2017 Standouts
JP Moorman
6'7' Greensboro Day (Greensboro, NC)
The transformation that Moorman has made has been extravagant. He has shed any semblance of baby fat and turned it into explosive muscle. Moorman has always had a point forward type skill set as a good ball handler with great vision and deep range. Now he is attacking the paint and finishing above rim. During this event, Moorman picked up his first Power 5 offer from Virginia Tech
Justyn Hamilton
6'10' Independence (Charlotte, NC)
Hamilton oozes upside. The lengthy post player was invited out the the USA team camp last month and performed well. He carries a 7'4' wing span and is still growing. While his body is still growing, he finishes put backs and blocks shots. Hamilton carries early offers from VCU, College of Charleston, and UNC Greensboro. He is a tough evaluation because your predicting upside, but there is certainly a lot of it there.
Mastadi Pitt
6'1' Atlantic Shores (Chesapeake, Va)
Pitt is a tough bowling ball type lead guard. He is best getting downhill, but showed the ability to step out and make the 3-point shot consistently this weekend. He has trimmed his body from the summer, which has quickened up his first step. He carries offers from the likes Cincinnati, UCF, and James Madison and these levels feel good.
Marvin Trotman
6'3' Atlantic Shores (Chesapeake, Va)
Many college coaches came into the event knowing Pitt, but many also left asking about Trotman. He is a confident wing, with bounce, and solid pace. Trotman's day was a little up and down, but when he was good he was very good. He carries early offers from the likes of Mount St Marys and Longwood and we wouldn't be surprised to see an uptick from there.
Jordan Whitfield
6'1' Millbrook (Raleigh, NC)
Whitfield is tough. He is a downhill guard, but he attacks the paint relentlessly. Whitfield also found himself defending for 94 feet and made some shots from beyond the arc. He carries an early offer from Campbell, and that level feels right, but expect many more to come his way.
Darius McGhee
5'8' Roxboro Community (Roxboro, NC)
If you haven't had a chance to watch McGhee play, he is worth the price of admission. Pound for pound there may not be a more pure scorer in the state. He has deep deep range, he attacks the basket drawing contact, and he finishes above the rim with breath taking explosion. McGhee should average 30+ points this year, and has a chance a leading the state in this category. McGhee has an early offer from High Point, but should not only get more he should see an uptick in level.
Philip McKenzie
6'5' Cannon School (Concord, NC)
Phew, McKenzie is productive! We joked when watching him play that we weren't sure what he is, but rest assured we wanted him playing for us. McKenzie is a high level, multi positional defender. He rebounds his position, and he finishes at the rim. McKenzie is a high academic kid and carries an early offer from Houston Baptist. It'll take a few viewings, but expect this offer list to grow.
Jalen Spicer
5'11' Northwest Guilford (Greensboro, NC)
Spicer is a leader. He plays with a constant smile and has that ball on a string. Kids seem to like playing with Spicer, and rightfully so because his teams typically win at a high rate. Spicer made shots in this event, ran the break well, and defended. He has early offers from FIU and UNCG, but expect that offer list to grow.
Jacob Brown
6'8' Calvary Baptist (Winston-Salem, NC)
This is a new Brown. I heard multiple people say it, but there may not have been a better outside shooter in the event. In his first game he went 5-5 from 3-point range. He also showed the ability to finish above the rim, as he finished with multiple put back dunks and finishes off the drive. Brown is a highly skilled forward who has length, rebounds, and is a dead-eye shooter. As his body continues to fill out, watch for his recruitment to start trending up.
Josh Helton
6'8' Kings Mountain HS (Kings Mountain, NC)
What a difference a beard makes. When he came to the spring NC Phenom 150 camp, he was a baby-faced kid with potential. Fast forward to last Saturday he was a bearded mountain man in the paint. Helton showed the ability to finish around the basket with solid footwork and good touch. Although he is below the rim right now, he was a very good area rebounder. Helton is a 4.0 student, watch for his recruitment to take off in the Patriot, Ivy, Big South, etc…
Cameron Robinson
6'6' Mt Tabor HS (Winston Salem, NC)
My gracious Robinson passes the look test. He has a muscular 6'6' frame with a 6'10' wing span. For his high school team, he plays the point guard, and shows good vision. Defensively he defended 5 positions, but it isn't a stretch to think he could defend the 2, 3, and 4 in college. Robinson is an All-American track runner as well and getting college looks there. If he decides to go full time basketball, there is a huge ceiling there
Brandon Huffman
6'9' Word of God (Raleigh, NC)
Huffman is long and relishes in becoming a paint protector. He has a high motor, runs the floor with purpose, and challenges everything at the rim (with control). Huffman, the son of a military dad, grew up in Alaska, so has gone relatively unnoticed. Huffman has offers from Buffalo and Charlotte, but expect Power 5 schools to get involved and a Top 100 ranking to come his way.