Phenom Hoops College Basketball Coverage
Why Darius McGhee Is Worthy of an NBA Opportunity
Photo Courtesy of Liberty University Objectively, no sport goes through more constant change than basketball. The various eras of the game since its foundation clearly highlight the differences in how much things have evolved over time. The addition of the shot clock, three-point line, or alterations to hand-checking mainly fall under the premise of rule changes (though these inserts did...
read more
Is Shakeel Moore the Best Defender in College Basketball'
The transition from high school to college basketball differs greatly from one player to the next. Some guys are able to maintain the same approach whereas others are forced to retool their entire game to make an impact. Fortunately for Shakeel Moore, he fits into the former way more than the latter. Though he was always regarded as an elite-level defender in high school, it’s unclear if anyone...
read more
Paying Dividends: Micah Handlogten Shining for Marshall
Evaluating high school prospects and projecting them to the next level is an interesting thing. Like any occupation, folks naturally get more comfortable over the years and start understanding the general nuances of their respective industry—and scouting is no different. Learning about what translates versus what doesn’t, seeing what is more valued in college than high school, and countless...
read more
Nothing New: Toby Harris Dominating at Brandeis
Perspective is an interesting thing. Though cliché, the whole “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” ideology is actually very applicable to grassroots basketball. Whether it’s through college coaches taking a chance on a prospect or scouts growing an affinity for an underrated player, these instances occur quite regularly. Folks aren’t expected to agree or see eye-to-eye on every single...
read more
Winston-Salem State Adds Two Major Pieces
The word “rare” doesn’t even begin to describe how uncommon it is to see a player transfer from high-major to Division II. Not negative or a bad thing—just incredibly atypical. Well, that’s exactly what happened when Jaylon Gibson announced his decision to transfer from North Carolina State to Winston-Salem State. This initial domino was the first, and possibly most shocking, subplot of the...
read more
Wingate Secures Two Major Commitments
On Wednesday, the Wingate University’s Men’s Basketball Team undoubtedly improved after Josh Massey and Kyle Honore announced their respective commitments to the program. The Bulldogs are coming off a (21-8) season and fourth-place finish in the prestigious South Atlantic Conference (SAC)–their highest mark in both categories since the 2016-17 season. Something has clearly changed in the...
read more
Five JUCO Priorities Worthy of Attention
The grassroots landscape is an intensely competitive setting for young kids to try and achieve their goals in making it to the collegiate ranks. Given the overabundance of talent within North Carolina, we’ve grown accustomed to seeing extremely talented players take the JUCO route as opposed to other alternatives. Whether for grades, lack of exposure, or something completely different, each of...
read more
NBA Draft Coverage: Grades and Analysis (Picks 21-60)
(#21) Los Angeles Clippers Selection: Keon Johnson (Tennessee) Grade: D Although folks have been consistently bullish on Johnson since the start of the college season, it’s unclear as to why. He’s a quality athlete but simply has glaring deficiencies within his game to warrant such a lofty draft position. While there isn’t any who stands as an obvious pick here, it’ll be interesting to see if...
read more
NBA Draft Coverage: Grades and Analysis (Picks 11-20)
(#11) Charlotte Hornets Selection: James Bouknight (UConn) Grade: B Like multiple others taken in the top ten, Bouknight steadily climbed draft boards throughout the last six months. The general public seems pretty excited about the dynamic pairing of Bouknight and Lamelo Ball, and rightfully so. Although he’s not a reliable shooter, the UConn product’s ability to hit jumpers in workouts left...
read more
NBA Draft Coverage: Grades and Analysis (Picks 1-10)
(#1) Detroit Pistons Selection: Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State) Grade: A It’s unclear why Detroit showed any motivation to move this pick, as Cunningham is about as safe as anyone in this draft. His IQ, size, and complete skillset brings obvious appeal to any NBA franchise in hopes of quickly turning things around. While he certainly does have All-Star potential, there is value in knowing that,...
read more
Sleepers for the 2021 NBA Draft: Part Two
With the 2021 NBA Draft set to kick off in mere hours, we decided it would be advantageous to look at some potentially undervalued prospects set to start their journey in the League. There are players on this list currently climbing draft boards and projected to get drafted in the lottery—so technically not every prospect actually classifies as a “sleeper.” However, the bigger emphasis is on...
read more
Sleepers for the 2021 NBA Draft: Part One
With the 2021 NBA Draft set to kick off in mere hours, we decided it would be advantageous to look at some potentially undervalued prospects set to start their journey in the League. There are players on this list currently climbing draft boards and projected to get drafted in the lottery—so technically not every prospect actually classifies as a “sleeper.” However, the bigger emphasis...
read more
Is Isaiah Todd the Biggest Sleeper in the 2021-22 NBA Draft'
The NBA Draft is certainly amongst the most unique off-court events that takes place in any major sport. Between the kids getting draft, fanbases embracing new players, constant flux of player movement, and general unknown surrounding these prospects likelihood to pan out, it’s easy to see why. However, the evaluation process is still an imperfect system, as various players still tend to...
read more
Why Trey Murphy Should Be a Lottery Selection
The NBA Draft is one of the most exciting annual events in professional sports, especially in terms of non-competition buzz. No other league’s fanbase enjoys the “other stuff” as much as the NBA and their following. Even the lottery system has become a fun, slightly more “fair” way to determine who receives what pick (while also eliminating the need to tank, since the probability of tanking into...
read more
Virginia Tech’s Landers Nolley Quickly Becoming a Lottery-Worthy Selection
College basketball is a unique scene. The passion and overall level of unpredictability is a massive part of what makes the sport so special. Take Virginia Tech for example, who was widely considered the second-worst ACC team entering this season. There were obvious question marks surrounding this team, including a first-year coach and roster with a lot of departures. Any team that loses two...
read more