Phenom Hoops headed to Fayetteville this past Monday to check-in at the #MLKDreamJam at Terry Sanford, bringing some intriguing talent and matchups to fans around the region. With Phenom on the sidelines for the action, there were a few takeaways from the event that caught out eyes. These are just a few of them.
2021 Jayden Doyle and 2020 Aymeric Toussaint should be priorities for college coaches
Freedom Christian has been a program on the Phenom Hoops scene multiple times and has talent at all levels that college coaches should be looking at. However, 2020 6'10 Aymeric Toussaint and 2021 Jayden Doyle are two that really seem to stand out. Toussaint is a big man that moves really well on the floor, has athleticism, and brings a lot of versatility to the court. Furthermore, he is still continuing to develop on his potential on the floor. He was incredibly active around the rim and showing he can step out, as well as getting to the line for 20 points in the win. 2021 6'5 Jayden Doyle is another just scratching the surface of his game. Doyle showcased his range as well as his bounce, throwing down two vicious dunks. The wing prospect brings fantastic scoring power but also, with his solid size, gets on the boards and can defend multiple positions.
Pine Forest has intriguing guard play, especially for the future
Matching up against Trinity Christian, Pine Forest brought and competed for the entire game. What stood out though was the guard play for the Trojans. Start with the leader for this program, senior 6'1 Marquis Askew displayed his ability to be a physical, downhill type of guard. He played tough with good speed and embraced contact, leading his team in scoring. But fans also need to start tracking 2022 Tristin Harkins and 2023 Isaiah Washington. Harkins is a crafty guard that has a smooth release from three as well as surprising speed to get by defenders and create for himself. He leads the team in three's this season and really liked how he competed on the floor. 2023 6'3 Isaiah Washington is another prospect part of a loaded freshman class. Washington has superb length to his game already, as well as handles that get defenders guessing. His blend of getting downhill using his length to rise over defenders as well as knocking down jumpers was big, as he scored 18 points for Pine Forest. Start tracking those two names immediately.
Trinity Christian is getting everyone's best shot and they continue to secure victories
Head coach Heath Vandevender and the Crusaders sit on top of the Phenom Hoops rankings with a record of 20-1 and they continue to get everyone's best shot. With the target on their back, teams are looking to knock them off but with the balance and energy this team has, they continue to win tough games. Against Pine Forest, 2022 6'5 Freddie Dilione stepped up big scoring-wise, while Todd Burt Jr. did his thing on both ends of the floor, securing a double-double. But each night, they may have others step up with players like Cam Oates, Marcus Boykin, Xavier Tubbs, and others. The Crusaders are battled tested and clearly looking like a team in hopes of a title this season.
2022 6'7 Davis Molnar brings immediate intrigue to the table for Terry Sanford
Molnar is a name some may have heard of already but if you haven't, you may want to check him out. A 6'7 prospect that can play multiple positions on the floor, initiate the offense and brings an array of ways to impact a game to the floor. Molnar played point guard at times for Terry Sanford, as he has the ability to stretch defenses and find his teammates in the right spot. He also can play off the ball with his smooth jumper with range and ability to score at all levels. Averaging 13.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game, Molnar makes an impact in so many ways on the floor that it can be tough for opponents to stop him bringing positive minutes for his team. Even in a tough shooting outing, he finished with eight points, six rebounds, seven assists, and two steals for his team vs. Village Christian. Speaking to him after, he has already made an unofficial visit to Virginia and he mentioned that schools like NC State and East Carolina have expressed some level of interest as well.
