From the Sidelines
NC Junior Phenom
Class of 2022 Standouts
The 15th Annual NC Junior Phenom camp took place at Fayetteville Academy in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It was another sold out event and the camp produced a wealth of young talent and there were plenty of names that will be making plenty of noise for years to come.
There is no question, the city of Fayetteville has become a hotbed of talent and has been a mecca of collegiate prospects. Dennis Smith once attended the NC Junior Phenom camp as a seventh grader and many others have followed in his footsteps. The city hasn't missed a beat and the Fayetteville area is a must target for college coaches.
No. 73 5'10 Cameron Oats (Trinity Christian, Fayetteville, NC)
Cameron played for NCISAA 2A state champions Trinity Christian and speaking with head coach Heath Vandervender is already singing the praises of his talented eight grader. We're talking about a super athletic and highly skilled point guard that can score from all three levels but excels in attacking the rim. Simply stated, Cameron was sensational in all three camp games and averaged a camp high 23.7 PPG. The southpaw has advanced ball handling skills and is a creative passer, but his strongest attribute is his ability to score the ball. He's doing to be a fun player to monitor over the next four years.
No. 60 5'8 '23 DeShawn Brown (Grace Christian, Sanford, NC)
DeShawn Brown demonstrated a high basketball IQ, feel for the game and excellent fundamentals especially for a player only in the seventh grade. We were impressed with his poise and maturity and knowledge of the game. It's apparent, he has been well coached and understands team principals. That being said, he could score from all spots on the court and is an efficient and effective perimeter shooter as demonstrated in his 19.7 PPG scoring average. In addition, he displayed a great attitude and body language.
No. 91 6'1 '22 James Wilkins (Salem Baptist, Mocksville, NC)
James Wilkins has an advanced skill set for his age/grade. Standing a slender 6'1, James is a creative scorer, especially off the bounce/dribble. He plays with tremendous confidence and has a very mature game that will translate well once he enters high school. He's a scoring guard that can handle and score. He does prefer the ball in his hands and can easily score from all three levels but prefers using the dribble pull up jumper and can knock down 3-pointers with regularity. James averaged 18. 0 PPG for the three camp games.
No. 88 6'1 '22 Angel Bowe (Lumberton Middle, Lumberton, NC)
Angel is a strong two-way player that can really run the floor. He already has good strength and athleticism for his age/grade and plays with a sense of urgency which showcased his maturity. He finished well around the rim and simply has a nose for the ball. He has great anticipation and demonstrated the ability to make one hustle play after another. Angel averaged 15.7 PPG for the camp.
No. 86 6'1 '22 William Kelly (Belmont Middle, Belmont, NC)
We really liked the fundamentals, ball skills and overall game of William Kelly. He scored effortlessly and still played well within the team structure. Williams plays with a high motor and we particularity liked his competitive approach to the game. He averaged 17.0 PPG and showcased a nice overall skill set combined with good athleticism.
No. 79 5'11 '22 Myles Archie (NW Guilford Middle, Greensboro, NC)
We really liked the versatility and mobility of Myles Archie. He is a very athletic and gifted player that can do a lot of things well on the court. He has extremely hall handling skills for his size/position and dribble, pass and shoot at an advanced level. Myles averaged 13.3 PPG, but it was his feel for the game and overall upside that made the biggest impression on us. More importantly, his scoring comes within the framework and rhythm of the game.