SUMMER FINALE EVENT RECAPS

Special K's Standouts Day 2: Queen City Showcase

6'8 Ryan Djoussa of Upward Stars Pee Dee 17U had a great showing today and has shown improvement since last summer. He showcased the ability to not only rebound at a high rate but also protected the rim well all day long. Loved the motor and activity he played with; he defended well in space and in the pick and roll. He did a great job of getting position and finishing inside. As he continues to...

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HIGHLIGHTS: Upwards Stars vs GA Select All-Stars Decide 17U ACC Championship at #PhenomStayPositive

Check out highlights between Upward Stars and GA Select All Stars at the Phenom Stay Positive. This game featured plenty of college prospects led by Robert McCray (WFU), Keeyan Itejere (Texas), and Elijah Tucker (Xavier).

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POB’s Eye Catchers: Day 1 of #PhenomStayPositive (Part 4)

2021 6'7 Alex Rush (Tennessee Tigers 17u): Rush is a power forward that works really well with his back to the basket, facing up and creating off one or two dribbles, or even showing off his mid-range shot.  Liked his feel for the game around the basket. 2021 6'7 Sam Specht (Tennessee Tigers 17u): A young man that has the size to compete down low, which he showed at times as well but also a...

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Early Standouts at Day Three of Phenom Challenge

5'11 '25 Eli Ellis (TLBA) There are a lot of varying opinions about Ellis, but there is absolutely no debating his high-level consistency and production'especially against his own age group. He's already developed a unique toughness through being battle-tested at the high school level. Ellis stands out as a tremendous leader for this group, both as their primary scorer and playmaker, and simply...

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Deserving of More Attention: Keeyan Itejere

Each year in North Carolina, we see at least one prospect come out of nowhere and really burst onto the scene. The most recent example is Keeyan Itejere, who surfaced about this time last summer and began rapidly trending upward. Our first viewing came during travel ball season with the UC27 Dreamchasers. There were multiple next-level prospects on that team, but Itejere was clearly on another...

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'Getting to Know' Keeyan Itejere

North Carolina Top 80 Player Introductions There have been numerous instances where young players undergo a stage or period of swift progression or physical growth. Guys like Anthony Davis or Scottie Pippen are a few of the most successful examples in history, but Keeyan Itejere is someone who has undergone a similar spike within the past twelve months. Although those names can be unfair...

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Player Standouts at Phenom Hoops' City of Oaks Classic

6'0 '21 Jamarii Thomas (Piedmont Classical) Although the newest addition to this roster, it's easy to see that Thomas is a large part of the heart and soul for this Piedmont Classical squad. His quickness, toughness, and rugged mentality are evident on every possession. Thomas gets downhill whenever he desires and possesses a certain tenacity and ferocity that separates him from other similar...

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Early Standouts at The John Wall Holiday Invitational

6'1 '20 Daveon Dunn (Garner) There might be more appealing long-term prospects on this roster, but none were more effective than Dunn. He operated as the primary two-way catalyst for Garner throughout this contest, consistently setting the tone with his toughness and intelligent decision-making. Dunn plays under control and works well within the team on both sides of the ball. His motor and...

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Evening Standouts at Phenom National Showcase

6'7 '21 Jamylan Blakeney (Combine Academy) There are a ton of high-level defenders in North Carolina and it's time that we start mentioning Blakeney among the best. He's as versatile as anyone on that end of the floor due to his phenomenal blend of length, athleticism, and recovery speed. Blakeney can protect the rim and legitimately defend all five positions at the high school level. He plays...

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If you Can Defend, You Can Play: HS Jamboree Session I

If you have come to a Phenom Exposure Camp this Fall, you have heard Rick Lewis talk about, "you can play at the level you can defend". At Saturday's 7th Annual Phenom's High School Jamboree there were a few defenders who would be classified as "special".

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Get familiar with the name: 2021 6'9 Keeyan Itejere (Grace Christian School)

When watching so many players from the sidelines, some players clearly showcase their upside on the court that should attract college coaches from all around.' At times though, it may take a little time for some to develop their overall game but they are clearly oozing with potential. One prospect to really keep an eye on this year is 2021 6'9 Keeyan Itejere from Grace Christian.' He has gone...

