North Carolina Phenom 150 Camp Evaluations
Team 1
Coach Williams
#60: 5’2 ’22 Zane Caudle (Franklinville, NC)
Starting things off, we look at a player that knows how to control a team extremely well on both sides of the ball, Zane Caudle. He’s a point guard prospect with great IQ and the understanding of how to position himself for success. Offensively, Caudle is a nice ball-handler that can initiate sets or operate well without the ball. He’s somewhat slight in frame, but is very self-aware of his skillset and knows how to use his lack of size to his advantage. Caudle is a strong shooter from midrange, beyond the arc, and can score efficiently off the dribble when necessary. Next in his development process is continuing to add strength and size, as it’ll allow him to become a better all-around defender. Coach Williams on Caudle: “Zane is a good shooter that can handle the ball. He is a good teammate and approaches the game unselfishly. He can get better at passing out of the pick-and-roll and becoming a pest on defense.” Caudle has a great feel for the game and should continue to improve steadily over the next few years, especially if he maintains his current mentality.
#104:5’10 ’20 Steven Riley Jr. (Raleigh, NC)
Next, we look at a player that was able to provide his team with a fairly reliable two-way presence, Steven Riley Jr. He’s an off-guard that brings great energy to both sides of the ball and frequently highlights his strong motor during the process. Riley is a capable shot-maker from all levels and showed the ability to score at the rim during camp. He makes quality passes to open teammates and tallied multiple assists by making the extra pass. Riley pursues rebounds well and works very hard on defense, both on and off-ball. Next in his development process is working to tighten his handle, as it would make him a more dynamic creator off the bounce. Coach Williams on Riley: “Steven attacks the basket hard and can shoot the ball, but needs to work on his consistency from midrange. He did a good job of passing to the post and was very coachable throughout the day. Steven is a good teammate that willingly makes the hustle plays.” Riley had a nice showing at camp and could be poised to enjoy a quality upcoming season.
#105:5’11 ’20 Arrington Jones (Winston-Salem, NC)
Moving onto a player that showcased an excellent motor and team-first approach to the game, Arrington Jones. He’s an off-guard prospect that looked to wreak havoc on opponents in any possible way, from harassing them on defense to sacrificing his body for loose balls. Jones was able to get downhill and attack the rim at a decent rate while drawing multiple fouls. Defensively, showed the understanding of how to eliminate space from his matchup and move his feet laterally. Next in his development process is working on refining his scoring ability, as it would make him a more complete offensive player. Coach Williams on Jones: “Arrington plays very hard and looks to attack on every play. He is a good teammate with a positive attitude. He needs to work on finishing and making good decisions with the ball in his hands.” Jones displayed some solid tools and an intriguing skillset at camp, so it’ll be interesting to see how he improves over the next year.
#127:6’0 ’19 Jaelen Whitley (Charlotte, NC)
Continuing onto a player that was able to consistently elevate his game throughout the day, Jaelen Whitley. He’s a guard prospect with a wiry frame, nice length, and the ability to score the ball. Offensively, Whitley was able to knock down open shots from midrange and three-point territory, both when creating for himself or when spotting-up without the ball. He’s a solid ball-handler and a capable passer, but could certainly utilize his playmaking abilities more often. Next in his development process is working on playing with a consistent motor and within the team-concept, as it’ll allow his scoring to just come naturally. Coach Williams on Whitley: “Jaelen really had a lack of effort in the first game. He came out in the second game and played with great effort, performing well as a result. He shot the ball effectively and was aggressive on defense. If Jaelen can play hard all the time, he will be very good. Never let your opponents get comfortable.” Whitley showed promise as the day carried on and should be able to make contributions this upcoming season.
#164:6’2 ’21 Joel Baucom (Mooresville, NC)
Next, we look at a player that really emphasized his ability to coexist and operate with any group of teammates, Joel Baucom. He’s an off-guard prospect that plays with a calm, controlled presence on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Baucom is a solid spot-up threat with touch and great upside as a shooter. He never forces the action and looks to make passes to open teammates whenever possible. Baucom has great energy on the court and willingly makes the hustle plays. Next in his development process is working on asserting himself within the game more frequently, as he can be overly passive at times, but possesses the ability to contribute. Coach Williams on Baucom: “Joel is a good shooter that needs to shoot the ball more and be more aggressive at attacking the basket. He’s a good teammate and played good help-side defense during camp.” Baucom is just beginning to scratch the surface of his two-way abilities, so it’ll be exciting to see how his next few seasons unfold.
