliant passer, quality rebounder, and underrated defender with great shot-blocking instincts. Division I coaches need to start prioritizing before he blows up–which is inevitable.
Though very different from one another, the duo of Jeremiah Baker and Will Tyndall really stood out with their tough, relentless two-way approach. Baker is the lone unsigned senior on this roster but certainly has the tools and ability to help various programs at the next level. He’s a phenomenal athlete with IQ, quickness, and excellent defensive instincts. Baker was able to attack the basket at will, where he finished or looked to set up others. Meanwhile, Tyndall stands out as a bruiser and enforcer on both ends of the floor. His game might not be flashy, but it is undeniably effective. Tyndall just exudes toughness, specifically as a defender and two-way rebounder, and was clearly willing to make the hustle plays whenever possible. He’s also a solid scorer and clever passer.
Guys like Collin Himmelberg and Luke Proctor made a lasing impression as the primary shooting threats for this team, as both shot over 40% from distance on the weekend. Though they possess similar identities, each player has specific distinctions within their approach. Himmelberg is long, wiry, and highlights nice versatility, which allows him to spot-up or find scoring opportunities within the arc. He’s a great cutter and capable passer with the ability to set up others when necessary. On the other hand, Proctor is arguably their most reliable spot-up threat. He’s typically looking to get going from beyond the arc but has the ability to attack closeouts and finish or make the correct pass. Proctor is also a quality cutter that doesn’t necessarily require the ball to make an impact, as his shooting presence forces opponents to give him attention.
The trio of Kalen Harris, Jaylen Jones, and Cole Ganim were the main complementary players within this group. Harris displays IQ and a pretty well-rounded skillset yet accepts his role for the betterment of the team. He can defend, rebound, attack the basket, or knock down open jumpers—all during the flow of the game. Jones is another tough, scrappy presence with quickness, defensive prowess, and great cutting instincts. He makes the right play in transition and simply makes a positive impact on both ends of the floor. Ganim is long, wiry, and shows flashes of touch and skill. He plays hard, looks to disrupt his assignment however possible, and can step out for the occasional perimeter jumper.
This roster of seven rising seniors and one unsigned senior (Baker) should have college coaches absolutely buzzing for the next few months. They have some definite on-paper appeal, but the Flyers are the type of group that need to be seen in order to be properly appreciated.