There is certainly plenty of news going around the college basketball landscape these days, especially when it comes to the transfer portal. Every day, new names go on the list and others come off, as players will be suiting up for new programs in the coming years.
One player that Phenom Hoops is knowledgeable about and eager to watch develop at his new school is freshman 6’11 James Scott. Scott, who was one of the top players in his class coming out of North Carolina, was a hot target for Coach Kesley, who is now the head coach at Louisville. Coming out of high school surprisingly, many didn’t firmly know of Scott and his game until later in his career. Phenom Hoops had an opportunity to watch him as a sophomore and there certainly was intrigue with his game as a young prospect, but it wasn’t until much later in his high school career that everything started to come together. We had this to say about his game then:
“He’s a long, fluid, wiry post prospect with IQ, touch, and an active motor on both ends of the floor. Scott displays a variety of useful post moves and finishes well from the block or above the rim. He’s very mobile for his size and moves like a perimeter player, but still embraces his identity within the paint. Scott displays great defensive instincts, both as a rim protector and when intercepting passing lanes to force turnovers. He rebounds the ball at a strong rate and runs the floor hard in transition.â€
Once at Charleston, it seemed he had only gotten bigger and stronger, adjusting well to the college game and getting an early opportunity to showcase his potential. Scott finished his freshman season playing in 35 games and averaging 16.1 minutes, 5.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and shooting 79.2 percent from the floor.
Now, Scott has a chance to play in the ACC at Louisville, a program that is certainly looking to change things around and rebuild under new head coach Pat Kelsey. Though it may still take a bit of time to adjust to playing at that high level, Scott is one of those bigs that I would be on high alert about with his blend of potential, his size, and his impact on both ends. Scott has a chance to be a huge presence and elevate his game even more, and especially become a well-known prospect in the ACC if his game comes all together. He certainly can do so, and this could be a very underrated get for a program that is trying to build itself back to where it was not long ago.
What Phenom Hoops Said: