STAY POSITIVE CLASSIC EVENT RECAPS

Sad Sam’s 4A Recap and State Championship Picks

Greetings HS hoops junkies from across the once again rainy Piedmont!  The Sadster is here to reveal his state title winners and recap the 4A regional finals.  The Great One broke slick with. 1-1 record but it could’ve been a sweep and could’ve been an O-fer so he’ll take it.  His total record after the fifth frame is 203-45, or 82%.  However, there is still work to be done! ...

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NCISAA 4A State Championship Game Standouts

In the second game on Saturday, The Christ School Greenies took down the Providence Day Chargers by a score of 56-45. The Greenies were led by Zymicah Wilkins with 17 points, followed by Keenan Wilkins with 16 and Madden Collins with 8. The Chargers were led by Trajan Thompson with 21 points, followed by Nick Hailey and Jordan Appling with 7 each. Christ School 6’8″ 2025 Zymicah...

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Takeaways from Round One of HoopState Championship

Yesterday, Phenom Hoops and the Hoop State Network kicked off our annual Hoop State Championship with the opening round of games. Although “first-round” outcomes are usually lopsided, this ultra-competitive field offered four quality games to start the event. Bull City, Quality Education Academy, Combine Academy, and Winston-Salem Christian all advanced to the second round. However, this article...

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Kevin’s Rising Stars: 3.15.24

By: Kevin Moses Steven Carter Twitter: @StevenCCarter23 Height: 5’11 , 125 Class of 2028School: Keystone Heights Jr/Sr High School, FL Carter is a strong triple-threat scoring option with a high motor and incredible court vision and high IQ. Steven is a playmaker and an instant game-changer when he hits the floor. This stud is versatile enough to play multiple positions well. Strong and...

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Sad Sam’s 4A Picks

Greetings HS hoops junkies from across the still drying out Piedmont!  Today we will look at The Great One’s picks for the 4A regional champions.  He has responded well from going 0-fer in the 1A games Monday by sweeping the boards in the 3A and 2A classes Tuesday and Wednesday.  Don’t expect a let down in 4A either as the Ol’ Cubic Zirconia Ball (can’t...

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NCHSAA 2A Championship Preview

Yesterday, the NCHSAA 2A semifinals concluded with Reidsville and Farmville Central advancing to do battle in the championship contest. Given both teams’ status as top seeds, many folks have anticipated this title matchup for weeks. In looking at undefeated Reidsville, they’ve been nothing short of spectacular for the entirety of the season. They’ve only had three games decided by less than ten...

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1-on-1 with Daniil Glazkov (IMG Academy)

This past weekend, Phenom Hoops held our Post Grad Nationals in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Each year, the event seems to grow in terms of noteworthy teams, players, and college coaches in attendance. In an event loaded with Division I talent, Daniil Glazkov, a 6-foot-5 Russian guard for IMG Academy easily stood out as the most impressive performer on display. He’s largely unknown by the masses,...

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2026 6’8 Tajh Ariza proving his 5-star status

Photo Credit: Dinos Trigonis Player: Tajh ArizaClass: 2026Height: 6’8School: St. Bernard (Playa Del Rey, CA) Offers: UNLV, Cal State Northridge, Arizona State, Kansas, UCLA, USC, Washington Phenom Hoops has been heading out to California to watch more of the action the past few weeks at the 2024 Pangos Best of SoCal League, bringing some intriguing talent to the court. For sure, a player that is...

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NCHSAA 3A Championship Preview

Yesterday, the NCHSAA 3A semifinals concluded with Central Cabarrus and Seventy-First advancing to do battle in the championship contest. Similar to the previous preview, both of these teams are undeniably deserving of their place in the title game. However, these are two completely different groups. In looking at Seventy-First, they’ve arguably been the most impressive squad to make the...

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NCHSAA 1A Championship Preview

On Monday, the NCHSAA 1A semifinals concluded with Wilson Prep and Corvian Community Christian advancing to do battle in the championship contest. While both teams are certainly deserving of this opportunity, these are two very different situations. On one side, Wilson Prep has been nothing short of incredible over the recent years—winning two of the last three 1A state titles. Coach Atkinson...