#165:6’2 ’20 Lane Harrill (Cherryville, NC)
Moving onto a player that worked hard and enjoyed a nice offensive showing at camp, Lane Harrill. He’s a wing prospect with a well-rounded skillset on both ends of the floor. Harrill makes strong offensive contributions with his ability to score the ball efficiently from all levels, both when creating for himself or spotting-up along the perimeter. He has a quality setup and was able to knock down numerous shots on the day, including multiple during transition play. Harrill competes on defense, displaying great positioning and always looking to secure extra possessions however possible. Next in his development process is working on becoming a more poised defender, as it would make him a dangerous two-way threat. Coach Williams on Harrill: “Lane can shoot the ball very well. He has good footwork and knows how to find a shooting spot from various places on the floor. He needs to work on defense and just seeing where to be at on help-side rotations.” Harrill seems to always find a way to contribute to the game and could be a poised for a breakout upcoming season.
#214:6’5 ’22 Jackson Noble (Greensboro, NC)
Continuing onto a player with a lot of long-term potential on both sides of the ball, Jackson Noble. He’s a young wing prospect that possesses a wiry frame with quality length. Offensively, Noble is capable of getting downhill and attacking the rim or spotting-up without the ball and stretching the defense. He displayed a great team-first approach throughout camp and was willing to do whatever necessary to provide his team with an edge. Noble is fairly athletic for his size, moves well without the ball, and has a pretty nice overall feel for the game. Next in his development process is continuing to work on being more assertive on offense, as he has the capability to make plays for himself and others. Coach Williams on Noble: “Jackson is very athletic, but needs to get stronger in order to properly utilize his tools. He can shoot the ball, but needs to shoot more to pose a bigger threat.” Noble is just beginning to harness his upside and should certainly continue developing into a quality prospect over these next few years.
#215:6’5 ’20 Kaleb Brooks (Greensboro, NC)
Next, we look at a player that has a very unique approach to the game, given his size and skillset, Kaleb Brooks. He’s a strong-bodied forward that understands how to consistently hurt opponents with his perimeter shooting. Brooks utilizes his body well to secure position inside the paint for rebounds and second-chance opportunities. He is a capable three-level scorer, but typically gets most of his points in transition and on spot-up chances. He possesses great upside on defense, especially if he can continue to get quicker. Next in his development process is working on playing with consistency on both ends of the floor, as it would make him a more impactful two-way player. Coach Williams on Brooks: “Kaleb shot the ball very well throughout the day. He needs to work on his shooting release. Kaleb can be aggressive, but can also take plays off and has the ability to be more vocal on the court. Work on that jab-step on the perimeter.” Brooks has a chance to be a really strong prospect, but he’ll need to continue working to maximize his abilities.
#236:6’11 ’19 Filip Vuksanovic (Rabun Gap, GA)
Finishing up, we look at a player that has done an excellent job of steadily improving his game on both sides of the ball, Filip Vuksanovic. He’s a big man with great size and a pretty well-rounded approach to the game. Offensively, Vuksanovic likes to operate from the low-block and is quite efficient with his touches around the basket. He fights extremely hard for every rebound and was able to secure numerous second-chance opportunities on the day. Vuksanovic showed great touch around the basket and finished a nice majority of his attempts within the paint. He moves well on defense and has ability to block or alter most drive attempts. Vuksanovic runs the floor purposefully and left no shortage of effort to be desired. Next in his development process is working on his ability to handle the ball and make passes to open teammates, as it would open him up to a lot of new opportunities on offense. Coach Williams on Vuksanovic: “Filip is a very good player that wants to get better. He works hard, has great size, and rebounds well.” Vuksanovic was among the most intriguing prospects on display during camp and should be poised to enjoy a breakout senior season.