The Fan's and Coaches Guide to Phenom's Palmetto Winter Showcase
Who, What, When, Where … All You Need to Know
The nationally recognized Phenom's Palmetto Winter Showcase is set to take place tomorrow (December 28-30) at Ben Lippen School in Columbia, South Carolina.
There are several national level recruits taking part in this event with some elite level matchups to go along with some truly great teams. So you can map out your day, here are some of the tournament essentials to help out…
Thursday's'Schedule
12 – Village Christian Vs. Ben Lippen
1:30 – Hammond Vs. Christian Academy of MB
3 – Conway Vs. Freedom Christian
5 – West Charlotte Vs. Independence
6:30 – Miller School Vs. United Faith
8 – AC Flora Vs. Blythewood
Daily Schedule
The event will span over a three-day period, Thursday through Saturday (December 28-30). Each team will play one game on each day. The first game will start, each day, at 12 noon and the last game will start, each day, at 8 PM.
Tickets
The best way to experience high-level basketball is front and center at the event … Tickets are $10 per person, sold at the door, which will be good for the day. No passes will be admitted and only day passes are sold. Children 5 and under will be admitted free.
The Brackets
Teams are broken up into two brackets, no bracket is different from the other. There is a mixture of public and private schools as well as in-state and out of state schools. Each bracket is broken into a 6-team field and both brackets will be playing for a championship. With the number 1 and 2 seed getting first-round byes, each number 1 and 2 seed will be playing across bracket in a showcase game on night one (1 vs. 1 and 2 vs. 2).
The Teams
AC Flora (Columbia, SC), Blythewood (Blythewood, SC), Hammond School (Columbia, SC), Ben Lippen (Columbia, SC), Conway (Conway, SC), Christian Academy (Myrtle Beach, SC), West Charlotte (Charlotte, NC), United Faith Christian (Charlotte, NC), Independence (Charlotte, NC), Freedom Christian (Fayetteville, NC), Village Christian (Fayetteville, NC) and Miller School (Croznat, VA)
Featured Players
6'7' junior Aundre Hyatt (Miller School)'- a Top 50 ranked prospect nationally, the high academic Hyatt already carries offers from 20+ programs across the country. He is a sturdily built forward who has deep range and rebounds very strong. The Draymond Green comparisons fit well here.
6'8' junior Patrick Williams (West Charlotte)'- a National Top 75 recruit in the junior class, all Williams has done over the last year is climb in the rankings. Expect that trend to continue as he is just scratching the surface of his immense potential. Like Hyatt, Williams already carries 20+ offers, from schools around the country. Williams is averaging over 20 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 assists per game this year. The multi-talented forward plays the 1-4 for his high school team.
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6'9' senior Robert Braswell (Blythewood)'- Braswell picked up an offer from Oklahoma State last week, while he had the likes of Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Kansas State, Texas A&M and others in to watch him. Braswell is a unique prospect in that he is a 40+% 3-point shooter with a 7 foot wing span and the defending South Carolina state high jump champion. His recruitment is just getting started and it looks as if it is taking on a high level national style.
6'7' senior Jimmy Nichols (Conway) – the high-flying Nichols is a national Top 150 ranked prospect in the senior class. He is committed and signed to Providence, where his size, length, athleticism and skill set should fit in very well in the Big East. Don't turn your heads, Nichols is set for numerous tip dunks, fast break high flying finishes and game changing blocked shots. He plays a loud and exciting game.
Others Prospects to Make Sure You Put Eyes On
6'10 junior Tariq Balogun (Miller School), 6'9 senior Milos Stajcic (Freedom Christian), 6'4 junior Jamahri Harvey (Freedom Christian), 6'7 junior Khuath Gatkuath (Village Christian), 6'2 junior Travion McCray: (Village Christian), 6'7 junior Jason Thompson (United Faith Christian), 6'8 senior KC Hankton (United Faith Christian), 6'4 senior Jomarius Burton (Independence), 6'7 junior Matthew Smith (Independence), 6'1 junior Cartier Jernigan (West Charlotte), 6'1 junior Tre Jackson (Blythewood), 6'7 senior Diamonte Brown (AC Flora), 6'3 junior DJ Sinkler (AC Flora), 6' senior Ryan McCray (Ben Lippen), 6'3 junior Michael Green (Christian Academy of MB), 6'7 senior Sam Woods (Christian Academy of MB), 6'6 sophomore Jordan Burch (Hammond)
Committed Prospects
6'7' Jimmy Nichols (Conway/Providence), 6'10' Nate Springs (United Faith Christian/Ohio U), 6'6' Jaylen Sims (United Faith Christian/UNC-Wilmington), 6'2' Deshaun Wade (Miller School/East Carolina), 6'7' Teemu Tumonof (Miller School/Charleston), 6'1' Zack Foulks (AC Flora/Lees McRae), 6'4' Darren Grainger (Conway/Furman football)
Also of note Jordan Burch (Hammond) and Tonka Hemmingway (Conway) are Top 100 ranked football prospects…
Night 1, Featured Matchups
Blythewood Vs. AC Flora
Two of the states power schools do not typically play one another. Located 20 minutes apart from one another each of these schools are being talked about among the favorites to represent the Lower State in their respective State Championship games…Blythewood is 5A and AC Flora is 4A. There will be great matchups across the board, including the hottest prospect in the region, Robert Braswell and 6'7 senior Diamonte 'Bam' Brown.
Jonathan Breeland, Tre Jackson, Zack Foulks, DJ Sinkler and Patrick Iriel are names to watch here.
Independence Vs. West Charlotte
Two of the best programs in North Carolina, used to play one another every year. They haven't been scheduled to do so in the recent past. This is a game full of players who know one another, play with one another during the summer and are fighting against one another for similar scholarships. There will be no love lost here, both teams are incredibly athletic and both teams have numerous players who play an incredibly exciting style. There are numerous D1 players on both teams, as well as a handful of guys who could explode for 30+ point games.
West Charlotte is led by Top 75 junior prospect Patrick Williams who has offers from 20+ schools from across the country. Independence is led by senior Jamarius Burton who has had the likes of Oregon State, UMass, and others in recently to watch. Keep an eye on Cartier Jernigan, Matthew Brown and AJ McKee in this one as well…
Local Columbia Schools
Hammond (4-4)'- The Skyhawks are led by sophomore Jordan Burch (also a Top 100 football prospect), junior Cleo Canty and seniors Lucas Prickett and Isiah Washington. Head Coach David Ross is a former wing at the University of South Carolina.
Blythewood (7-2)'- The Bengals raced to the 5A state championship game last year losing 54-53. They are on that same path this season as well. Led by seniors Jonathan Breeland and Robert Braswell, they get up and down and play a fun style of basketball.
AC Flora (8-3)'- The Falcons are being talked about as one of the top teams in South Carolina's 4A region. Rightfully so, they run 10 deep and play a non-stop pressing style that is exciting to watch. This team is led by Lees McRae commit Zack Foulks but has great size to go along with its guard play as 6'7 senior Bam Brown and 6'8 sophomore Patrick Iriel patrol the paint.
Ben Lippen (4-4)'- The Falcons are led by senior guard duo Ryan McCray and Javian Bellamy. Each player averages over 20 points per game and are both scholarship level guys. They will be playing this weekend with a chip on their shoulder. Head Coach John Combs his turned the program around and has the ship righted toward success.