Last week, Phenom Hoops traveled down to Fort Mill, South Carolina to host our annual Summer Havoc Live. The event featured a slew of noteworthy teams and players, which naturally led to a ton of college coaches attending to find their next program-changing piece. While a lot of attention was centered around a handful of teams, college coaches were able to find worthy prospects at seemingly every turn. In order to highlight some of these roster complete with college players, we will take a closer look at each'moving onto the New Light Disciples.
6'7 '23 Kahlif Barnes
Although this entire group should be recruited heavily, Barnes is arguably the most tantalizing prospect on the roster. His blend of size, strength, rebounding, and explosiveness allow him to highlight an impactful interior presence on both ends of the floor. The harder he plays, the more Barnes tends to overwhelm opponents. He's a powerful finisher with solid touch, capable perimeter shooting, and the quick bounce to secure multiple rebounds within the same possession. Barnes is also very mobile, alters shots well defensively, and runs the floor well in transition. He received an offer at Summer Havoc (Mount Olive), and should only continue to earn more.
6'1 '23 Nigel Vincent
The New Light Disciples pride themselves on having a roster full of tough, rugged pieces, and Vincent quietly fits that bill as well as anyone in the state. He's a scrappy, team-oriented lead guard with the blend of toughness, unselfishness, and defensive prowess. Vincent is a useful floor general who looks to get downhill and attack the basket whenever possible'where he's proven to be a capable playmaker and finisher through contact. He's a really active defender with the ability to force turnovers and make hustle plays at a nice rate. Vincent impacts the game on both ends.
6'3 '23 Josiah Watkins
Given the amount of buzz he's generated over the recent months, it should be no surprise to see Watkins continuing to shine as a focal point for this group. He's a balanced guard with the ability to really fill it up as a passer or scorer, based on whatever the team needs. Watkins is a crafty ball-handler with the ability to create for himself and others while applying scoring pressure from all levels. He's a willing passer with the IQ and mentality to consistently make the right play with the ball in his hands. Watkins is also a quality defender and rebounder with no glaring weaknesses. Expect his recruitment to continue trending upward.
6'4 '23 Nick Elliott
Possibly the most underrated piece within this roster, Elliott is a knockdown perimeter threat who should be more commonly mentioned amongst the top three-point shooters across the state. He's long, wiry, and tougher than he appears. Elliott possesses legitimate thirty-foot range and knows how to properly utilize it within the flow of the action. He moves well without the ball, understands how to take quality shots, and can heat up in a hurry from distance. Elliott seemingly doesn't miss off the catch, but is also more than capable of hitting shots within a few dribbles. If he gets off a clean look, it's probably going in. He should have more action within his recruitment.
6'6 '23 Julius Harrison
There are a lot of enticing wing/forward prospects in North Carolina, and Harrison is certainly among the most intriguing. He's smart, versatile, and able to operate in a variety of different roles based on general personnel. Harrison can comfortably initiate the offense, create with the ball in his hands, and score the ball from all levels. When he's hitting three-pointers, he's extremely difficult for opponents to try and contain. Harrison is also a well-rounded athlete who naturally affects all facets of the game. He defends, rebounds, and shows great adaptability on both ends of the floor.
6'6 '23 Tre McNeil
While he probably deserves more attention, McNeil is someone who various programs should be prioritizing right now. He's a long, wiry, steadily progressing forward prospect with touch, athleticism, and capabilities as a floor-spacing option. McNeil displays an active motor and understanding of how to utilize his length, which allows him to make a constant impact as a finisher, rebounder, and shot-altering presence. He's able to play as the lone interior cog or alongside another big man. McNeil understands how to fill in the gaps and find his opportunities within the flow of the action.
6'5 '23 Joshua Walker
Each member of this team serves a clear purpose, and Walker understands how to excel within his role as a strong, sturdy big man. He's a stocky interior piece with a pretty useful post arsenal and the ability to compete for rebounds on both ends of the floor. Walker can reliably finish with his back to the basket, and simply knows how to position himself for success. He utilizes his body well to secure position and clear out opponents on the glass. Walker provides great effort on either side of the ball, and could be a useful addition for the right program.
5'9 '25 Chris Mitchell
Though young, Mitchell brings obvious value to this group as a smart, unselfish point guard prospect. He's quick and offers a patient, fairly balanced identity as a floor general. Mitchell touches the paint, makes correct decisions, and doesn't look to force the action with the ball in his hands. He's a capable scoring option with vision and craftiness as a ball-handler, but is arguably better at creating for others. Mitchell is also a pesky defender who forces turnovers at a nice rate defensively. He should only continue to get better and better, especially given his age.
