STAY POSITIVE CLASSIC EVENT RECAPS
Special K’s Standouts: Denver Nuggets Shootout
I took a little road trip this weekend to check out some talent in good old Denver, NC at the Denver Nuggets Shootout. This tournament, put on by Chip Ashley, was full of local AAU teams that came out and really competed. Here are the players that stood out:
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Special K’s Standouts: Summer Kick-Off Open Run
The Summer Kick-Off was an invite-only all-girls open run hosted by 2Smooth Hoops & Graphics started by the rising young coaching star, Ayshia Scott. She is very well connected with some of the top high school and collegiate talent in the Pee Dee and surrounding areas. The open run featured some of the top collegiate and high school talent in the Pee Dee Area! The open run was well put...
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NC Spartans’ Unsigned Senior Trio Turning Heads
Given the context of everything happening with recruiting and college athletics as a whole over the last year, the travel ball scene is littered with as many unsigned seniors as ever. More kids are competing for less opportunities than ever before. It’s an absolute bloodbath for everyone involved, as fairness has largely been thrown out the window. The additional year of eligibility awarded to...
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The Independent Route: A Charlotte Hoyas Story
Though intangible, chemistry is often times the major separator between “good” teams and “great” ones. Chemistry outperforms talent on a regular basis. However, the Charlotte Hoyas are an example of what happens when talent combines with chemistry. Their on-court success over the last year has led to the Hoyas being one of the premier independent travel ball programs across North Carolina....
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Bradin Minton: A True Point Guard
Dating back nearly four years, Bradin Minton surfaced at our Jr. Tennessee Phenom 150 Camp as a young, somewhat unassuming middle school prospect. While the lefty showed natural instincts and an enticing foundation, few people could’ve expected him to turn into such an electric setup artist and overall floor general. Minton impressed at the Teammate Nationals last summer, but has gotten even...
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Bendel’s Best: Phenom Challenge
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled out to the Upward Star Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina for our final event in the month of April. There was expected to be a ton of excitement with an abundance of teams and a variety noteworthy prospects on display. While numerous players were worthy of recognition, this article will take a closer look at some personal favorites from...
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Seeing Double: Daniel Twins Becoming Noteworthy Prospects
Over the last calendar year, CC Elite has arguably become the top independent program in North Carolina grassroots basketball. After being extremely competitive throughout the last summer season, they took a massive step forward upon adding Chase Lowe to an already-competitive group. While most of the attention has really been focused on Lowe, Patrick Wessler, and their slew of next-level...
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Bendel’s Best: Queen City Showcase
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops returned to the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center in downtown Rock Hill, South Carolina for another highly entertaining three-day stretch of grassroots basketball. There was expected to be a ton of excitement with over 150 teams and countless noteworthy prospects on display, and they certainly delivered. While numerous players were worthy of recognition, this...
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Player Standouts at Day Two of Phenom Queen City Showcase
5’9 ’23 Darren Lloyd (Carolina Bad Boyz) Though slightly undersized, Lloyd has been a staple of this Bad Boyz group throughout the last few years. He’s tough, makes smart decisions, and utilizes his quickness very well on both ends of the floor. Lloyd is a nice finisher, capable perimeter shooter, and quality passer with great open-floor speed. He also fights for rebounds and defends bigger than...
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Player Standouts at Phenom Queen City Showcase
6’8 ’24 Joshua Hill (Juice All-Stars) It seems like the long, wiry post prospect seems to progress on both ends of the floor with each new viewing. Hill possesses an extremely array of tools, especially given his physique, and displays a pretty solid understanding of the game. He’s always active as a rebounder and rim-protector, which allows him to consistently block/alter shots from within the...
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GEICO Nationals Quarterfinals (Part 2)
Phenom Hoops tuned in Thursday to check out the Quarterfinals of the GEICO Nationals, bringing some of the best talent from around the country all under one building. We bring you our standouts for each game. Montverde Academy 85 – Oak Hill 64 2022 Jalen Duren (Montverde): I truly believe that this young man is ready for the ultimate level with his size, body, strength, and skill, and he showed...
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GEICO Nationals Standouts (Quarterfinals) (Part 1)
Phenom Hoops tuned in Thursday to check out the Quarterfinals of the GEICO Nationals, bringing some of the best talent from around the country all under one building. We bring you our standouts for each game.
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Phenom 150 Camp Session I Evaluations: Team 5
Team 5 Coach: Michael Wilson #129: 5’8 ’24 Malaki Baker (West Johnston) Starting things off, we look at a player who stood out as a strong finisher, especially for his size, Malaki Baker. He’s a young, slightly undersized guard prospect with a nice motor and overall feel for the game. Baker displays a useful midrange jumper and the understanding of how to move without the ball in his hands....
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Bendel’s Best: Phenom Opening
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled out to the Virginia Beach Events Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia for another exciting event. Our Phenom Opening kicked off on Saturday morning, featuring an abundance of the top teams from the greater DMV area in addition to many familiar programs from the Carolinas. There was no shortage of talent in the gym, and the underlying subplots (like Team...
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Phenom 150 Camp Evaluations: Team 4
Team 4 Coach: Adrian Lee #128: 5’8 ’23 Gavin Stinson (Oak Grove) Starting things off, we look at a player that has steadily grown into a heady, reliable floor general over the recent years, Gavin Stinson. He’s a smart, unselfish point guard prospect with a nice balance between scoring and playmaking. Stinson shoots the ball very effectively from the perimeter but also understands how to...
