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Phenom Open Gym: Combine Academy (Part 2)
Phenom Hoops traveled to Lincolnton to cover open gym at Combine Academy. In only his second year at Combine, Head Coach Mike Wright has assembled talent and depth, and may be one of his most talented teams. Last season, Combine Academy was nationally ranked and finished as a top 25 team, not to mention winning the prestigious Phenom Hoop State Championship. Combine Academy has the...
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Breaking Down Phenom Hoops’ 2026 Rankings
Each year, we reach the brief transitioning point between the travel ball and high school seasons. This small window typically falls around mid-August, allowing ample time to update rankings, go to open gyms, and mentally reset before things get revamped. Now that we’ve finalized our rankings for North Carolina’s Classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026, it feels like no better time to go through and...
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POB’s Eye Catchers from Phenom Team Camp (Day 1, Part 2)
2026 Cameron Newman (Gaston Christian): Not sure what else there is to say about Newman’s game that already hasn’t been said; he is a young point guard that simply understands the game at a high level. Love his IQ and feel, he is tremendous in running the offense but also showing more of his ability to be an incredible offensive weapon. Has really flourished as a player and should be getting a...
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National Prospects Emerging in North Carolina’s Class of 2026
Each year, national scouting services work to find and evaluate the next wave of young, up-and-coming high school prospects. Ranking kids as freshmen usually has no real basis, since there’s no conclusive way to determine all the variables that go into the process. Between mentality, work ethic, physical growth, and countless other dynamics, plenty of factors should be considered. That being...
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A bright Future: 2026 6’8 Rivers Knight
The Class of 2026 in North Carolina looks to be yet another bright one for the state, as the talent runs deep and the young prospects are shining early on the big stage. One prospect that we have our eyes on early and see a bright future as he continues to develop is 2026 6’8 Rivers Knight. This past season at Jordan Knight had a solid start to his high school career in which he averaged...
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Bigs To Check Out More: Phenom Rise Showcase
Ebrima Jabbi 2024 7’0 Ebrima Jabbi (Combine): Jabbi was a new name that popped onto the scene after a strong weekend at the event. A true 7-footer, Jabbi could be far from a finished product but understands what he needs to do on the court. He showed good hands, was incredibly assertive on the glass, altered and blocked shots, and displayed good touch around the basket; nothing flashy but just...
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Bendel’s Best: Phenom Rise Showcase
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled out to the Rise Indoor Facility in Bermuda Run, North Carolina for another entertaining three-day stretch of basketball. There was a slew of highly anticipated matchups on display with teams looking to work out the kinks and hit their stride going into the summer season. Though various standouts emerged, we will take a closer look at five personal...
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A Closer Look: North Carolina’s Class of 2026
6’6 Cole Cloer (Orange) Between the team’s success and his individual production, it’s easy to see why Cole Cloer is already one of the top players in North Carolina’s Class of 2026. At 6-foot-6, he already has the IQ, size, and skillset to legitimately dominate a game. Cloer is a smooth all-around player who comfortably dictates the offensive action with the ball in his hands,...
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Phenom Hoops Freshman Forty Evaluations: Team 13
Team 13 Coach: Joe Adams/David Broome #55: 5’8 Malik McCotter (Chambers) Starting things off, we look at a player who made a nice impact despite being the smallest camper on this team, Malik McCotter. He’s a quick, scrappy guard prospect with a useful penetration sense and the ability to finish at a solid rate. McCotter is a capable on-ball defender who utilizes his quickness to keep...
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POB’s Eye Catchers from NC Freshman 40 (Part 2)
2026 6’4 Markus Kerr (West Charlotte): Kerr is going to be a name that you hear more and more down the road. He should get some meaningful minutes this season with his talent and skill set, as the 6’4 prospect is a smooth operator on the court. Kerr can score from multiple levels, stretch the floor, use his length to score over defenders and with touch, and competes on the defensive end. You...
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Immediate Impact Freshmen in North Carolina’s Class of 2026 (Part Two)
The travel ball season is finally beginning to wind down, which naturally generates a lot of buzz and excitement for the upcoming high school year. Folks are ready to see where seniors commit, what team separates themselves from the pack, and everything in-between. One of the more intriguing subplots of each season is how the freshman will ultimately fare, and this year is no different. North...
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Reece’s Standouts: Phenom Summer Havoc (Day 4)
by: Ethan Reece 2026 Noah Noch (Team Hope)Noah has been one of the ultimate role players that I’ve seen this season. He’s a smart guard that can play with or without the ball in his hands, brings the energy to play in an intense environment, and doesn’t get caught up in making mistakes from playing outside his game. He’s been a key cog in the well oiled machine that is this team and couldn’t be...
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