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2026 Tarris Bouie (Chambers) taking his game to another level

In the scouting world, there are players that you get to see at a young age and simply understand that there is something different with them. That they have the talent and upside to be something special, and their ceiling is higher than others. 2026 6’5 Tarris Bouie was one of those players; we have talked about him countless times over the years with his blend of length, shot-making, skill...

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Players to Check Out More: Phenom PG Nationals (Part 3)

2024 6’8 Jayden Nesbitt (DSA Prep Academy): Nesbitt was an intriguing forward who was able to make his presence felt. Good size a 6’8, active all over the court, finished well around the rim, showed the ability and comfort level in knocking down the mid-range jumper, and was able to face up and attack closeouts. 2024 6’7 Bryce Wilkins (Elite Sports Atlanta): Wilkins went about his business at...

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Players to Check Out More: Phenom PG Nationals (Part 2)

2024 6’9 Dean Simos (WS Christian PG): Simos is a sneaky prospect to look at; he is one that brings size, has a versatile skill set in his game, shows that he can pass the ball well at his position, displays a nice touch in finishing around the basket, and faces up to stretch the defense out.  Continues to be consistent in his last two events. 2024 6’9 Shomari Phillip (TSF National): Absolutely...

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Players to Check Out More: Phenom PG Nationals (Part 1)

2024 6’3 Yesan Warren (Moc Valley Prep): Warren had a very good showing throughout, bringing consistency to the table with his scoring ability. He was aggressive throughout, attacking and creating, and finding ways to score in a variety of ways for his team.  Quick guard that excels in getting downhill. 2024 6’7 Abrahm Driver (Florida Sport Coast PG): A familiar name, Driver continues to...

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3A NCHSAA Girls Championship: Terry Sanford vs. West Rowan

On Tuesday night, the 3A Division was on display with Terry Sanford taking down South Central 58-50, and West Rowan was able to get by AC Reynolds 66-54. Starting with Terry Sanford, they are in the championship game for the first time since 2000, as they were able to take control of the game for much of the time in Winston-Salem and secure the victory. Terry Sanford was able to stretch its lead...

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Dominating the Boards: SC Class of 2026

The season is wrapping up and we are taking a look through the region in the stats, as we first stop in the Class of 2026 down in South Carolina. Ayona Alexander from Andrew Jackson led the way with an impressive sophomore campaign, but there were plenty of other sophomores who had strong seasons on the boards and overall. Here are the top 10 rebounding leaders from the season in the class. 2026...

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Carolina Rebels’ Dominant Duo: RJ Davis and CJ Moore

This past weekend, the Carolina Rebels attended our Phenom Opening. This organization has been overflowing with talent over the recent years, including guys like Elton Smith, Yale Davis, Korie Corbett, Desmond Harrington, and several others. However, it appears their current roster might have as much appeal as ever before. They absolutely thwarted their first two opponents, won a huge semifinal...

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College Coaches, Take Notice: Phenom PG Nationals (Part 2)

The Phenom PG Nationals was a tremendous event that brought new talent on the biggest stage, and with college coaches roaming around the building, there should have been plenty of players that were put on college programs’ radars. Whether it was D1, D2, D3, or other levels, some players really stood out consistently at the event and should see their stock rise. Check out my list of players...

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Notable Performers at Phenom Opening

6’2 ’28 Jack Baker (Team Curry) On a roster with several intriguing pieces, Baker stood out as a clear catalyst for this group. He’s a long, skilled forward with a nice blend of IQ, instincts, and athleticism. Baker displayed the ability to apply consistent scoring pressure around the basket, highlighting touch, footwork, and the ability to play through contact. His active motor led to multiple...

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College Coaches, Take Notice: Phenom PG Nationals (Part 1)

The Phenom PG Nationals was a tremendous event that brought new talent on the biggest stage, and with college coaches roaming around the building, there should have been plenty of players that were put on college programs’ radars. Whether it was D1, D2, D3, or other levels, some players really stood out consistently at the event and should see their stock rise. Check out my list of players...

