The NC Top 80 collects an abundance of talent in the Hoop State every year and puts them in a competitive camp atmosphere where the best of the best go at it to prove themselves in front of the eyes of the entire state. For the hoop heads like myself I like to look at the top 80 as a fantasy land for different player combinations coming together to write poetry in motion on the hardwood. Some of the best players in the state have the opportunity to play together for the first and possibly last time to create their own signature moments at Phenom Hoop Report’s signature event. A few of the team combinations caught the attention of myself and many others on Sunday and hopefully these boys carry that momentum into the summer gauntlet that is AAU basketball.
Jaden Springer, Jalen Benjamin, and Caleb Mills: The Ultimate Trio
Jalen Benjamin a Junior at Leesville Road in Raleigh is known throughout the 919 as one of the best scorers in the Triangle in recent memory took his talents to Greensboro and joined fellow Junior Caleb Mills of Asheville Christian. These two bucket getters would be a formidable opponent for anyone in NC let alone the country… throw 5 Star 2020 Jaden Springer in there and boy look out, we have something dangerous on our hands. Springer (6’5 2020 Rocky River), Benjamin (5’10 2019 Leesville Rd), and Mills (6’4 2019 Asheville Christian) flat out dominated the court on Sunday with crowds watching everywhere. All 3 complimented one another extremely well, with Benjamin finding Springer for off the backboard lobs in transition (See below), or Mills sizing up his man, feeding him the work in the half-court, this team was nearly unstoppable and felt like a Hoop State dream backcourt come to life. All of these kids are extremely fun to watch and great guys off the court. Expect to hear a lot from all three of these stars in the coming summer.
?NEW?Jalen Benjamin Goes Between the Defender's Legs The Off the Backboard to 5??Jaden Springer #NCTop80
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?via @EliteMixtapesNC
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(@JamieShaw5 @Coach_Rick57 @jadenspringer11 @Jbenjamin_5 @MasercolaMiles @Bblakney_Sports)https://t.co/OE0t5qLBy1— Phenom Hoop Report (@Phenom_Hoops) March 12, 2018
Josh Nickleberry and Carter Whitt: Young Prodigies
Carter Whitt and Josh Nickleberry are two well known bucket getters in North Carolina and seeing them work together to create magic was something to behold of in Greensboro on Sunday. Playing with Nickleberry, Whitt took more of a pass first approach on Sunday and absolutely flourished in his role, the Freshman at Leesville Road is scary good for his age, leaving jaws dropped all throughout the gym on Sunday with slick feeds to cutters and shooters on the wing. Nickleberry used the Top 80 as a chance to show what he can do after an underwhelming season from a win/loss perspective at Northwood Temple. Nickleberry was toying with defenders all day, drilling deep pull-up 3s and attacking the rack on the break. Both of these prospects have unmeasurable potential and are representations of what the HoopState is all about.
S/O to my guy Donnie for cutting up this awesome recap from Ballislife and stay tuned for a ton of Top 80 interviews and content to be coming out this week!
