This past weekend, Phenom Hoops hosted our annual Summer Havoc at the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center in downtown Rock Hill, South Carolina. There was a ton of basketball between the two sessions and four total days of action, which presented college coaches of all levels to get out and evaluate prospective talent. After years of building this empire, Coach Grant Hodges gets to see the fruition of watching his guys advance their respective games to the next level. While last year's squad was the original group, college coaches seem to appreciate the Riptide program more with each passing year. Given their structure of five seniors and three juniors, let's take a closer look at their overall makeup'

Seniors:

6'4 Davis Wagner

One simply cannot fully appreciate this team without understanding the full scope of Davis Wagner's development over the years. After playing up with the original group since the beginning, his transition from an energetic role player to legitimate all-around leader has been something worth seeing. Wagner communicates, leads by example, and sets the tone in all possible facets of the game. He's stronger and tougher than opponents seem to think, which allows him to stand out as a menacing defender and phenomenal two-way rebounder. Wagner is equally effective at spacing the floor as finishing amongst size, and displays nice vision from the post. While his skillset and production continue to shine, Wagner's motor and blue-collar approach are what separate him from others.

5'11 Evan Presnell

It's easy to appreciate Evan Presnell and the way he embraces his mentality as a heady, tough as nails lead guard with some fairly unique qualities to his game. He's a fairly quick, crafty creator that plays incredibly hard at all times and establishes a nice balance between scoring and playmaking. Presnell possesses the ability to get a shot from basically wherever he wants, which is fairly uncommon for guards of his size. His midrange pull-up (usually off glass) is probably his most lethal scoring avenue, but he also finishes and knocks down three-pointers at a quality percentage. Presnell also rebounds and defends quite effectively, especially for his size, and is capable of setting up others with the ball in his hands. 

6'3 Jackson Hawkins

There is certainly a lot to like about Jackson Hawkins, especially given his combination of size, shooting, and athleticism from the wing position. Like the previous two, he's simply tougher than a vast majority of high school prospects. He consistently shows a willingness to utilize his body to defend, rebound, make hustle plays, and absorb contact when attacking the basket. Hawkins is a nice leaper and fairly nimble for someone so sturdy, which allows him to outmuscle opponents with relative ease. He's capable of being a primary option or operating without the ball, and can expand his production as needed. 

6'2 Jack Dryden

Everyone on this team knows how to operate within their role, but Jack Dryden is arguably the best at consistently doing whatever is asked of him. He provides meaningful minutes off the bench, offering energy, perimeter shooting, and the ability to defend within their overall scheme. Dryden is unselfish, makes extra passes, and truly only looks to seize opportunities within the flow of the team structure. While he might not total a ton of high point-totals, Dryden brings obvious value to this group. 

Juniors:

6'4 Cole Callaway

Though younger than most of this Riptide squad, Cole Callaway regularly stood out among their most reliable contributors throughout the four-day event. While three-point shooting is still his most lethal skill, he's shown steady growth as a defender and threat to attack closeouts. Callaway understands how to apply pressure from distance (both off the catch and dribble), and then utilize his overall gravity to keep opponents on their heels. He continues to show flashes as a passer and improved athlete, so it'll be exciting to track his progression over the next few years.

6'8 Beckham Tharpe

Given his size and overall physicality, Beckham Tharpe brings a very different dynamic to this roster. He's big, athletic, and plays hard at all times, which is truly a perfect fit given their personnel. Tharpe offers a low-maintenance identity as a rim-runner with defense, rebounding, and interior toughness on both ends of the floor. He plays with positive energy on the court and very seldom looks to operate outside of his comfort zone. Tharpe should only continue to improve going forward. 

6'2 '23 Alex Gruber

While Alex Gruber joins the previous duo as one of the younger players on this roster, his IQ and overall maturity level would imply otherwise. He's a tough, athletic, fairly well-rounded floor general with a nice playmaking sense and capabilities as a penetrator. Gruber is a heady defender, quality rebounder, and overall threat in transition. He can operate as a primary creator or play alongside another point guard, finding success through both avenues. The appeal should be obvious with Gruber, and (like the others) will be watched closely by college coaches over the next twelve to twenty-four months. 

Additional:

6'8 Trey Ramsey (committed to Anderson)