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Kevin’s Name to Know: 2025 Noah Nelson

By: Kevin Moses Noah Nelson Twitter: @NoahNelson73 Height: 6’2, 175 Class of 2025School: Georgiana High School, AL Nelson is the ultimate playmaker and glue guy who thrives on being a blue-collar stud and game-changer. Noah thrives on making big plays at the right time. With a high IQ and game savvy to impact the game offensively and defensively, grit and toughness, heart and hustle doing...

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1A NCHSAA Girls Championship: Cherokee vs. East Columbus

Cherokee (28-1) vs. East Columbus (26-1) Two of the top teams meet up for the 1A Girls State Championship, and it sure should be a good one to watch. Cherokee was able to knock off No. 1 seed Mountain Heritage on Monday night, 64-51, to secure its spot for the first time since 1998. The Braves were able to get out to a hot start and create a double-digit lead in the first quarter, as they were...

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Sad Sam’s 3A NCHSAA Picks

Greetings HS hoops junkies from across the State playoff watching Piedmont!  The Great One is here to release his picks for the 3A regional finals.  Two teams have rolled through both brackets and there are two collisions tonight in Winston Salem.  71st will try to stop the 2 seed Westover in the East and Hickory will try to derail the juggernaut of 2023 State Champion Central Cabarrus.  One...

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The Field is Set: HoopState Championship

It is that time of the year and it is time to crown a championship at the HoopState Championship. The field has been set, and the matchups certainly bring a lot of intrigue as these teams look to be crowned champions to finish the year. Check out this year’s field and matchups. WATCH LIVE: https://www.thehoopstate.com/post/2024-hoop-state-championship Round 1 Games (March 14th) Word of God...

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Catching the eyes of D1 Programs: Phenom PG Nationals

2024 Jackson Gaffney (Rocktop Academy): Gaffney was one that we were eager to see and grabbed our attention with his game. He is a long prospect who has a smooth offensive game, and certainly showed that he can knock down shots with a ton of confidence. Whether in catch-and-shoot situations or off the bounce, Gaffney scored in a variety of ways, creating well, attacking, spotting up, and making...

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Sad Sam’s Regional Final Picks for 1A and 2A

Greetings HS hoops junkies from across the extremely windy Piedmont!  The Great One is here to release his picks for the 1A and 2A regional finals.  The NCHSAA is using a different format this year so there will be three prediction articles this week including the state title winner picks.  The Sadster posted another impressive 14-2 mark in the regional semifinals, bringing his total to 198-42,...

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True Point Guard: AJ Morman Tracking as an Elite Floor General

Every few years, a middle-school prospect emerges way ahead of schedule. While we collectively know that this period is a mere checkpoint, it can be difficult to overlook the greatness being seen. There are so many variables involved with an individual player’s development (especially smaller prospects) that can dictate how they match up to their peers. However, these are not concerns for...

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Lady Standouts at Phenom Opening

2030 India Adams (Charlotte Dream Elite) There were a ton of notable players for this Charlotte Dream Elite squad, but it would be impossible to overlook everything Adams brought to the table. She’s an incredibly tough, physical guard with a high motor and excellent size. Adams possesses natural instincts, as evidenced by her nose for the ball, and understands how to comfortably dictate the...

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Lady Phenom: POB’s Standouts from Phenom Opening

2031 Rylee Warren (Charlotte Dream Elite): Warren continues to impress, as our scouts really like what we see in her game. Her blend of IQ, size, and skillset at her age is incredible, and she has been playing up. She has a clear understanding of the game, is a strong creator, and knows how to fill it up in a big way. Warren thrives in so many ways on the court, is a strong offensive prospect,...

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SC Lady Sixers prove to be the real deal at Phenom Opening

The Phenom Opening was a tremendous event to start the summer, as we got a chance to check out several teams in action that we are eager to see throughout the coming months.  Lady Phenom was excited to find some new talent and check out team, as the SC Lady Sixers put a stamp on their name as a team to watch all season long. They came in and dominated throughout the event, winning each of their...

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