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Standouts at NC Phenom 150 Camp Session II

#2 4'11 2023 Jaden Dodd: Eastern Guildford High School Dodd was able to affect all facets of the game, he's a guard prospect with IQ and the ability to apply constant pressure on both ends of the floor. 'Even with Dodd being on the smaller side he was still able to finish in the lane amongst the trees and showcased reliable shooting stroke from midrange and well beyond three-point territory. His...

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Early Standouts at Phenom 150 Camp Session II

#37- Brock Bowen- There are a lot of impressive shooters in the building, but Bowen is clearly on another level as a spot-up threat. He was undeniably impressive and showed flashes of being unstoppable in his first showing of the day, knocking down six-of-seven from beyond the arc and completely disregarding any amount of defensive pressure. He could be poised for a very productive upcoming...

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Phenom’s Open Gym Tour — Week 1 Review

This is one of our favorite times of the year, traveling across the region to various Open Gyms, it means the basketball season is just around the corner. We join college coaches from across the country, in scouring our region to find players. Some gyms we walk in have 10+ coaches sitting, watching the practice, other gyms with no one (those are the favorite gyms!). It’s also great to...

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On the Rise: North Carolina's Class of 2021

Yesterday, we took a closer look at some of the most underrated scholarship-worthy players within North Carolina's Class of 2020. Now, we will highlight a variety of different guys in North Carolina's Class of 2021 that have made a strong impression over these last two months.   6'6 '21 Ja'Dun Michael (The Burlington School) This class of rising juniors is quite impressive from top to...

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Phenom Challenge Superlatives: Highest Ceiling

Our Phenom Hoop Report head scouts have been debating about several topics and players from the Phenom Challenge LIVE.' Don't worry, it has all been fun and games but everyone loves to hear the thoughts of others on who is the best-of-the-best from the event.' So, we broke it down into several topics. Check out the thoughts of each scout on who they think is the best in each category. Who has...

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Bendel’s Best: Phenom Challenge Live (Wings/Forwards)

This past weekend, Phenom Hoops traveled to Spartanburg, South Carolina for the first live period of the early summer season. There were over 150 teams in attendance from all over the region, college-level talent was on display, and college coaches of all levels were sitting baseline throughout the weekend. In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of my personal standouts from the...

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#PhenomChallengeLive: Miles Saturday Standouts (Early Slate)

6'0 2020 Lawrence Frost: Juice All Stars Stephenson Frost had a huge impact in this one with his ability to defend the point of attack and ensure the team is being run at a high level.' He excels at breaking his man down off the bounce and finding his teammates for easy buckets.' He had a handful of D2's watching along that really liked what he brought to the table as a leader to how with the...

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Player Standouts at Day One of Phenom Challenge Live

CC Elite 6'4 '20 Elijah Hightower- The long, wiry wing prospect was really difficult for the opposition to contain in this contest, especially from beyond the arc. Hightower looked quite strong when spotting-up and working without the ball, but also showed some solid creation skills when taking opponents off the bounce. He utilized his length well on defense and outworked his assignment on the...

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Prospects at Phenom’s Challenge LIVE who Would Look Good in the American Athletic Conference

It is that time of year. Regional schools are mapping out their April Live periods. With only 3 days of LIVE period (well 2 really if you consider you cannot start until 6 on Friday and have to be done by 4 on Sunday) this year it is imperative that college coaches see the right players. In this series, we are taking a look at various leagues around this region and the players these coaching...

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Phenom Challenge Team Preview: UC27 Carolina Dreamchasers

The Phenom Challenge is one of the biggest events around the region and in the country, as 180 teams look to compete at the highest level. So let's preview each teams players heading into the event.

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Eye Catchers from the Phenom Stay Positive (Part I)

It has been a great event this weekend in Greensboro, as players have shown up and competed all throughout the event.  Some players have caught the eyes of our scouts, but here are a few quick notes from some of the players we have seen.

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Stay Positive Team Preview: UC27 Carolina DreamChasers

April is one of the biggest months when it comes to the AAU season.' Players and teams are looking to play in the right events, which is why Phenom Hoop Report is hoping to provide that platform all month long. We kick off the month of April in a big way with the Stay Positive, as teams from all over the region will come to compete.' Nationally ranked players and teams, along with unsigned...

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