North Carolina Phenom 150 Camp Evaluations
Team 5
Coach Tyler McHone
#84:5’9 ’20 Calvin Woods (Raleigh, NC)
Starting things off, we look at a player that brought an excellent attitude to his team throughout camp, Calvin Woods. He’s a point guard prospect that rebounds extremely well for his position and frequently pushes transition play. Woods showed the ability to knock down open shots inside the arc and finish layups whenever possible. He made a nice impression as a catch-and-shoot option and should continue improving as a spot-up shooter. Woods worked pretty hard on defense and knows how to move his feet well to maintain position. Next in his development process is working on his consistency from beyond the arc, as it would make him a much deadlier offensive threat. Coach McHone on Woods: “Calvin plays hard and brings great energy to the court. He could work on finding passing lanes, which would allow him to properly get his teammates involved more often.” Woods could be a prospect to keep an eye on, especially if he continues refining his two-way skillset.
#99:5’10 ’20 Jamael Carter Jr. (Fayetteville, NC)
Next, we look at a player that made a lasting impression with his ability to shoot the ball, Jamael Carter Jr. He’s a strong-bodied guard prospect that makes a huge impact as a spot-up shooter, able to efficiently and frequently knock down shots from midrange and three-point territory. Carter possesses nice playmaking instincts and does a great job of creating opportunities for his teammates. He displays a pretty nice feel for the game and moves very well without the ball in his hands. Carter is a decent defender, but he can continue to improve with better positioning. Next in his development process is working on the utilization of his off-hand, as it would allow him to attack more angles and operate from anywhere on the floor. Coach McHone on Carter: “Jamael loves to run the floor. He’s a solid guard that can shoot it from the perimeter. Jamael passes really well in transition and makes nice decisions as a creator. He needs to work on his ability to create for others in the half-court.” Carter shot the ball really well at camp, but it’ll be interesting to see how he refines his skillset going forward.
#109:5’11 ’21 DJ Cuttino (Concord, NC)
Moving onto a player that was arguably the most consistent two-way performer on this team, Davis Grooms. He’s a guard prospect with nice length and quality athleticism, allowing him to easily overwhelm his assignment through a lightning-quick first step. Offensively, Cuttino was able to get by opponents and attack the rim with ease; he finished a strong majority of his attempts at the basket and showed great vision in traffic. Cuttino plays with an excellent motor and it’s evident on defense, where he’s able to eliminate all operating room for his matchup. He moves his feet quite well and forced numerous turnovers through use of his pristine footwork. Next in his development process is working on his ability to move without the ball, as it would allow him to apply more scoring pressure as a spot-up shooter and off-ball cutter. Coach McHone on Cuttino: “DJ sees the floor very well and can get downhill whenever he wants. He could share the ball more and learn to play without the ball, but he knows how to impact a game.” Cuttino provided terrific effort and was able to bother all types of opponents with his two-way mentality.
#131:6’0 ’19 Michael Wade (Burlington, NC)
Continuing onto a player that possesses a ton of intelligence and natural ability as a leader by example, Michael Wade. He’s a sharp, quick point guard prospect with truly incredible vision, able to carve opposing defenses to shreds whenever he desires. Wade easily gets by defenders and makes excellent decisions with the ball in his hands, often seeing and utilizing angles that other playmakers simply cannot. He’s an efficient three-level scorer that can relentlessly pile on points from all areas on the court. Wade is extremely smart and plays the right way, willingly hustling, making the extra pass, and defending with clear purpose. He’s a scrappy all-around defender with the ability to force an abundance of turnovers. Next in his development process is continuing to work on the utilization of his off-hand, as it would open up even more opportunities on offense. Coach McHone on Wade: “Michael is a great leader with next-level speed and quickness. He can generate a shot whenever he wants. Michael can improve his intangibles and off-ball defense.” Wade is certainly a college-level player and should be heavily recruited by a variety of programs throughout the upcoming season.
#160:6’2 ’20 Davis Grooms (Lincolnton, NC)
Next, we look at a player with an awesome attitude and the ability to coexist with any group of teammates, Davis Grooms. He’s a wing prospect with decent size, a wiry frame, and an excellent motor on both ends of the floor. Grooms offers a capable spot-up threat with his ability to knock down shots off the catch from midrange and beyond the arc. His form is solid and he should be able to continually elevate his consistency from the perimeter. Grooms sees the floor well and is always willing to make the extra pass, especially in transition. Next in his development process is working to improve his quickness, as it would make him a much more useful two-way player with the ability to defend the point of attack. Coach McHone on Grooms: “Davis brings good energy to both sides of the ball. He’s relatively crafty and shoots the three-pointer well. He needs to work on his overall defensive presence.” Grooms worked hard throughout camp and possesses the necessary tools to continue improving on both sides of the floor.