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Phenom 150 Camp Evaluations: Team 3
Team 3 Coach: Brady Potter #147: 5’11 ’22 Christian Alston (Cuthbertson) Starting things off, we look at a player that offered a fairly steady, reliable two-way presence, Christian Alston. He’s an unselfish, high-motor guard prospect with an excellent penetration sense and the ability to finish with either hand. Alston utilizes his quickness very well on both ends of the floor, especially when...
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Phenom 150 Camp Evaluations: Team 2
Team 2 Coach: Dre Simmons #126: 5’7 ’24 Colson Priddy (West Davidson) Starting things off, we look at a player that found ways to stand out with his perimeter shooting and off-ball instincts, Colson Priddy. He’s an young, unselfish, team-first guard prospect with a high motor and the understanding of how to maximize his role on both ends of the floor. Next in his development process is...
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Player Standouts at Phenom 150 Camp
#245- Marshall Klug- The long, skilled power forward/post prospect showcased the ability to thrive out of the post or space the floor with his reliable face-up game. He rebounded very well, ran the floor properly, and positioned himself for success on both ends of the floor. Klug has definite next-level ability. #247- Sam Martin- It seems like Martin continues to improve with each new viewing....
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Worth Monitoring: 6’8 2024 Joshua Hill
Each year, Phenom Hoops is fortunate enough to see thousands upon thousands of prospects come through our doors and attend our events. In the last five years alone, there have been countless examples of players showing up at our camps or travel ball events with little to no reputation and eventually blowing up. This isn’t meant to imply that Phenom Hoops is responsible in any way for these...
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Phenom Hoops’ Post-Grad Nationals: Three Priorities for College Coaches
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled to the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina for a variety of high-level basketball. Our Phenom Post-Grad Nationals began on Friday while the Hoopstate Championship and Spring Tip-Off Classic kicked-off on Saturday—making for an exciting weekend. While most of my coverage took place on the Spring Tip-Off Classic side, we still...
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Overflowing with Talent: Team CP3 15U (2024)
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled out to the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina for a variety of high-level basketball. Our Phenom Post-Grad Nationals began on Friday while the Hoopstate Championship and Spring Tip-Off Classic kicked-off on Saturday—making for an extremely entertaining weekend. There were countless notable teams and players from all three...
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The Expansion of the Carolina Riptide
Just four years ago, Grant Hodges, Greg Forest, and seven kids from the greater Lake Norman area came together to form the Carolina Riptide. Despite some roster changes over the years, the core grouping of Clay “Smoke” Hodges, Trace Forest, Christian Taylor, and Callahan Reed have remained firmly intact since first forming. Thereafter, the Riptide players could be seen attending various camps...
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Bendel’s Best: Phenom’s Spring Tip-Off Classic
This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled to the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina to host our Hoopstate Championship, Post-Grad Nationals, and Spring Tip-Off Classic. There was an incredible variety of talent on display, from grown men battling for scholarships to young prospects just scratching the surface, which made for an exciting three-day stretch of...
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Player Standouts at Day Two of Phenom’s Spring Tip-Off Classic
6’1 ’25 Hamilton Huit (Elite One) Given his nonstop production over the weekend, it should be easy to understand what made Huit an obvious standout for this Elite One group. He did a strong amount of everything, from scoring and passing to rebounding and defending, and made sure his impact was felt on nearly every possession. He set the tone offensively and regularly asserted himself as a scorer...
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Player Standouts at Phenom’s Spring Tip-Off Classic
5’9 ’24 Aidan Cook (CC Elite) Although somewhat unassuming, Cook is clearly a vital piece for this CC Elite squad. He’s still developing physically but displays excellent feel for the game and shoots the ball at a reliable clip from the perimeter. Cook makes smart decisions with the ball in his hands, both as a passer and scorer, and does a great job of operating within the framework of the...
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Player Standouts at Phenom Post Grad Nationals
6’3 ’20 Jules Bikoy (Fork Union) Arguably the most impressive prospect on either team, Bikoy should be a clear priority amongst scholarship-level coaches. He’s a strong, physical wing prospect with an excellent motor and a quality feel for the game on both ends of the floor. Bikoy is a useful shot-maker with the ability to spot-up or reliably create for himself or others off the bounce. He’s...
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Dungeon City Middle School Championship
Tonight was the championship game at the dungeon. The middle school league concluded with a bang, The Bulls outlasted the Hornets. The contest lived up to everything expected, the bulls jumped out to a 12 to 2 early game lead, clinging to a six point lead at the halfway point. The Hornets fought throughout the second half even making it a four point game at one point. The...
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CP3 Media Day: CP3 2025
The class of 2025 for Team CP3 is going to be a fun one to watch and Phenom Hoops got a chance to watch them in action recently during their media day. A few names that we have seen before and are already making some noise at the high school level but many of these you will continue to hear this summer. We dive a little bit into the roster here. Team CP3 2025 will be led by two...
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Team HOPE Media Day (2022/2024)
Phenom Hoops went out on Sunday afternoon to check out Team HOPE and their media day, as they brought in multiple teams to give us a glimpse of players we will be seeing all summer long. We take at a look at the 2022 and 2024 teams Team Hope will be having this season. Team HOPE 2022 The older group for Team HOPE has some intriguing talent but also players that can stretch the floor and knock...
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Team CP3 Media Day: 13u
Phenom Hoops went out to Winston-Salem to check in on CP3’s Middle School Media Day, giving us a nice glimpse of one of the top programs in the country but also young players that will be household names around the region. The 13u CP3 team is one to certainly get excited about, as these young prospects will be names to remember for the Class of 2026. Check out the list of names and a few...
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