This past weekend, Phenom Hoops held our annual Stay Positive Classic in the Rise Indoor Facility in Advance, North Carolina. There was a ton of buzz surrounding the event, as excitement swirled for spectators and college coaches alike. While many of the top performing teams and players were expected, B.Maze Elite BJ surprised plenty of folks with their tough, competitive makeup throughout the two-day stretch. Their entire roster should be monitored by college coaches, but their trio of 6'7 '22 Josiah Brown, 6'4 '22 Jackson Inman, and 6'0 '22 Colby Raymer was undeniably impressive. Let's take a closer look…
Although they had a variety of useful offensive contributors, Inman led and largely dictated the action on that end of the floor. He's a knockdown shooter from the perimeter, but also displayed the craftiness and understanding of how to effortlessly create for himself'regularly hitting shots with an insane degree of difficulty. As effectively as Inman carried the scoring lead, he still showed a clear willingness to run the team and get others involved. He utilizes his IQ and size very well to make up for any lack of elite athleticism. That being said, Inman has a clear place at the next level and should emerge as a priority sooner than later.
Easily the most intriguing prospect of the group, Brown is a skilled, athletic forward with interior toughness and excellent offensive versatility. He typically overwhelms opponents near the basket with his combination of energy, finishing, and rebounding instincts. Brown welcomes physical play and possesses the ability to meet opponents above the rim when attacking. He also shoots the ball at a consistent rate, both from midrange and beyond the arc, and understands how to punish opponents from the high-post. There's a clear amount long-term appeal with Brown, so it'll be interesting to see what scholarship-level programs decide to get involved.
Lastly, the tough, rugged, high-motor Raymer is somewhat of the glue-guy for this team. He's a scrappy defender with a natural instinct for making hustle plays and doing the dirty work on either end of the floor. Not only is he a pesky, energetic presence against opponents, but Raymer also regularly stands out for his creation skills and scoring ability as an offensive leader. He's capable of running the offense and setting up others, but also consistently takes advantage of easy scoring opportunities. Like the aforementioned duo, expect to see Raymer pursued by next-level coaches over these next twelve months.