#169:6’3 ’21 Ryan Roberts (Graham, NC)
Moving onto a player that is just beginning to scratch the surface of his two-way abilities, Ryan Roberts. He’s a wing prospect with great IQ, size, and a pretty well-rounded skillset. Offensively, Roberts is a deceptively smooth ball-handler with quality vision and the tendency to seamlessly make plays inside the arc. He’s an effective shooter, but can still get better with improved off-ball movement. Roberts pursues rebounds and willingly defends, able to utilize his strength quite well in both areas. He shows flashes of a strong motor and knows how to jump into passing lanes quite well. Next in his development process is working to become quicker, as it would make him a lethal threat on both ends of the floor, allowing him to penetrate easier and defend multiple positions. Coach McHone on Roberts: “Ryan is a solid player that shoots the three-pointer really well. He made a nice impact on offense but needs to work on his ability to move without the ball in order to maximize his scoring skills.” Roberts is quite young and still possesses a great deal of long-term potential, which he should begin harnessing throughout his upcoming sophomore season.
#174:6’2 ’21 Walter Ghaffar (Lumberton, NC)
Continuing onto a player that possesses a lot of intrigue, given his productivity and long-term potential, Walter Ghaffar. He’s an athletic wing prospect that is wired to flat-out score the ball from anywhere on the court. Offensively, Ghaffar is an efficient three-level scorer with the ability to attack the rim whenever he desires. He displayed the ability to play above the rim quite often and welcomed contact around the basket. Ghaffar has a quality feel for the game and knows how to overwhelm opponents on defense. His defensive positioning and lateral quickness allow him to contain his assignment extremely well. Next in his development process is continuing to sharpen his IQ, as an improved feel for the game would make him an incredibly special prospect. Coach McHone on Ghaffar: “Walter is a great 3-and-D prospect. He’s athletic and loves to run the floor. Walter is a constant threat to accumulate dunks. He’ll be even better as he improves his knowledge of the game.” Ghaffar is pretty highly regarded in the Class of 2021 in North Carolina and could be poised for a breakout season as one of the focal points at Fayetteville Academy.
#210:6’5 ’21 Bryson Nesbit (Charlotte, NC)
Next, we look at a player that showcased an abundance of versatility and translatable two-way skills, Bryson Nesbit. He’s a strong, athletic wing/forward prospect that is capable of doing virtually everything on the basketball court. Offensively, Nesbit is a reliable shooter from midrange and beyond the arc, but he excels when getting downhill and attacking the rim. He plays with a mean, aggressive streak and shows no concern of any opponent in his path. Nesbit is able to generate offense for himself and others quite well, always making plays while rarely ever forcing the action. He can play three positions extremely well and possesses a strong combination of IQ, skill, and athleticism for the high school level. Next in his development process is working on his ability to move and operate without the ball, as it would make him an even more dangerous offensive threat. Coach McHone on Nesbit: “Bryson is a great post shooter that can consistently stretch the floor beyond the three-point arc. He needs to improve his off-ball presence, as it would help him remain impactful at all times.” Nesbit was among the most intriguing prospects at camp and should maintain his aggressive, team-first approach going forward.
#221:6’7 ’19 Davis Guyton (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Finishing up, we look at a player that is able to consistently make his presence felt as a floor-spacing sharpshooter, Davis Guyton. He’s a big man with poise and an excellent feel for the game. Guyton understands his skillset incredibly well and tends to catch opponents by surprise with his absolute flamethrower from beyond the arc. He utilizes his body nicely on screens and around the basket. Guyton rebounds the ball at a strong rate on both ends of the floor and possesses the ability to constantly mix up his approach on offense. He’s a willing passer that sees the entire floor and is capable of making passes in tight spaces. Guyton is very skilled for his size and moves extremely well without the ball. Next in his development process is continuing to work on beating his assignment down the floor in transition defense, as it would make him a more complete prospect. Coach McHone on Guyton: “Davis spaces the floor nicely as a big man and shoots the three-ball well. He’s a great presence and teammate. He needs to work on running the floor and wanting to be in the post.” Guyton is going to make a college program really happy with his reliability and consistency as a floor-stretching big man.