Gate City Showcase “Breakout Performers”
At the inaugural Gate City Showcase, the talent level was off the charts. While many of the players were known on the national level, there were also a handful of players under the radar that used the Gate City Showcase as their own personal platform to elevate their stock and recruitment.
6’9 2021 Dante Kiesenhofer (Holly Springs HS)
What’s not to like about a lengthy, mobile and athletic 6’9 hybrid forward that gets it done on both ends of the court. Defensively, Kiesenhofer is active around the rim whether it is securing defensive rebounds or simply utilizing this length in the paint. Although he didn’t block a handful of shots, it was merely his length that created problems for the opposing team. In the overtime win over a very good Carmel Christian team, Kiesenhofer finished with a “double double” of 19 points and 13 rebounds. Kiesenhofer went 8-12 from the floor, and 2-4 from the 3-point line where he showcased his range and touch. What you see currently is not the finished product and look for his stock and recruitment to be on the rise.
6’0 2021 Jaden Ellis (Greensboro Page)
Simply put, Jaden Ellis had one of the best overall individual performances at the Gate City Showcase. In the win over First Flight, Ellis was absolutely terrific as he was efficient and productive and showcased a nice blend of athleticism, skill, basketball IQ, and excellent feel for the game all rolled into one. Ellis finished with a game high 34 points going 10-16 from the floor, 3-5 from the 3-point line and 11-16 from the free throw line. In addition, he collected three rebounds, dished out five assists and even had two steals while only committing one turnover. In the fast tempo game, Ellis proved to be in complete control and proved he’s a player who stock is on the rise.
6’1 Aisaiah Phillips (Wesleyan Christian)
Aisaiah Phillips nearly flawless game insured Wesleyan a nice 69-58 win over Glenn High School. He almost had a “triple double” of 18 points, eight rebounds and dished out eight assists. Phillips went 6-10 from the floor, 2-3 from the 3-point line, and a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line while only committing two turnovers. Phillips controlled the pace and tempo of the game and whenever the team needed a big basket, he was there to make the right play whether it was scoring or creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. Look for a major stock boost for this talented, athletic and cerebral point guard.
6’0 2023 Robert Dillingham (Combine Academy)
After a Friday night loss to a super talented Moravian Prep team, Robert Dillingham was clicking on all cylinders against Henderson Collegiate. He finished with a game high 26 points going 8-12 from the floor, 5-8 from the 3-point line and a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line. Based upon his advanced skill set and production on the court, Dillingham is trending as a top prospect in the North Carolina 2023 class.